Black Gestapo

In spite of the conspicuous title, controversial subject matter and the use of provocative archive footage (starring Adolf Hitler), "The Black Gestapo" is not much more than a curious footnote in the rancid world of 70's exploitation. The nearly inseparable writer/director duo Lee Frost and Wes Bishop courageously attempt to depict how immense power will eventually corrupt everybody, even those of whom you least expect it. General Ahmed founded the People's Army in order to protect the black members of the Watts community from mafia thugs, and he dreams about a society of peace and harmony as imagined by Martin Luther King. His second in command Colonel Kojah, however, sympathizes more with the principles of Adolf Hitler and insists on fighting back with hard violence. Kojah's methods expel the white criminals all right, but the ever-increasing power rapidly turns him and his men into even bigger monsters then the white mobsters ever were. "The Black Gestapo" probably would have been far more effective if the creators had spent a little more effort and attention to the black vigilantes' gradual descent into madness. Loads of playtime is spent to the white Mafiosi nagging and acting stupid, whereas the founding of the Black Master Race appears to suddenly happen overnight. Kojah and his rapidly growing army of young black solider take over the prostitution networks and drug traffic, and it's up the still unaware General Ahmed to bring his old pal's empire down again. This is a typically 70's low-budget exploitation effort, meaning there's copious amounts of gratuitous nudity and provocative footage, like adolescent black boys in Nazi uniforms. The noteworthy moments of genuine suspense and intelligent dialog are far more sporadic, of course, not to mention totally absent. The finale, revolving on one man annihilating the entire foundation, is pretty ludicrous and feels like an amateur episode of "The A-Team". Uschi Digard, the voluptuous Swedish cult siren of "Supervixens" and "Truck Stop Women" makes a brief naked appearance; I suppose that's worth a mention as well.

BLACK GESTAPO is a hoot. I mean it's funny and entertaining and never bores. It keeps clicking along right until the very much unbelievable end. You got 'nads being chopped off, naked women all over the place, black men dressing up like nazis and a mean,nasty vibe this picture just can't shake. I suggest buying it. Today.

Before the opening credits we see real footage of the Nazi army marching and chants of "Sieg Heil". Hitler walks by and the frame freezes. Lettering, "The Black Gestapo", pops up on the screen in old English and the funk music kicks in. Oh my, very weird and sure to ruffle a few feathers.

The first half of the film is the better with the evil white crime syndicate going to war with The People's Army. All too soon though, The People's Army is exploiting it's own people in the exact same manner the driven out whites did. No, we can no longer root for the Black Gestapo since they are shown doing or saying the exact same horrible things the whites had previously done in at least three scenes. The point, very much the same as that of the novel "Animal Farm", is really driven home so that even the least sharp viewer could grasp it. Those who overthrow the oppressor are doomed to become oppressors themselves. Sad to say, my mind was not blown.

Well, as I said, the early battles in the film are sick. The whites have to pack up and leave, threatening to return during one long scene of dialogue, yet they never do. I was left waiting for an awesome climactic gang war, but instead only got a mediocre battle between the one time People's Army leader and his organization gone bad. Yeah, there are some novel deaths, but nothing like the brutality of earlier scenes. One the whole there is some mean stuff in this picture, lots of abuse, and black people in Nazi type uniforms. It won't be forgotten.

Hmmm, I bought this flick for $1.99 in the used bin at a local video store, that being said, I don't think I wasted the money.

It's pretty indicative of the Blacksploitation ouevre. Highlights include Mack from Night Court as a militant terrorist and would be ghetto fuhrer, nekkid women for no good reason, and fight scenes that look like guys rough-housing on their lawns after a few too many, (if you know what I mean,).

It's not a great exploitation flick, it's not a horrible exploitation flick, best viewed with a few cold ones and some buddies. Peace.

Seriously, that's what the film asks you to buy. Mack always seemed pretty friendly and easy going. Even 15 years before Night Court, this is the last guy you could see as a dictator. What next, Doogie Howser of the KGB? Seig Heil Gilligan? Seinfeld the Terrible?

And that any effort at Black liberation is no better than mass murdering Nazis. That's what gets the film 2 pts instead of zero. Lurid Nazi-sploitation of the dumbest kind.

But really the blood and breasts thrown in for no reason are just dull.