“The Heat’s On In The Street For This Bad Mama – But She’s Doin’ The Cooking!”

How can you resist a film with that promo? You can’t of course, especially when Blaxploitation super star Pam Grier is in it!

The King And Queen Of Blaxploitation!

Time to look at the greatest films from this terrific 70’s genre of film: blaxploitation!

What type of film am I talking about? Well, here are some examples:

Blaxploitation films were originally made specifically for an urban black audience in the early 70’s, but the genre’s audience appeal soon broadened across racial and ethnic lines. The Los Angeles National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) head and ex-film publicist Junius Griffin is credited with coining the term.

The “Queen” of Blaxploitation was Pam Grier, who starred in a number of classics in the genre, such as “Foxy Brown!”

Grier got her start in another of the early 70’s classic genres: the “women in prison” genre!

Yes, the movies were full of action and perspiration, so there were plenty of showers! Here is a look at a couple of the classics form that genre, starring Pam:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/03/21/black-mama-white-mama-queen-of-blaxploitation-pam-grier-naked-showers-women-in-prison-classics/

Grier then hit the big time with her starring roles in “Foxy Brown” and “Coffy”, two blaxploitation classics:

The films were full of action, violence, nudity and jive asses, and you can see some of their movie trailers here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/01/02/foxy-brown-cleopatra-jones-blaxploitations-kick-ass-women/

“Pulling The Teeth Of A Blood-sucking Loan Shark!”

By 1975, the genre was dying out, but not before Grier starred in one last blaxploitation film:

Check out the trailer, which is filled with hilarious narration:

“The Heat’s On In The Street For This Bad Mama – But She’s Doin’ The Cooking!”

In the film, Sheba returns to her hometown of Louisville to confront thugs who are trying to intimidate her father into handing over his family business.

Title: SHEBA, BABY ¥ Pers: GRIER, PAM ¥ Year: 1975 ¥ Dir: GIRDLER, WILLIAM ¥ Ref: SHE108AA ¥ Credit: [ AIP / THE KOBAL COLLECTION ]

Not a great movie, but a fun end to the genre…and if Pam Grier was Blaxploitation’s Queen, then meet the King:

“This Dude Is Bad….And He Ain’t Just Fly, He’s Super Fly!”

Check out the trailer for the greatest blaxploitation film of all:

“Super Fly” stars Ron O’Neal as Youngblood Priest, an African American cocaine dealer who is trying to quit the underworld drug business.

It’s one of the most well known of all “blaxploitation” films, and like Pam Grier’s movies, is full of sex, drugs and action.

The film’s star, Ron O’Neal, had a long career in entertainment, but never surpassed his popularity in this movie. He died of cancer in 2004.

This film is also known for its soundtrack, written and produced by soul singer Curtis Mayfield.

Here is the title track, a classic 70’s slice of funk:

Along with the film’s success, the soundtrack was a huge smash as well:

Speaking Of Soundtracks:

Here is perhaps the best known blaxploitation soundtrack of all time:

Isaac Hayes became a star because of “The Theme From ‘Shaft'”, and the movie is also one of the best blaxploitation films ever made…

Richard Roundtree starred as the tough as nails John Shaft – see the movie’s trailer and read more about this iconic film by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/08/23/dolemite-hit-man-shaft-iconic-blaxploitation-stars/

By the way, if you want a soundtrack to this genre, check out these brothers:

The Brothers Johnson had some great 70’s funk that goes perfectly with these movies, check it out there:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/08/20/the-brothers-johnson-secrets-of-strawberry-letter-23-revealed-great-70s-funk-tarantinos-strawberry-love/

One of the greatest stars of the genre was best known for his co-starring role with the legendary Bruce Lee:

Jim Kelly’s best film was “Enter The Dragon” with Bruce Lee, but he also had several big hits of his own:

Read all about “Black Samurai” and other Kelly movies by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/06/30/rip-jim-kelly-bruce-lees-kung-fu-partner-blaxploitation-master/

And finally, if you want to know who “The Godfather Of Blaxploitation” is, look no further:

Incendiary Director Melvin Van Peebles shocked the world with his blaxploitation classic, “Sweet Sweetback’s Badass Song” – see why it was:

“Rated ‘X’ By An All-White Jury!”

The story of this controversial and iconic masterpiece is here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/01/23/rated-x-by-an-all-white-jury-the-incendiary-sweet-sweetbacks-badass-song-blaxploitations-brilliant-godfather/

Check these films out and keep blaxploitation alive!

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