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Willie Dynamite

Play trailer Poster for Willie Dynamite R Released Jan 23, 1974 1h 42m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
When enterprising pimp Willie Dynamite (Roscoe Orman) refuses to agree to a mandate that would assign pimps to specific districts, he sets himself on a collision course with Bell (Roger Robinson), the kingpin of New York prostitution. Worse yet, Willie comes under the scrutiny of a pair of detectives. And then there's Cora (Diana Sands), a former prostitute now employed as a social worker, who aims to take down Willie's operation by preaching reform to his girls.

Critics Reviews

View All (2) Critics Reviews
Anton Bitel Little White Lies This is not only a film about conflicts and contradictions in black identity, but also a sly critique of capital's ruthless upward trajectory. Feb 6, 2017 Full Review Jennie Kermode Eye for Film This is one of those films that's difficult to rate because it's a patchwork of impressive work and spectacular failures. Rated: 2/5 Feb 16, 2017 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jamaal W They did Willie dirty! Great film from that era with an amazing character driving it. A pretty solid story also. The scene where he struts down the stairs should be world known. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Wow! What a bizarre flick. It seems to want to both condemn and celebrate pimping. Willie goes through quite the arc in this, starting off as the ultimate badass archetype, to becoming more humanized individual. The tone is also all over the place, sometimes it feels like they're going for real drama, at other times (especially during the pimp counsil) it feels like a cartoon. Either way I had a blast with this movie. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/15/20 Full Review delysid d one thumb one thumb down for this slow moving pimp show Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/22/17 Full Review Audience Member Surprisingly serious Blaxploitation movie although Willie D's theme music is funky fun. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member "Willie Dynamite" is the story of a pimp and his girls, a blaxploitation film that isn't too campy and doesn't glorify the criminal lifestyle that Willie leads. He is a prick, who treats his prostitutes good only when it suits him, when they step out of line or do anything independent he becomes a shit, just like a real pimp. He is a bastard who portrays himself as working for and with the girls, but is really just out for himself. So the fact that they didn't stray too far into camp territory helped this one. It isn't the best film, not even the best blaxploitation film I've seen, but it is decent. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Willie Dynamite(Roscoe Orman) is sure having a bad time, not content on being the no.2 pimp in New York, he is striving to be no.1 and the effects it has on those around him including his families: relatives and the stables of girls he looks after. This morality tale from the height of blaxploitation is so enjoyable and has such funny moments even though it's not suppose to be funny. The cast is likable even tough we are not suppose to root for these characters. Overall, I really liked this film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Willie Dynamite

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis When enterprising pimp Willie Dynamite (Roscoe Orman) refuses to agree to a mandate that would assign pimps to specific districts, he sets himself on a collision course with Bell (Roger Robinson), the kingpin of New York prostitution. Worse yet, Willie comes under the scrutiny of a pair of detectives. And then there's Cora (Diana Sands), a former prostitute now employed as a social worker, who aims to take down Willie's operation by preaching reform to his girls.
Director
Gilbert Moses
Producer
Richard D. Zanuck, David Brown
Rating
R
Genre
Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 23, 1974, Limited
Release Date (DVD)
Jan 18, 2005
Runtime
1h 42m