Wayback Wed is Back

This song is not a personal favorite but the video is.  However, I have to point out a small snafu.  The theme is the celebration of Black beauty from a forgotten era but...the Pam Grier still is kind of an oxymoron.  One (in the red outfit) is a publicity shot from the blaxploitation era.  The second is from her small (but important) role in 1972's Hit Man.  I won't give up the spoiler but right here, Ms. Grier was truly foul as a bottom chick/porn actress.  Thank God for Bernie Casey and that lion!

The Best of Bernie Casey...RIP

This is only a small fraction of this legend's accomplishments. His meatier roles can't be embedded and I was really hoping that that his 1979 TV drama, Harris and Company would be available in some form. More than two decades before Flex Alexander played a single Black father in a network show, Casey did it first in an hour-long drama. After it was unceremoniously dropped from ABC's lineup, these episodes haven't seen the light of day since.

 

Thank you for sharing your talents with the world, Mr. Casey.

Jim Brown Fans Tune into Bounce TV Tonight

If the summer heat is too much to deal with, Brown Sugar Saturday night has you covered with a blaxploitation triple threat.  Starting with Black Gunn (1972), Take a Hard Ride (1975 with Fred Williamson), and I Escaped from Devil's Island (1973).

Jim Brown has a lot in common with my favorite, Bernie Casey, as they always played solid characters on screen and got their start playing professional ball.  Of tonight's trifecta, I recommend Black Gunn.  It's filmed in L.A.'s west side, has an interesting plot, and the leading lady is the late Teresa Graves of Get Christie Love.

Hopefully, you'll enjoy the little bonus I threw in at the top, 1967's Riot. 

Brown Sugar Streaming Review

You've most likely seen the commercials and wondered what's up, as there's not much to be found online. Is is really like Netflix for black folks? Being the blaxploitation movie junkie that I am, I decided to give the free trial a shot.  

Will this rare movie ever make it Bounce TV's new streaming service?

So the sign-up process is pretty cut and dry.  I load this onto my Chromebook mainly because the memory won't have to fight with Adobe CC on my laptop for space.  Plus the device is less than a year old and because it's so finicky about what a person can download, there's room for a streaming service.

At four dollars a month, it's half the price of Hulu (with commercials) but in viewing the inventory, it takes a moment to see if it's worth THAT much.  Brown Sugar has the standards (the Superfly and Shaft trilogies), along with some flicks that are seeing new life like ABAR, the Black Superman and my favorites Willie Dynamite and Hit Man with Bernie Casey.


Upon second glance, I notice a few that aren't familiar but I remember that movies like Black Starlet have alternate titles (Black Gauntlet).  This was the case in one of my favorites that I don't own, Black Sister's Revenge, also titled 'Emma Mae' in the Brown Sugar catalog.  So what is my conclusion?

Basically, if you like to collect (VHS tapes included), this might be a waste of money.  Or, if you have a great relationship (as in you don't mind the interruptions) with YouTube, you can take a chance on movies that may be there one day and gone the following week.  If you're Amazon friendly, I've always had good service with Gateway Cosmetics and other vendors that specialize in Black movie sales.

Brown Sugar streaming is great for the binge watcher with no space for a bunch of discs or watches in the peak hours.

As far as the experience itself goes....it was Saturday and its me with the Chromebook.  I look up a movie from 1968 with Max Julien that I think I saw but not 100% sure.  It takes a moment to load, so I go get snacks (3-5 mins).  Upon return, I recognize the opening theme but sit for the first 5 minutes.  Not even into opening scene, there's buffering.  Okay, things take time and this movie is as old as I am so let's refresh.

Ten minutes in, there's no semblance of a plot and the thing is buffering when I remember that I never saw Charleston Blue.  It's not in Brown Sugar's inventory so off to YouTube I go where I get a clean picture with few interruptions and it costs...ZERO.  Not condoning bootlegging but if someone knows of a standing store in the L.A. where legit blaxploitation movies are sold, hit me up!

Anyway, I do have a suggestion.  Why not add the indie flicks that Bounce used to air before they got 90-early 2000s sitcom fever.  Seriously, I love Half and Half too but remember the show only aired for three seasons and was definitely affected by the writer's strike near the end.  Fine @ss Lamman Rucker made those episodes watchable before its unfortunate demise.

Okay, digressing here.  I'm really digging indie movie like the ones Aspire shows in the afternoon but my favorite from the early days of Bounce are Drop Squad, The Stick Up Kids, and the one where a pre-nose job Kerri Washington was a window dresser/booster.  Sorry (hangs head but snickering).  

So Bounce, what's up?  Can we get something different since you don't quite have 100 movies in your catalog (more like 75 as of Feb 2017)?  About a third of those are shown on network and basic cable from time to time, so maybe faster load times.  I've had a similar experience with Google so I'm not knocking your efforts, just suggesting a little fine tuning for the long run.

Bernie Casey...Underrated (Seriously)

I’ve been thinking about Bernie Casey for some time and the unfortunate event on 4/21/16 has pushed me further to give props to our treasures while they’re still here.

Last year, I did a poll that asked the public who they felt the most underrated Blaxploitation actor was at the time.  The winner was the late Vonetta McGee but my personal choice was Bernie Casey for the following reasons.

His range of on-screen characters from the guilt-ridden officer on Cornbread, Earl and Me to the hard-loving but callous (he fed Pam Grier to a lion for pimping out his teenage sister...a real lion with fangs and shit) hustler from Hit Man and long before Dr. Huxtable, he portrayed a loving SINGLE father from the 'burbs on the short-lived network drama Harris & Company.  Let’s not forget the scary flicks like Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde or Gargoyles.

Like Prince, this Gemini has definitely about diversity in his career.  His image was also one of quiet mystery.  Like Jim Brown, he’s a former football player but his acting was a little more cerebral.  Casey has his own rugged good looks that surpassed the pretty-boy stance of Fred Williamson.  Yet, he seemed to be more about a fun and realness that Sidney Poitier and thespians before him lacked in their on-screen presence.  And though the super-smoothness of Billy Dee Williams still holds strong today, Casey is still in a class of his own.,,which for me, seems a little closer to earth.

Though most of his work is during the Blaxploitation period, he has managed to make appearances on TV and a few movies until about 2006.  It would be nice if Quentin Tarantino could give Casey one of Sam Jackson’s parts in his next flick or a strong supporting role so that he could be exposed to a new audience.

Below is a clip from his early 80s miniseries, Sophisticated Gents, where he and a few other familiar faces, like Robert Hooks and Thalmus Rasulala, from the Blaxploitation area show a more multifaceted side of themselves.  Finally, here’s a funny but offbeat article I read about Bernie Casey a few years ago.  Courtesy of Acid Logic.

Blaxploitation movies...the best? the WORST?... IDK

If you have a couple of hours to spare, here are some vids I ran across recently by a chap named Joseph Thomas, who reps his own marketing company (should I ask him for a job since I get my cert in a couple of months?)

Spoiler Alert - While the best pretty much goes without saying, whether they used content, acting skills or box office numbers to determine this, it's the 'Worst' list that has me.

It goes without saying that there is no confusing Dolemite with James Earl Jones but did they have to list 2/3 Bernie Casey movies?  C'mon now....don't toss my heart around like that!  OK maybe I'm biased because Dr. Black and Mr. Hyde was shot in L.A. but....c'mon(LOL).

*shakes head and walks away*

The N Word/Bounce TV

I wasn't born until late 1968 in Los Angeles county.  Like some who grew up on the Westside/LAX area during this time, my few friends were a range of colors and many were the product of a mixed relationship.

When the ING became mostly Black in the 70s, I was pretty shocked to hear kids using that word like they'd been hosed down by law enforcement, chased by dogs or told they couldn't eat somewhere.

I'm not judging though my opinion is that if you're a baby boomer (or born earlier), you have the first-hand knowledge of what it is really like to be discriminated.  Not saying that it doesn't happen today but you will find there are many who initially bring it on themselves (example: Jena 6 case from 2007).

Anyway, I mention this because Bounce TV has been a helluva education.  I can't stress this enough.  For one, I didn't know Blacks did so many western-style movies back then.

Fred Williamson is not one of my favorites when it comes to his actual films though I respect how him and Pam Grier handled their business (they get paid residuals).  The Legend of Nigger Black Charlie did not hold me the way Thomasine & Bushrod did but I found this account rather interesting.


Now speaking of Bounce TV, there are a few programs they should really take out of their lineup as of 5/28/12.

1. Blues Brothers 2000 - or show the original, which was way better, before showing this for the umpteenth time.
2. The List - Wayne Brady is only entertaining ...in that one Dave Chappelle bit
3. Ali - just because it's bunk
4. Leonard Part 6 - even as Mr. Cosby was at the top of his game during this time, this will always be his off-moment
5. Love For Sale - Mya, that video model....mmm,just get the rights to Video Girl with Megan Good

Now, if you can find old episodes of Baby I'm Back, that show where Bernie Casey played a single father  (can't find it online) or Pipe Dreams with Gladys Knight and then-hubby Barry Hankerson, I'll cancel my Redbox account

Those Were the Days

Back when I was growing up between the Century Drive-In and Imperial theater in Inglewood, I didn't realize how much I may have missed out on. I wasn't born until late '68 and I just barely remember the neighborhood kids taking me to see the Melting Man and I cried so much that my mom had to pick me up.

*Sighs* Thanks Mom!

Anyway, back to blaxploitation business.  OK, I watched The Hit Man again and though dude is almost old enough to be my grandfather, I wouldn't mind going out on a date with Bernie Casey.  We both like art and since I just put this link on my FB wall, gotta keep it clean. LOL

Also, I found out who the mystery actors were that appeared in both Hit Man and Cool Breeze.  His name is Sam Laws and finding his pic online is hard because there are about three public figures with this name - and they're White.  Anyway, he's no longer with us as well as Bhetty Waldron/Fast Fanny from the bowling alley on Sanford and Son but I got a clip of her in action w/Fred.

Double Review and a Shout

First shout goes out to GATEWAY cosmetics DVDs Books.  A few weeks ago, I ordered Cool Breeze (with Roger Thomas' daddy as ex-con looking to do a final con) and Hit Man with Bernie Casey.  Got both immediately and couldn't wait to watch for the long holiday but then when I opened Hit Man, it was empty.  And you what? It happens.  So I didn't trip in my explanation to Amazon and even offered to ship the empty case back to the sender at my expense.


In less than 24 hours, they told me to chill and a replacement copy was on its way.  And at my students' graduation this past weekend, I used these people as an example of how to do business in the long run.  Also in the initial shipment, they included an inventory list because we all know how fun it is to go Amazon and try to figure whether to go local or pay the lowest price. LOL


Anyway, I'm not for spoilers, cerebral explanations or abstract speculations, just talk. 

Cool Breeze is about an ex-con who's looking to make one last score with his homeboys.  Pam(ela) Grier was in it for a minute as an overly chatty pro. I could have done without Mr. Thomas flicking his tongue at young women (okay we get it, you like your cat covered in chocolate). The DVD cover art wasn't great but guess what, the pieces they stole from a Beverly Hills shop did resemble those gaudy sh*ts on the cover -- cover girls not included in this film.

Hit Man (1972) was like 1987's Angel Heart where you really have to pay attention as to what's going on to get the entire film.  One thing that was continuous was tiddays, tiddays, tiddays.  Everyone from Fast Fannie (the deep chocolate sister who tried, with her girls from the bowling alley/topless massage parlor, get to Fred Sanfords' "empire" .  Hey, a house is a house -- especially in L.A. where nothing today is under six figures), some other chicks and of course, Pam(ela) Grier.  Her part was a little more substantial as a small-time porn chick/stoner who gets eaten by a lion. Cold.


Also, in both films was a dude who guest starred on the second season of That's My Mama as a stereotypical relative of Clifton Davis character, who tried to hide him from some pseudo-documentary dude profiling Black folks.  Anyway, he's heavy set, dark, wore a perm/conk and seems to have a range of dialects because he sounds different on everything he does.  

Do you know his name or whether he's still around?