The Black Klansman

After a black man's daughter is killed by the KKK, he seeks revenge by becoming a Klansman.

This film can be dismissed as an exploitation film, and maybe it should be, but I personally thought it was a strong social commentary on color and race in America. Definitely during the 1960s, but probably even to some degree today (2013).

The real honor of this film has to go to the actor who played Jerry, because he had to balance between looking black and looking white and making this believable. He succeeded. I actually do not know if he was completely white or if he was lighter-skinned and black. I could look it up, but I think that his character makes the point -- it does not matter. If he can be treated as either, then race should not matter.

If ever there was a time and place to utilize the word 'hoot' in reference to a film, the 'Black Klansman' is transcendental material. How is this piece of art not on DVD as of the year 2004? With mighty waving banner of fierce and vengeful fire, the front man of this film undercuts the enslaving white man by going undercover and tearing down the metaphorical burning cross. In a way, this film is to American HISTORY X as SUBURBIA is to SLC PUNK. This is 1966 exploitation baby, and if you've ever heard the 'N' word, you've still never heard it like this! Shocking today even though no one has seen it. Beg, borrow, steal and investigate getting hold of this film directed by the people who brought you film about zombies and machines that grind up women in bikinis. 4 stars.

"The Black Klansman" is a film from Ted Mikels--the same guy who brought us schlock like "The Astro-Zombies", "Blood Orgy of the She-Devils", "Girl in the Gold Boots" (on IMDb's Bottom 100 list), "The Corpse Grinders" and "The Worm Eaters". So, you can only assume that "The Black Klansman" will be a horrible film, right? Well, not really. As I sat and watched the film I was surprised, as the acting was actually pretty good--something you'd NEVER expect! In fact, while this is an exploitation film, it's an awfully good one.

The story is set partially in the South in the 1960s. Despite civil rights laws, the Klan is strong and lynchings and fire bombings continue. And, following one of these incidents, a very light-skinned black man has had enough. He decides he's going to pass as white and infiltrate the mob! What happens next you'll need to see for yourself, but suffice to say that the film ends on a VERY exciting note--very exciting.

Reasonably well-written, very good and natural acting and competent direction. It sure makes you wonder what Mikels could have done if he had tried harder! Well worth seeing.

By the way, if you like this film, try another excellent low-budget film about race from this same era--"The Intruder" by Roger Corman.

This film begins in Los Angeles with a black jazz musician by the name of "Jerry Ellsworth" (Richard Gilden) learning that his young daughter has just been killed by members of a racist organization in the small town of Turnerville, Alabama. Seeking revenge upon the people that committed this act, he immediately boards a flight to Turnerville where he hopes his light-skinned complexion will allow him to masquerade as a white man long enough for him to infiltrate the local chapter of the KKK. What he doesn't know, however, is that his white girlfriend "Andrea" (Rima Kutner) and his good friend "Lonnie" (James McEachin) have followed right behind him and their appearance creates unforeseen difficulties which endangers his extremely hazardous plan. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was a fairly interesting film which was hindered somewhat by the rather low-budget production values and mediocre acting of all concerned. It does, however, serve as a decent precursor to the blaxploitation films which followed a few years later and for that reason I have rated this film accordingly. Average.

What can be said? This movie is as disturbing now as it was when it was made. But the acting is so irregular. Sometimes it's comically bad which makes it extremely uncomfortable. The ending is also disappointing.