Black Samson (1974)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Charles Bail

Writers:

Daniel B. Cady (story)
Warren Hamilton Jr. (writer)

Release Date:

14 August 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

Every Brother's Friend. Every Mother's Enemy.

Plot Keywords:

Switchblade | Wheelchair | Take Over | Martial Arts | Nightclub

Cast

Rockne Tarkington	...	Samson
William Smith	...	Johnny Nappa
Connie Strickland	...	Tina
Carol Speed	...	Leslie
Michael Payne	...	Arthur
Joe Tornatore	...	Harry
Titos Vandis	...	Joseph Nappa
Napoleon Whiting	...	Old Henry
John Alderman	...	Michael Briggs
Fred Scheiwiller	...	Charlie Frisco
Ernest Robinson	...	Ragamuffin
Nick Dimitri	...	Milo
Ken Bell	...	C.T
Junero Jennings	...	Shine
Marvin Walters	...	Junkie
Shelley St. Clair	...	Nappa's Secretary
Edgar Charles	...	Bar Patron
Kenneth Crowe	...	Vic
Tracy Ann King	...	Widow
Marcello 'Dino' Davis	...	Biker #1
Howard 'Candyman' Robinson	...	Biker #2
Whitey Hughes	...	Nappa's Gang
Erik Cord	...	Nappa's Gang (as Eric Cord)
Bob Herron	...	Nappa's Gang
Alfred Shelly	...	Nappa's Gang (as Al Shelly)
Leonard P. Geer	...	Nappa's Gang (as Leonard Geer)
Charlie Picerni	...	Nappa's Gang (as Charles Picerni)
Jack Verbois	...	Nappa's Gang
Bill Shannon	...	Nappa's Gang
Hank Calia	...	Nappa's Gang
Gene LeBell	...	Nappa's Gang
Wayne King Sr.	...	Nappa's Gang
Phil Adams	...	Nappa's Gang
Tommy J. Huff	...	Nappa's Gang (as Tom Huff)
Frank Orsatti	...	Nappa's Gang
Tony Brubaker	...	Nappa's Gang
Gary Johnson	...	Nappa's Gang
Damu King	...	Samson's Street People
James Coubar	...	Samson's Street People
Keith Tarkington	...	Samson's Street People
De De Young	...	Samson's Street People
Connie Morgan	...	Samson's Street People
DeForest Covan	...	Samson's Street People
Ken Springs	...	Samson's Street People (as Kenny Springs)
Jake Vernon Porter	...	Samson's Street People (as Jake Porter)
Terry Leonard	...	Samson's Street People
Peaches Jones	...	Samson's Street People
Bob Minor	...	Samson's Street People
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marilyn Joi	...	Widow (as Tracy Ann King)

Directed by
Charles Bail

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Daniel B. Cady		story
Warren Hamilton Jr.		writer

Produced by
Daniel Cady	....	producer

Original Music by
Allen Toussaint

Cinematography by
Henning Schellerup

Film Editing by
Duane Hartzell

Art Direction by
Ed Cosby

Makeup Department
Tino Zacchia	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eddy Donno	....	assistant director (as Eddie Donno)

Sound Department
Bob Biggart	....	sound effects
Pat Somerset	....	sound effects
Clark Will	....	sound

Special Effects by
Greg Auer	....	special effects
Roger George	....	special effects
Howard Jensen	....	special effects

Stunts
Phil Adams	....	stunts
Tony Brubaker	....	stunts
Hank Calia	....	stunts
Erik Cord	....	stunts
Nick Dimitri	....	stunts
Eddy Donno	....	stunt coordinator
Leonard P. Geer	....	stunts
Bob Herron	....	stunts
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts
Whitey Hughes	....	stunts
Gray Johnson	....	stunts
Peaches Jones	....	stunts
Wayne King Sr.	....	stunts
Gene LeBell	....	stunts
Terry Leonard	....	stunts
Bob Minor	....	stunts
Frank Orsatti	....	stunts
Charlie Picerni	....	stunts
Bill Shannon	....	stunts
Alfred Shelly	....	stunts
Jack Verbois	....	stunts
Marvin Walters	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Ray Icely	....	assistant camera
Mike Petrich	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Peg Hopkins	....	wardrober

Editorial Department
Melvin Shapiro	....	supervising editor

Other crew
Hanna Hemstead	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Omni Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1974) (USA) (theatrical)
• Coast Films (1981) (USA) (theatrical) (retitled re-release)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 | USA:R | Netherlands:16

Company:

Omni Pictures

Quotes:

[In Samson's Bar. Nappa's man are making trouble. Samson gets angry]
Samson: Just keep your people out of here!
Johnny Nappa: But you have a bar. You have a licence. You have to serve anybody who comes in here, don't you?
Samson: [smiles] Yeah, but this is a lousy bar with a lousy service!

Movie Connections:

Edited into 42nd Street Forever, Volume 2: The Deuce (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Black Samson

Who's the man??? Black Samson!!!

If you are into unintentional comedy, classic one liners or a ridiculous plot then this movie is for you. This along with Dolomite should be in the Blackploitation hall of fame!! Rockne Tarkington's performance is electric as the staff wielding, lion owning barowner Samson. He truly is the man. Add to to this William Smith's over the top Johnny Napa, Samson's hysterical hoochie mama and one badass mortician and you have the makings of an epic battle. The stakes?? Control of the ghetto!!. The tension builds until a final conflict replete with matresses being thrown off a roof, ultimately settles the score! A true period piece if there ever was one. Thumbs up! Way up!!