By Richard Harland Smith
Black Belt Jones
Brief Synopsis
A martial-arts champion steps in to defend his friend's gym from a mob takeover.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Robert Clouse
Director
Jim Kelly
Gloria Hendry
Scatman Crothers
Eddie Bo Smith
Fred Weintraub
Film Details
MPAA Rating
Genre
Crime
Action
Adventure
Comedy
Martial Arts
Release Date
1974
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 25m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Technicolor)
Synopsis
Unfortunately for Pops, his karate studio is in a section of downtown that is targeted for redevelopment. The Mafia decides to buy his business, and thugs arrive to pressure him into selling, but in the process, they accidentally kill the elderly man. His heartbroken students call on kung-fu expert Black Belt Jones to help Pops' daughter Sydney hold onto the building. Sydney is also proficient in martial arts, and the two of them work as a team against the mob.
Director
Robert Clouse
Director
Cast
Jim Kelly
Gloria Hendry
Scatman Crothers
Eddie Bo Smith
Fred Weintraub
Mel Novak
Sonny Barnes
Andre Philippe
Erl Brown
Esther Sutherland
Malik Carter
Nate Esformes
Alan Weeks
Eric Laneuville
Alex Brown
Vincent Barbi
Crew
Dennis Coffy
Music
Luchi De Jesus
Music
Paul Heller
Producer
Martin Hornstein
Assistant Director
Michael Kahn
Editor
Charles Darin Knight
Sound
Charles R Pierce
Set Decorator
Alexandra Rose
From Story
Kent Wakeford
Cinematographer
Bob Wall
Advisor
Fred Weintraub
From Story
Fred Weintraub
Producer
Oscar Williams
Screenplay
Film Details
MPAA Rating
Genre
Crime
Action
Adventure
Comedy
Martial Arts
Release Date
1974
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 25m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Technicolor)
Articles
Black Belt Jones -
Given the popularity among inner city moviegoers of martial arts films - particularly, but not limited to, those starring Bruce Lee - the merging of kung fu cinema and Blaxploitation was inevitable. Lee's untimely death in July 1973 opened the door for a fleet of contenders to fill the gap, among them Hollywood-based middleweight karate champion Jim Kelly. Kelly had been a last minute addition to the cast of Warner Bros.' Enter the Dragon (1973), Lee's last completed film, and the studio was quick to exploit the association of the late master with their new star. Signed to an exclusive three-picture deal, Kelly debuted as a leading man in Black Belt Jones (1974), which reunited him with Enter the Dragon director Robert Clouse in the tale of a martial arts phenom who partners with the daughter (Gloria Hendry) of a murdered dojo owner (Scatman Crothers) to thwart a Mafia real estate grab. Ads for Black Belt Jones identified its star as Jim "Dragon" Kelly but many martial arts purists complained that Kelly seemed to be mimicking Bruce Lee's fighting style rather than establishing his own. During production of Black Belt Jones, fight coordinator Bob Wall noted that Kelly was allowing his kicks and blows to connect with the other actors, risking and at times causing genuine injury. To curb this unprofessional tendency, Wall paired Kelly in a scene with black belt heavyweight Jim Bottoms, who informed the movie newcomer that he would tear off his head if he forgot to pull his punches; the remainder of the shoot continued without incident.
By Richard Harland Smith
By Richard Harland Smith
Black Belt Jones -
Given the popularity among inner city moviegoers of martial arts films - particularly, but not limited to, those starring Bruce Lee - the merging of kung fu cinema and Blaxploitation was inevitable. Lee's untimely death in July 1973 opened the door for a fleet of contenders to fill the gap, among them Hollywood-based middleweight karate champion Jim Kelly. Kelly had been a last minute addition to the cast of Warner Bros.' Enter the Dragon (1973), Lee's last completed film, and the studio was quick to exploit the association of the late master with their new star. Signed to an exclusive three-picture deal, Kelly debuted as a leading man in Black Belt Jones (1974), which reunited him with Enter the Dragon director Robert Clouse in the tale of a martial arts phenom who partners with the daughter (Gloria Hendry) of a murdered dojo owner (Scatman Crothers) to thwart a Mafia real estate grab. Ads for Black Belt Jones identified its star as Jim "Dragon" Kelly but many martial arts purists complained that Kelly seemed to be mimicking Bruce Lee's fighting style rather than establishing his own. During production of Black Belt Jones, fight coordinator Bob Wall noted that Kelly was allowing his kicks and blows to connect with the other actors, risking and at times causing genuine injury. To curb this unprofessional tendency, Wall paired Kelly in a scene with black belt heavyweight Jim Bottoms, who informed the movie newcomer that he would tear off his head if he forgot to pull his punches; the remainder of the shoot continued without incident.
By Richard Harland Smith
Quotes
Who the fuck hit me?- Pinky
Batman, muthafucka!- Black Belt Jones
Choose money over honey? Shiiiiit. Man, you can pull out my groin, just gimme that coin! Man, I'd rather be dead than not have any bread! Pinky's mama didn't raise no fool!- Pinky
I'm gonna make you sweat one way... and then the other.- Black Belt Jones
Come on back if you want some more! If you want some more, then come on back!- Quincy
I got superfly!- Pop Byrd
I'm gonna make you look like a sick faggot.- Sydney
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1974
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1974
