Bucktown

I utterly enjoyed Bucktown from whoa to go.

This must have been one of Fred Williamson's better movies where he delivers as much as he usually talks.

Pam Grier was great with her no nonsense attitude, not taking anyones jive lol (jive is such a great word).

Does go a little nutso when the armoured vehicle is introduced but just roll with it and you will be fine.

The villians, and there are heaps of them, are mega. They really provide some great moments and act as a good counterpoint for our heroes.

Fits nicely towards the top of the Blaxploitation genre.

Good laughs and good action save the day :)

The storyline threw me for a loop when I first saw it. For a 70's movie, this is good stuff.

It's possibly Carl Weathers' first movie (he made two movies that year), and I wish he would've had more lines, but he really played his part well.

I also love Tony King's role and how he played the part. He's the perfect villain.

I love how the crew from Philadelphia came to town with style, attitude, and swagger dripping from their suits.

Nevertheless, Fred Williamson was the ultimate Alpha male, and Pam Grier was the sweetest woman. The only not-so-good thing about this movie is the final fight scene. It could've been better.

Pam Grier and Fred Williamson are teamed once again in this exciting drama! Made in the 70's Fred was at his best! The action is non stop in this thriller! Besides who needs to know how to act when you have Mr. Williamson running around in those tight pants! Women swooned when he appeared on Screen! A must for fans of these movies made in the 70's!

I had never seen a Fred Williamson movie before, but BUCKTOWN has converted me into a fan. An incredibly likable hero with intelligence and morals, Williamson is a great actor surrounded by an even better supporting cast.

Duke Johnson (Williamson) returns to bury his brother in his southern town of Buchanan. While there, he encounters corrupt white cops, so he calls his black friends from the city to help him take them out. His only problem: the black gangsters now want control of the town. This plot would later be re-hashed in THE BLACK GESTAPO, by the way.

BUCKTOWN has great action scenes, but even better are the character development scenes and the entire execution of a great storyline. Williamson stands for justice and brotherhood from his entrance; anyone who criticizes his performance in this film is not paying attention. Pam Grier co-stars as Aretha, his sister-in-law turned girlfriend and since this is post-FRIDAY FOSTER, does a superb acting turn here. BLACULA star Thalmus Rasulala (also in FRIDAY FOSTER) is Roy, Duke's friend who takes over the town. Comic relief is provided by Bernie Hamilton as Harley (great, effective character) and Terrie Turner as Aretha's son (annoying, but important character). Carl Weathers makes more of his famous career as a blaxploitation extra as one of Roy's henchmen. At least he speaks here!

BUCKTOWN makes great use of the audience's feelings. At first, the audience empathizes with the black gangsters as they beat the senses out of the corrupt white cops, but then it turns ugly and brutal and the audience then feels bad for the cops. The audience's perceptions of the heroes in the film are constantly corrupted and that is unique for a film of this type. BUCKTOWN is not only recommended to blaxploitation fans, but also for those looking for a film with action, integrity, and intelligence.

Fred Williamson plays Duke Johnson who is visiting a Southern town in order to bury his brother Ben and to try to sell Ben's Club Alabam bar which just closed. He has to wait 60 days, however, so he now has to stay during that time before he can do it. With the advice of Harley (Bernie Hamilton), however, Duke decides to once again open the bar. During some of that time, Harley's friend Aretha (Pam Grier) has some friction with him concerning his not even going to visit his brother during those last years before they fall in love. Along the way, some racist neighbors try to get some money from him which then has Duke inviting some friends like Roy (Thalmus Rasulala) to kick their ass. After that happens, well, something worse happens...While the drama was pretty compelling concerning the players I just mentioned, I have to admit some disappointment in not having Ms. Grier do some fighting herself since I've been used to her doing so in her other AIP movies. It's seems to be Fred doing it all by himself most of time. So if you're expecting something campy, you won't find it here. But if you don't mind drama mixed with action, Bucktown might be your cup of tea.