Five on the Black Hand Side

Five on the Black Hand Side (1973) is a movie that I recently watched on Tubi. The storyline follows a barber and his macho, controlling and overbearing ways. He jokes at the shop that the success to marriage is based on the ability to train and develop your wife into what you want. He's about to be in for a surprise when his wife isn't going to take it any longer and she is going to leave him. Is the barber willing to change to keep a happy home or will his life be ripped apart because he's stubborn?

This movie is directed by Oscar Williams (Hot Potato) and stars Godfrey Cambridge (Cotton Comes to Harlem), Glynn Turman (Gremlins), Dick Anthony Williams (The Jerk), Clarice Taylor (Smoke), Ja'net DuBois (Good Times) and D'Urville Martin (Sheba, Baby).

This is a unique addition to the 1970s blaxploitation genre. The acting is fantastic and I adored the depiction of the family dynamics, how different the brothers were, and how the family had to find ways to stick together to face the world despite their differences in perspectives. There was more depth to this than I anticipated. The acting was out of this world and the characters were a lot of fun and easy to root for (and against). There is worthwhile storytelling with great subplots and some small doses of comedy sprinkled in here are there. The barbershop scenes are legendary.

Overall, this is an underrated blaxploitation film that is an absolute must see. I would score this an 8/10 and strongly recommend it.