Hit Casey

HIT MAN-1972-Crazy blaxpoitation film with a lawyer Tyrone Tackett (Bernie Casey; also in the TV horror movie GARGOYLES the same year) investigating his brother's death. He locks horns with wimpy gangster Huey (Roger E. Mosley) and gets involved with porno movies when he discovers his niece Rochelle (Candy All) is an actress in them. He also crosses path with a white gangster Zito (Don Diamond; Crazy Cat on the '60's TV show F-TROOP). A stand out funny role is delivered by Sam Laws as Sherwood, a friend of the dead guy. Pam Grier (after roles in THE TWILIGHT PEOPLE and THE BIG BIRD CAGE) is featured as a prostitute (going topless) who winds up getting eaten by a tiger!

This is full of characters (especially Casey) in  outrageous outfits and terrible hip dialogue ("I Have not yet to get on your case,brother"). A disgusting highlight is an illegal dog fight. It's pretty stupid but still entertaining. John Lupton appears briefly as the director of a commercial. Director George Armitage later made VIGILANTE FORCE and GROSSE POINTE BLANK.

It's based on the novel JACK'S RETURN HOME by Ted Lewis  which was also the basis for the 1971 fim GET CARTER. Marilyn Joi (using the name Tracy Ann King) is also in it.

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Praise The Lord!

SWEET JESUS, PREACHERMAN-1973-Roger E. Mosley (who was in THE MACK the same year) stars as a hit man who pretends to be a Baptist preacher in Watts to fix up the criminal activities of a mobster (William Smith, who was in INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS the same year). Michael Pataki is a racist senator trying to get the black vote. His assistant is played by Marla Gibbs (soon to be the smart talking maid on TV’s THE JEFFERSONS). The dialogue and some of the acting is laughable at times but there’s some action to keep the story interesting.

Director Henning Schellerup was also a cinematographer on many films and made some pseudo-docu-dramas (like IN SEARCH OF HISTORIC JESUS) for Sunn Classics. Smith and Pataki were in GRAVE OF THE VAMPIRE the next year.

Thanks for reading and Happy New Year!