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A naive undertaker's assistant becomes involved with dirty dealing con-men in 1954 Harlem, with the express aim of securing the attentions of a gangster's mistress. Forest Whitaker, Gregory Hines and Robin Givens star.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Jay
Format:DVD
I think this is an underrated classic. A story of gold,double-cross,love,revenge and death all served up with great humour nicely by the main characters. The acting is great especially Forest Whittaker as the loser who eventually comes good. Robin Givens is superb and sexy in this role as she steals the gold from her partners and goes on the run. The late great Gregory Hines is also in top form as Whittaker's brother who is only interested in the gold at first. Badja Djola plays a memorably vicious villain and Danny Glover pops up as a rival gangster who "had another dream" about Givens - much to the fury of Djola. This film has some great comic moments. The music score by Elmer Bernstein is also superb.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Chester Himes is up there with the greats of Selby, Bukowski, Algren and Fante, carving a slice of American life. This is a film version of Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed heroics in action, all set within 1950's Harlem. The sets are sumptuous, and full of retro 50's fashion, passion and belief. Early on we are taken to the Undertakers Ball, where the late Screaming Jay Hawkins belts out Yellow Coat and Put a Spell on You to an assembled cast of Harlemites who dance the macabre. This sets the scene for the gore.
The story is based on the tension between North and South Blackness, as well as the sexual frision of the femme fatale who hooks up with Jackson. The story of love over gold resonates throughout the picture. Not sure how this plays out in real time
The film shifts between the comedic to the very dark, with an initial expose of deep south racism, illuminating our two bungling police officers, who are out to capture our fixed stare gangsters. Meanwhile, as the film progresses, the body count steadily rises according to the dictates of pop goes the weasel.
Whilst Himes's other books details life as a full range of the 40's/50's, this one says little about the graphic world the black communties inhabited. Racism and exploitation are backdrops rather than main events. A story of deceit, double cross, it is bound in graphic violence and cuss. It is not a film to watch with the kids, even though it has funny moments.
The film composition is excellent, the stars shine intensely on the set and sitting down to inhabit the world within this film is well worth the effort.
The story is based on the tension between North and South Blackness, as well as the sexual frision of the femme fatale who hooks up with Jackson. The story of love over gold resonates throughout the picture. Not sure how this plays out in real time
The film shifts between the comedic to the very dark, with an initial expose of deep south racism, illuminating our two bungling police officers, who are out to capture our fixed stare gangsters. Meanwhile, as the film progresses, the body count steadily rises according to the dictates of pop goes the weasel.
Whilst Himes's other books details life as a full range of the 40's/50's, this one says little about the graphic world the black communties inhabited. Racism and exploitation are backdrops rather than main events. A story of deceit, double cross, it is bound in graphic violence and cuss. It is not a film to watch with the kids, even though it has funny moments.
The film composition is excellent, the stars shine intensely on the set and sitting down to inhabit the world within this film is well worth the effort.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Good movie and I thruely enjoyed it. Easy watching and to watch the movie. Nice movie to watch with family
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gritty, witty, brilliant!
Brilliant! This is one of the very few instances where I enjoyed the film as much as the book. And not because the film is very true to the book (which, in any case, it is), but... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Sarah
5.0 out of 5 stars
Overlooked Cinema Gold
I am so glad this has come out on DVD. I'm not sure when it happened, but it has and the world is now a better place. Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2011 by DiscoDave181
5.0 out of 5 stars
finally on DVD
I love all of Chester Himes books and this does a good job of transfering the book to film. Good preformances from the all black cast and even an early appearance from one of the... Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2009 by bucky
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