Sheba, Baby [Dual Format Blu-Ray + DVD]

I realize most of the "less than favorable" reviews here are due to comparison with COFFY and FOXY BROWN, and that's really unfortunate. Taken by itself, SHEBA BABY is still an enjoyable and entertaining Pam Grier movie. Here she plays a no-nonsense Chicago-based private investigator who returns to Louisville to protect her father from mob forces muscling in on his loan business. The story plays out like many cop/detective shows from the 70s, but despite the PG rating there's plenty of action here and Pam always gets her man (her confrontation with the hustler in the car wash is a riot!). Of course the PG rating means virtually no nudity (Pam stays between the sheets for her only "nude" scene), but she still looks great and (quite nicely!) dons a wetsuit for much of the last third of the film. The film also boasts a funky 70s soundtrack, including vocals by Barbara Mason. Unfortunately the soundtrack LP is long out of print and quite rare, however I would certainly welcome a CD reissue. The DVD also features a trailer for the film that's quite fun ("Slammin' Pam... giving the gun brothers the frizzies and their boss man the tizzies!"). Sure this isn't COFFY or FOXY BROWN, but that shouldn't stop anyone from enjoying SHEBA BABY.

This is the first of Pam Grier's efforts that I would not lump wholly in the exploitation category. Sure, there's lots of gunplay and a redundant catfight. That said, the dialogue here avoids the tongue-and-cheek quality that was evident in "Coffy" and "Foxy Brown" and the villains here are more realistic and not as cartoonish. The underlying theme here are the underworld elements that threaten legitimate black entrepreneurs. Because the film deals with the threat more seriously the message becomes more potent. Even in this low-budget effort Grier just commands the screen like any of her contemporaries and would give a run for the money for today's top actresses. She was definitely ahead of her time. I can't recall if Halle Berry thanked her in her Oscar speech. She does not appear nude here but she looks so fabulous clothed that your imagination will do somersaults. Timeless entertainment.

Review was originally written for my website From the Mind of Tatlock. A copy was provided for review.

Blaxploitation films are a type of genre that I get a kick out of. They are wild, gritty, full of nudity, and beautiful women. The last movie that checked all those boxes off was Coffy, which also starred Pam Grier (Coffy Review). It was a film full of boobs, violence and jive talking dudes getting blasted away by the righteous Pam Grier. I was hoping that the tradition would continue with Sheba, Baby, but unfortunately, Pam Grier was at a point in her career where she wanted to broaden her acting abilities and refused to do the movie if there was any nudity. (That sound you're hearing is my heart breaking.) Due to those demands, Sheba, Baby comes off as a blaxploitation flick with hardly any violence, no nudity, and a light-hearted approach. However, it's not a poor film by any means, but rather a fun time waster, but a large part of me feels that it could have been much more than just that. Read on to see if you agree...

Movie Review:

Much like all the other Pam Grier films of the time, she plays a tough as nails woman seeking revenge. The film starts off introducing us to her private detective character Sheba Shayne, who learns of her father being harassed by a group of tough guys. She heads to her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky to help out and quickly becomes involved in taking down the baddies by herself, constantly refusing help from her past lover Brick Williams, played by Assault on Precinct 13's Austin Stoker.

Sheba, Baby cuts out most of the elements that make a blaxploitation film remarkably delectable. You'll have the prerequisite cat fight, but gone is the in your face nudity. There are plenty of guns fights and loads of action scenes, yet the grittiness is missing, replaced with a light-hearted vibe. The villains in the movie come across as caricatures, playing everything up to the point where the goofiness is boiling over. However, much of that isn't a terrible condition, as you'll definitely produce a laugh or two during certain purposely funny scenes.

The flick has plenty of enjoyable moments; most notable is an extended chase scene through the Kentucky State fair, with plenty of onlookers watching the action and looking straight into the camera (a running theme in this movie). In the final scenes, Pam Grier storms a boat and takes on the lead henchman, resulting in an exciting boat chase, which is all wonderfully shot. The movie certainly doesn't lack on exciting, albeit gritty-less moments.

It's completely understandable why Pam Grier wanted to diversify her roles and cut back on the blatant sexualization of her looks. No blame is being put on her for that, although when the decision comes at the cost of making a movie that isn't as entertaining as the previous efforts (Black Mama, White Mama, Coffy, Foxy Brown), someone should have stepped forward and said something, anything to make this movie a grittier, non-PG experience. Funny enough, though, the choice of making the movie PG actually worked for their benefit, making the movie quite successful, therefore, what do I know. Either way, in my opinion, Sheba, Baby is a pleasurable movie, but one that lacks the heart and soul of previous Grier films.

Blu-ray Opinion:

Arrow Video is the go-to company for fantastic looking blaxploitation flicks, having previously released Coffy and Foxy Brown, with an upcoming release of Black Mama, White Mama. Sheba, Baby is no different from their other efforts, featuring audio and video that is borderline perfect. The video for Sheba, Baby provides a clean picture, intact grain, wonderful blacks during night scenes and no noticeable damage. The audio fares just as well, with a LPCM Mono soundtrack providing plenty of depth and clear dialogue.

I wouldn't go so far as to say Sheba, Baby is jam packed full of special features, nevertheless, what you do receive is welcome. You'll notice two commentaries for the movie, one with Producer/Writer David Sheldon and another with Patty Breen, who is the webmaster for Director William Girdler's site. She is quite knowledgeable about the movie and claims to have seen the movie more times than you can imagine, therefore, she is right choice to sit down and discuss the flick.

In addition to the commentaries, you have a 15-minute interview with the aforementioned David Sheldon. There are plenty of interesting tidbits provided on the writing and producing for the movie and his rocky relationship with Director William Girdler. The next interview is with film historian Chris Poggiali, which runs 12 minutes. He goes into detail on Pam Grier's work with American Internation Pictures. It's a short, but sweet interview. Rounding out the features is a trailer, gallery and booklet. Noticeably missing from the features was an interview with Pam Grier.

Verdict:

Sheba, Baby is the result of an actress who wanted to try something new, but failed to observe that she was already doing the right job. The movie fails to deliver a gritty experience, but it does provide a fun one, which in the end, is the best we can ask for. The Blu-ray from Arrow Video is once again, top shelf quality. Recommended for fans of Pam Grier, provided you fancy your blaxploitation pleasant, but light on nudity and violence.

With the Oscars fighting off accusations of "whitewashing" the awards this year, maybe everyone should just pack into the Dolby Theater and watch Sheba, Baby, Pam Grier's 1975 Blaxploitation thriller which casts her as a tough but tender private detective out to protect her father from neighborhood thugs trying to take over the family business. As the lyrics say in the film's theme song, "She's a dangerous lady, and she's well put together."

Grier was actually trying to get out of the Blaxploitation business after her breakout success with Coffy and Foxy Brown. But producers lured her back for another go with the promise of a more glamorous role and a PG rating that would make the film more accessible for a general audience. It's the latter creative decision that winds up making Sheba, Baby an also-ran when compared to the best films of the Blaxploitation era, often feeling like a cast off TV pilot rather than a polished feature film.

Sheba Shaye (Grier) leaves Chicago to set things right for her father and his partner (Austin Stoker) back in Louisville where a criminal syndicate is buying up all the local businesses on the block. There's obviously bigger money behind it all, so Sheba uses her old connections to kick ass and take names, leading her to "The Shark," a slick insurance tycoon using local muscle to make his millions.

Written and directed by William Girdler (Grizzly), the film's script is more of a "suggestion" as each scene meanders through pointless dialogue and romantic entanglements as it kills time between action sequences. Speaking of which, Girdler stages a couple of memorable ones: the first a fun chase scene shot during the Kentucky State Fair and the second a squib-filled shootout on the Ohio river complete the speedboats and jet skis. As expected, Grier acquaints herself quite well in all of them, looking fabulous in high heels, short shorts and wetsuit alike.

But the toned down sex and violence leaves the film struggling to justify its existence beyond Grier's presence. The ghetto '70s vibe, complete with comic relief pimps and a funkadelic theme song, are good for some surface-level kicks. But Sheba, Baby just doesn't give its fierce leading lady much to worth with.

Arrow Video offers up a damn fine presentation none-the-less, with an "I-dare-you-to-find-a-speck-of-dirt" high definition transfer and several worthwhile extras including an interview with producer David Sheldon (who also shows up on one of the two included audio commentaries), a Blaxploitation overview with film historian Chris Poggiali along with a photo gallery, trailer and liner notes.

Blaxploitation, sheba, movie, louisville, kentucky, tough chick cinema, 1970s, Pam Grier is one of the fines women on this planet, This is very good movie for all the right reasons. It was a nice movie for my collection.