Black Belt Jones (1974)

To round off this week's various musings on the subject of Blaxploitation movies, here's the trailer for Black Belt Jones (1974), part of the Blaxploitation/Kung Fu crossover sub-genre that became popular in the mid-seventies.  Black Belt Jones is mainly of interest because it reunites star Jim Kelly with director Robert Clouse - Kelly having had a supporting role in the Clouse-directed Bruce Lee movie Enter the Dragon (1973).  Clouse's films, regardless of budget, often have a rather rough and ready feel about them, lacking a certain slickness.  Interestingly, Black Belt Jones actually has a far smoother feel about it than usual, despite a fairly modest budget.  Kelly stars as the eponymous Kung Fu ass-kicker for hire, initially called in to protect a local dojo owner against local, Mafia backed, gangsters trying to repossess the building by force.  While he's too late to save the dojo owner, he is able to help out his kick ass daughter who actually owns the business.  He also works with the cops to bring down the local Mafia.  

While it's neither top-notch Blaxploitation nor Kung Fu action movie, Black Belt Jones is still pretty entertaining, with plenty of well-staged action.  There's nothing especially original in it, but it runs through the usual cliches smoothly and enjoyably.  While Kelly, although looking impressive, isn't the strongest of leading men, he's well supported by a cast that includes Scatman Crothers and Gloria Hendry, who gives a strong performance as the daughter.  It was popular enough to spawn a 1976 sequel, Hot Potato, once again starring Kelly as Black Belt Jones, but with Oscar Williams taking over as director.  Both films were distributed by Warner Bros rather than AIP, the studio usually associated with Blaxploitation, Warner having had enjoyed some success with the 'mainstream' Blaxploitation movie Up Town Saturday Night (1974), that had starred Sidney Poitier.