Youngblood

I saw this movie when it first appeared. I was very impressed with the script, action and flow of movie then. All the actors were perfect for their parts, even though some were just starting out in their careers. WAR does the awesome sound track (especially the reprise)!!! I would love to purchase video, if I could ever find it! I'm still looking! >

Caught this for free on YouTube and might primarily be some sort of nostalgia and maybe my memory is failing me but not a lot of movies about young black youth were made in the 1970's. Just enjoyed it for what it was. Young black dude making his way through the streets.

Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs was the box office draw, but the focus of Youngblood is actually the title character, played with reasonable conviction by What's Happening! semi-regular Bryan O'Dell. He's a not so street smart kid who wants to run with the Kingsmen, a local gang headed by Hilton-Jacobs, a returned Vietnam vet. The Kingsmen spend a lot of time drinking, beating up rival gang members, and abusing each other, but that doesn't mean they don't have a social conscience: when they lose a member to smack, the hunt is on for the dope pushers peddling junk in the 'hood. The story is familiar but is helped along by a uniformly good cast. War's score is excellent, especially the title track and Galaxy, featured in a disco scene heavily reminiscent of Soooooouuullllll Train. Watch for Ron Neal (Superfly) in a brief cameo as a high school gym teacher.

A young and talented cast portray their roles with conviction in a film that was light years ahead of its time. 'Youngblood' is about growing up poor on the streets of L. A. , no matter your skin color. Drugs, gangs and gunfire all figure in the mix of a story of a young boy just trying to navigate the mean streets as he grows into manhood. It's true some of the elements of the film are a bit trite, some elements even perhaps stereotypical. But the great cast transcend any of the script's faults (particularly Ren Woods as the love interest and Ann Weldon as the Mom. I wish both had had more screen time.) Surprising, really, that this film didn't find more of a cult audience - like 'American Graffiti ' or 'The Warriors.' The cinematography is quite good, the score is made up entirely of songs by the band WAR. Laurence Hilton-Jacobs commits 100% as a Vietnam Vet trying to pull himself away from gang life. It's really an Oscar quality performance - not a false note or moment. These elements help the picture a good deal. We never lose interest throughout and the last 15 minutes or so are a real nail biter. A film of exceptional quality. An independent feature that retains a rebel spirit while elevating itself to something relevant and special.

Watch it. Don't expect 2021 cgi. Fuks that review it have no understanding of black culture or even human culture. This film is way ahead of it's time.