The previous film in this series, "Cotton Comes to Harlem" is regarded by many as the first blaxploitation film, though in some ways it's not exactly an example of the genre. Much of it is because unlike traditional blaxploitation, the heroes are cops...albeit NOT typical cops as well as being cops who have a strong dislike for many other cops! It was a dandy film...and is well worth seeing.
"Come Back Charleston Blue" is a sequel, bringing back the police detectives Gravedigger (Godfrey Cambridge) and Coffin Ed (Raymond St. Jacques). And, as usual, they're fighting against folks who seek to exploit the folks in Harlem. However, when it comes to busting pushers, they have a unique problem during much of the film...there seem to be no pushers to arrest! It's because again and again, the pushers are being killed and robbed...and it's all being blamed on a dead man, Charleston Blue....a tough guy who supposedly died four decades ago!
What really is going on in this film is a new mob getting rid of the old mob....the mafia. The story going around town is that the new mob is working for the people...and are dumping the drugs into the river after they confiscate it. Gravedigger and Coffin Ed suspect that these 'do-gooders' are actually just planning on selling the drugs themselves and cutting out the mafia middle men. What the two cops want is to stop anyone who exploits their people...a message that must have resonated well to black inner city audiences of the day.
I don't care whether you are black or not, this is a very good and entertaining film...possibly more so than the original. It holds up well over time and has a much more positive message than many later blaxploitation pics....a message about empowerment and justice.
The film features some excellent drama, a few very good action scenes as well as some occasional humor than made me laugh out loud several times!
