The Mack (1973)

Director:

Michael Campus

Writer:

Robert J. Poole (written by)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

They're doing the job the cops can't!

Plot:

Goldie returns from five years at the state pen and winds up king of the pimping game. Trouble comes...

Plot Keywords:

Pimp | Death | Police | Oakland California | Black Militant

Cast

Max Julien	...	Goldie
Don Gordon	...	Hank
Richard Pryor	...	Slim
Carol Speed	...	Lulu
Roger E. Mosley	...	Olinga
William Watson	...	Jed
George Murdock	...	Fatman
Juanita Moore	...	Mother
Paul Harris	...	Blind man
Kai Hernandez	...	Chico
Annazette Chase	...	China Doll
Junero Jennings	...	Baltimore Bob
Lee Duncan	...	Sgt. Duncan
Stu Gilliam	...	Announcer
Sandra Brown	...	Diane
Christopher Brooks	...	Jesus Christ
Fritz Ford	...	Desk sergeant
John Vick	...	Hotel trick
Norma McClure	...	Big woman
David Mauro	...	Laughing David
Allen Van	...	Bodyguard
Willie Redman	...	Bodyguard
Frank Ward	...	Himself
Ted Ward	...	Himself
Willie Ward	...	Himself
Andrew Ward	...	Himself
Roosevelt Taylor	...	Himself
Jay Payton	...	Himself
Terrible Tom	...	Himself
Bill Barnes	...	Himself
John Foster	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dick Anthony Williams	...	Pretty Toney (as Dick Richard)
Paul E. Harris	...	Blind man (uncredited)
Russ Kratzer	...	(uncredited)
June Wilkinson	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Campus

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Robert J. Poole		written by

Produced by
Harvey Bernhard	....	producer

Original Music by
Willie Hutch

Cinematography by
Ralph Woolsey

Film Editing by
Frank C. Decot

Casting by
Marvin Paige

Sound Department
Bud Alper	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Cliff Wenger	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
George Holmes	....	gaffer
Joseph M. Wilcots	....	camera operator (as Joe Wilcots)

Editorial Department
R. Hansel Brown	....	additional editor

Music Department
Jay Warner	....	musical director

Production Companies

• Harbor Productions

Distributors

• Ambassador Film Distributors (1973) (Canada) (theatrical)
• American International Pictures (AIP) (1978) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Cinerama Releasing Corporation (1973) (USA) (theatrical)
• New Line Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Deluxe  color by
• Glen Glenn Sound  sound by
• Neiman-Tillar Associates  sound effects by

Also Known As:

The Mack and His Pack

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Glen Glenn Sound)

Certification:

Australia:R | Norway:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Oakland, California, USA

Company:

Harbor Productions

Trivia:

Michael Campus described working with Richard Pryor as 'difficult,' claiming he would often show up high, if at all. He was surprised how well the performance came off in the finished product.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Breaks (1999)

Soundtrack:

Brother's Goin' to Work It Out

Can you buy that?

Great movie, with gritty realism. Not blaxploitation in the vein of "Blacula", "Truck Turner" or "Black Frankenstein".

Recently got the DVD, cleaned up nicely. Contains the documentary "Mackin' Ain't Easy", which tells the story of the macking, er, making of "The Mack", with the Hill Brothers, from Oakland's underworld, helping to make the movie, while Huey Newton & the Black Panthers trying to stop it.

Again, this is a great movie, and a fine addition to any DVD collection.