Black Samson

Bar owner Samson (Rockne Tarkington), armed only with his wits, strength and a cudgel, fights to keep his neighbourhood crime-free, much to the irritation of vicious mob under-boss Johnny Nappa (William Smith). The film is essential a wish-fulfillment fable as Samson single-handily dispatches numerous hapless mob underlings and, even by the standards of the genre, the ending is a bit implausible. The film has a bit of a brutal edge and lots of swearing but the numerous fights are typical bloodless PG brawls. The cast is fine, there are some fine 70s fashions on display, and Samson's woman Leslie (Carol Speed) is topped by an impressive afro. The role of the lion is unclear, but the big cat does add some novelty to the film (and makes for a great poster). Not one of the great blaxploitation flics but watchable for fans of the dated but funky genre.

The groovy threads, jive talk and funky music are all present but Tarkington just doesn't have the presence of a Jim Brown or Fred Williamson. Dependable bad-guy William Smith performs with his usual gusto though. The supporting cast of 70s exploitation actresses like Carol Speed and Connie Strickland will add enjoyment for fans of 70s drive-in/grindhouse cinema.

In BLACK SAMSON, Rockne Tarkington plays the benevolent, neighborhood protector of the title. From his local topless bar, complete with his mascot / pet lion, Samson watches over his friends, carrying his signature walking stick. All is well, until the mob decides to move in on Sam's territory.

Going against the more moderate approach of the big boss, the psychopathic Johnny Nappa (William Smith) decides that far more violence is necessary. This leads to murder, and an unforgettable final showdown.

Mr. Tarkington is the heart and soul of this movie. He plays Samson as just the sort of man we would want to call upon in times of trouble. Mr. Smith portrays Nappo as a vile, irredeemable man, set on having what he wants at all costs. We can see early on that these two are going to face off.

One of the better films of its subgenre...

There's not much to separate this from most blaxploitation era movies apart from the lion and the club. The soundtrack is average, the plot is rote, and the action poorly done. It's got a message that it wears on its sleeve and there's never any sense of doubt or moment of not knowing what's gonna happen. An average movie at best. Also, the lion really needed to do something at some point other than just be set dressing. If there ever was a movie that called for a mauling it was this one.

"Samson" (Rockne Tarkington) is the owner of a nightclub in a black part of Los Angeles who does his best to keep crime down and things under control. However, this doesn't please two rival criminal organizations-one white and the other black-from wanting to move in and take over. This is especially true for one particularly psychotic mobster named "Johnny Nappa" (William Smith) who refuses to heed Samson's warnings and simply won't take "no" for an answer--and things become quite tense after that. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a pretty good "blaxploitation" film in large part due to the performances of the aforementioned William Smith and Rockne Tarkington. Likewise, having a beautiful actress like Connie Strickland (as Johnny's girlfriend "Tina") certainly didn't hurt either. In any case, I thought this was a pretty good film and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.