IMDb RATING
6.4/10
3.9K
YOUR RATING
Raised in Harlem, Tommy Gibbs becomes a successful mob boss but he clashes with the rival Mafia and his old enemy, dirty cop McKinney.Raised in Harlem, Tommy Gibbs becomes a successful mob boss but he clashes with the rival Mafia and his old enemy, dirty cop McKinney.Raised in Harlem, Tommy Gibbs becomes a successful mob boss but he clashes with the rival Mafia and his old enemy, dirty cop McKinney.
Julius Harris
- Mr. Gibbs
- (as Julius W. Harris)
Allan Bailey
- 'Motor'
- (as Allen W. Bailey)
Francisco De Gracia
- Cab Driver
- (as Francisco DeGracia)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhile filming in Harlem, Larry Cohen was accosted by local gangsters who threatened to disrupt the shoot unless they were paid off. Instead, Cohen offered them small roles in the film. They helped so enthusiastically that they attended the premiere to sign autographs.
- GoofsTommy cuts off the left ear of the man in the barber's chair, but the ear he drops into the plate of spaghetti is a right ear.
- Quotes
Reverend Rufus: Mama! Does Tommy know you're here?
Mama Gibbs: Pray for him, Rufus... you were always a good boy, pray for him.
Reverend Rufus: Okay Mama, we'll pray for him.
- Alternate versionsThe European version included an additional scene before the end credits, where, after Tommy Gibbs is seen wandering in a neighborhood slum, a street gang robs him and fatally beats him up. This sequence was originally cut from U.S. prints, as AIP was already interested in making a sequel. However, in the late 1990s, when MGM bought the Orion Pictures library, the European cut made its way to home video, due to a mix-up on MGM's part. Therefore, all current video releases, to this day, feature this print.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hell Up in Harlem (1973)
Featured review
The Sum Didn't Equal the Parts
Having grown up in extreme poverty in New York City and seeing firsthand the corruption, racism and criminal activity of those in law enforcement, "Tommy Gibbs" (Fred Williamson) decides that he wants to rise to the top and doesn't care what it takes. So he murders a mobster in cold blood to ingratiate himself with a rival kingpin and for this is allowed to set up his own small operation in an unprofitable part of Harlem. What follows is a steady rise to power helped in great measure by his obtaining some ledgers which list all of the corrupt politicians and the payments made to them under the table. Now, as far as a "blaxploitation film" is concerned this one wasn't too bad. Fred Williamson performed decently enough but my main concern was that it seemed like the sum didn't equal the parts. To be more specific, there were some very good scenes but they weren't connected very well. All in all then it wasn't a bad film and those who enjoy movies in this genre might like this one too. I rate it as average.
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- Uriah43
- Apr 8, 2014
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