Darktown Strutters (The Film Detective Restored Version)

When I'm bored, I usually sift through old movies. I don't like the term " Blaxploitation " , or referring to any movies from that era, simply because there aren't any " Whiteploitation , Asianploitation, Hispanicploitation or Eskimoploitation " films anywhere in the world. With that said, I loved this movie. It was hip, funky, funny, Action packed and pretty damn classy for a 70s flick.The film is about the leader of an all Black female Biker gang looking for her Mother who was kidnapped, trying to uncover a conspiracy to genetically clone people. There are loads if stereotypical references such as the Police being terrified of Black people, Ku klux Klan, a Plantation full of cotton picking black folk, Corporate Chicken tycoon Colonial Sanders selling Ribs instead of fried chicken and controversial imagery in Blackface. The film was brilliant in the fact that it tackled racism head 1st and offered a comedic aspect of an alternate reality that many people of that era had never faced .Overall the film was delightful and a Juxtapose of a splash of Science fiction, a Musical and Action all rolled into one.P.S.The Orange Jumpsuit was kicking

In the current climate of the world this film would be ripped apart for its portrayal of the characters in the film. Blackface, check. Cross dressing, check. Campy over the top racial stereotypes and hyper male/female sexuality, check. Bumbling racist white police officers, double check. Outside of the costuming and the music , The Mad Lads” Don’t Have To Shop Around”, The Dramatics “Whatcha See is Whatcha Get”, there aren’t many redeeming qualities to this film. These offer both visual and auditory ear/eye candy but that’s it. Treat this as a Twinkie, you know you shouldn’t but you eat it anyway. A very poor attempt at Benny Hill campness and comedy antics. A KKK car chases in the hood, really? I’ve seen just about every film in this so-called genre and this one by far is one of the worse. For fans of 80’s tv there are quite a few familiar faces which I won’t give away, you’ll have to peep that for yourself. I could care less about PC politics and the lack of in the film, that is not the issue. What is offensive is how bad the film is. A waste of talent on behalf of the female leads in the film. Put them in a better quality action film, with a better plot then the camp would be enjoyable like TNT Jackson or The Muthers. Those films were fun and two of my favorites. Wasted potential this film is.

Foxy Brown meets The Monkeys meets Dr. Goldfoot meets Hell's Angels on Wheels! Who knew the KKK could be such great comic foils. I suppose they had to be good for something. This movie does for White Supremacists what Hogan's Heroes did for the Nazis, and God help us all! Familiar faces from early 70's Blaxplotation fill the screen, from Sanford and Son, to Mother Jefferson herself. Blaxplotation was an absurdist genre to begin with, lambasting Hollywood memes and tropes, and it's not easy to make a parody of a parody, but I think they pulled it off. Well hidden for 45 years, this film's spirit cannot be crushed. We're off to see The Wizard of Watts! Oh-We-Oh!

I liked this a lot in the beginning. I especially love the costumes the girls wear. But the wacky schtick sort of got worn out halfway through the movie. That's also about the time the Klan shows up and things get particularly racist. If you like exploitation films and 70s weirdness, it's probably worth a look. But if you don't make it until the end, don't worry. The ending isn't that memorable.

If you don't like this slice of stylish, funny as hell bizarro world, you need a blood transfusion. Goofy, insane and a whole lot of funky satire, this blaxploitation /musical crime caper is a niche, cult film that just gets better w/every viewing. Trina Parks is beautiful, funny and has a fantastic screen presence . Warning: if you have no sense of humor or a sense irony, skip this.

You could say this film provided roles and exposure for black talent, and that would be true. You could imagine yourself back in college film class and write that it was a significant milestone in the entry of black culture into the film business, which would be wildly generous assessment of its qualities. But I think the significance of this film would be on young black people considering a career in film, who would see it and think "I should go for it- I can certainly do better than THAT."

Probably the most outrageous blaxploitation film I've ever seen. So insane and offensive it circle backs and kicks its own ass. Surreal, hysterical, offensive, and brilliant. Loved it. Highly recommend to freak out.

Pass on this one