Bucktown (1975)
Duke Johnson visits a small Southern town, intent on burying his brother. After the funeral, he learns that he must stay for 60 days, for the estate to be processed. A few locals convince Duke to reopen his late brother's nightclub, and soon the local redneck policemen are intimidating Duke with threats of violence. Duke refuses to pay the bribes they demand, so then he and his lady friend Aretha are threatened and attacked by the crooked cops. Rather than take them on himself, Duke calls on his old pal Roy. Roy brings a few buddies to Bucktown, and they bring justice to the small town. With the redneck cops out of the way, Duke lets his guard down. Then the situation gets out of hand again. Finally, Duke must settle the score himself.
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Such a frustrating disappointment
Simply Perfect
Powerful
A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.
Although it's not quite as much fun as its dynamite star combo (Fred Williamson - Pam Grier) prepares you for, "Bucktown" offers a thoughtful examination of the link between power and corruption. Countering the charges of reverse-racism that have often been made against the blaxploitation genre as a whole, "Bucktown" suggests that corruption is color-blind. But don't worry, the film still has enough violence and jive talk to satisfy the more undemanding fans of the genre. The stunning Pam Grier gives one of her finest performances in an atypical (for the era) non-action role; it's also interesting to see Carl Weathers in a fairly prominent supporting role, just one year before he hit the big time as Apollo Creed in "Rocky". **1/2 out of 4.
Bucktown (1975) ** (out of 4) Blaxploitation flick about a man (Fred Williamson) who travels south to bury his brother but learns that the place is being run by a bunch of crackers (redneck white folks). After the cops try bullying him, the man calls in his posse and soon they wipe out the rednecks but then the posse wants to take over, which Mr. Williamson isn't going to stand for. This film starts out very entertaining with the type of trash you'd expect from 70's blaxploitation. You got some great dialogue including a brilliantly funny line from Williamson regarding a pig and you've got countless, over the top racial slurs being thrown around in such jive that you can't help but laugh. What really kills the film is when the posse shows up because the violence is so strong and distasteful that it actually kills the good time the film was having. The second half with Williamson taking on his posse is just downright boring. Pam Grier plays the love interest with Carl Weathers playing one member of the posse.
Pam Grier and Fred Williamson are teamed once again in this exciting drama! Made in the 70's Fred was at his best! The action is non stop in this thriller! Besides who needs to know how to act when you have Mr. Williamson running around in those tight pants! Women swooned when he appeared on Screen! A must for fans of these movies made in the 70's!
"Bucktown" is certainly less melodramatic and more savvy than most 70's blaxploitation fare. In this film, Fred Williamson stars as Duke, who returns home to Bucktown to bury his brother and resume business at his brother's bar. He soon discovers the corrupt white police force had his brother - alongside everyone else - in their pocket and intend to keep it that way. Urging against any confrontation is the eternally sexy Pam Grier as Aretha, a local. Duke calls in some friends from the big city to oust the cops, who are led by Duke's longtime pal Roy. Once the cops are out, the grateful mayor wants to thank Duke's friends with a great parade; but unbeknownst to Duke, Roy and his crew become aware of the judicial and financial power the police force had, and now suddenly have other plans...One thing I really enjoyed about this film is that while I enjoy (over and over) the many films where Pam Grier is naked, it was nice to see one of her blaxploitation films where her nudity is dissolved to only one scene. Also, she isn't scantily clad in every frame. She appears classic and tasteful in fine outfits with glittering earrings and complimenting make-up. I know you guys want - and are accustomed to - seeing her breasts every 10 minutes, but I found it a nice change of pace to see her in a more graceful light. The final showdown of the film is tremendous, loaded with hilariously menacing "I'm gonna beat you down, boy" prologues between the two combatants. There is also good use made of a tank in this film, but I don't want to spoil the whole experience for you. Check it out for yourself.