Rent Black Caesar (1973)
3.3 of 5 from 58 ratings
1h 30min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Fred Williamson is imposing, tough an unflappable as a street kid who muscles his way into the big-time mob racket in this super-slick crime drama which became the smash hit of its genre and spawned a successful sequel. Tommy Gibbs has always had it tough. Growing up on the streets without a father and trying to make his mother proud, Tommy resorts to running errands for The Man. But when a crooked cop beats him up, Tommy realises there's a better way to live: by making The Man deliver for him! Infiltrating - and then destroying - the infamous Cardoza family, Tommy takes over Manhattan as the first black Godfather and puts the squeeze on anyone who dares to get in his way - including the crooked cop! But as he tightens his grip on others, he loses his hold on the most important things in his own life, making him the vulnerable target of cutthroat gangster who ever dreamt of ruling an empire! - Actors:
- Fred Williamson, Gloria Hendry, Art Lund, D'Urville Martin, Julius Harris, Minnie Gentry, Philip Roye, William Wellman Jr., James Dixon, Val Avery, Patrick McAllister, Don Pedro Colley, Myrna Hansen, Omer Jeffrey, Michael Jeffrey
- Directors:
- Larry Cohen
- Producers:
- Larry Cohen, Benjamin Fisz, Kenneth Rive
- Writers:
- Larry Cohen
- Studio:
- MGM Home Entertainment
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama
- Collections:
- A Brief History of Films About American Football, Cinema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 2, A Brief History of Film...
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Reviews (1) of Black Caesar
Fast Rise, Rough Ride, Funky Finish - Black Caesar review by griggs
Rough around the edges but never dull, Black Caesar punches above its weight for much of its runtime. It opens with swagger—setting up a revenge arc laced with righteous fury—and for a while, it marches like a street-level Scarface. But somewhere in the middle, the story hits fast-forward, skipping beats that might’ve given the rise-and-fall arc more weight.
Still, there’s plenty to admire. Fred Williamson carries it with stone-faced charisma, and James Brown’s soundtrack does more than keep pace—it practically drives the action. Some scenes catch you off guard, not just for their sudden violence but for how raw and pointed they feel. One moment in particular is as ugly as it is unforgettable.
It doesn’t all hold together, but there’s real energy here, and a few flashes of something deeper beneath the genre grit. Black Caesar might veer off course, but it circles back with just enough punch to make the journey worthwhile.
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