Three the Hard Way

• Director: Gordon Parks, Jr.
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Drama
• Movie Type: Blaxploitation
• Themes: Vigilantes, Assassination Plots
• Main Cast: Fred Cash, Angelyn Chester, Sam Gooden, Ralph Johnson, Pamela Serpe, Reggie Torian
• Release Year: 1974
• Country: US
• Run Time: 93 minutes
• MPAA Rating: R

Plot

The "three" alluded to in the title are played by Jim Brown, Fred Williamson and Jim Kelly. Letting their fists do all the talking, the hard-nosed trio takes on a neofascist organization. It is the avowed purpose of this all-white hate group to "cleanse" Los Angeles, Detroit and Washington DC of all blacks. To do this, they plan to poison the drinking water with a secret formula that affects only African Americans. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Review

Three The Hard Way captures the blaxploitation genre at its most outrageous and entertaining. The script is pure comic book stuff, with the wild "racist poison" premise being used as a springboard for a string of scenes where the heroes duke it out with the baddies in exotic locations (that is, when they aren't strutting their stuff). It could have been silly if told the wrong way but it plays out as pure drive-in fun here, delivered with style and good humor. Part of this is due to the direction of Gordon Parks, Jr.: he gives the film a breathless pace and handles the action scenes with kinetic flair. Most importantly, he gives his three leads plenty of room to make their presence felt. This was a wise choice because Jim Brown, Fred Williamson and Jim Kelly all have charisma to spare and they each bring a different style to the table: Brown has a deadpan "no nonsense" approach, Williamson offers a sly sense of humor and Kelly is all swagger (with the martial arts skills to back it up). The final piece of the puzzle is a catchy song-score by the Impressions -- complete with a plot-synopsizing theme song -- that seals the period charm of the film with its funky, sleek musical stylings. All in all, Three The Hard Way is one of the most purely entertaining films to emerge from the blaxploitation genre and is thus a must for fans. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide

Cast

Richard Angarola - Dr. Fortrero; Jeanie Bell; Corbin Bernsen - Boy; Victor Brandt; Janice Carroll - Nurse; David Chow - Link; Robert Cleaves - Doctor; Marian Collier - Eva; Roberta Collins - Lait's Secretary; Sheila Frazier - Wendy Kane; Don Gazzaniga - Guard; Junero Jennings - House; Jim Kelly - Mister Keyes; Charles McGregor - Charley; Marie O'Henry - Princess; Howard Platt - Keep; Renie Radich - Girl; Jay Robinson - Monroe Feather; Alex Rocco - Lt. DiNisco; Lance Taylor Sr. - Pool Player; Jim Brown - Jimmy Lait; Irene Tsu - Empress; Fred Williamson - Jagger Daniels; Mario Roccuzzo; Norman Evans - NY Cop; Fred Cash; Angelyn Chester - Chicago Girl; Sam Gooden; Ralph Johnson; Pamela Serpe - Countess; Reggie Torian

Credit

Leon Chooluck - Associate Producer, Gene Anderson - First Assistant Director, Gordon Parks, Jr. - Director, Robert Swink - Editor, Richard Tufo - Composer (Music Score), Richard Tufo - Songwriter, Lowrell Simon - Songwriter, Lucien Ballard - Cinematographer, Harry Bernsen - Producer, Joe Lombardi - Special Effects, Alan Bernard - Sound/Sound Designer, Hal Needham - Stunts, Eric Bercovici - Screenwriter, Jerry Ludwig - Screenwriter

Similar Movies

Across 110th Street; Bucktown; Shaft; The Black Six

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