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Black Belt Jones

  • 1974
  • R
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.9K
YOUR RATING
Jim Kelly in Black Belt Jones (1974)
A Mafia buy out of Papa Byrd's karate school downtown ends in his death. Byrd's daughter, Sydney, refuses to sell, and wants revenge. Byrd's students call the Black Belt Jones for help. Jones reluctantly teams with Sydney in many battles.
Play trailer2:59
1 Video
49 Photos
Martial ArtsActionCrime

A Mafia buy out of Papa Byrd's karate school downtown ends in his death. Byrd's daughter, Sydney, refuses to sell, and wants revenge. Byrd's students call the Black Belt Jones for help. Jone... Read allA Mafia buy out of Papa Byrd's karate school downtown ends in his death. Byrd's daughter, Sydney, refuses to sell, and wants revenge. Byrd's students call the Black Belt Jones for help. Jones reluctantly teams with Sydney in many battles.A Mafia buy out of Papa Byrd's karate school downtown ends in his death. Byrd's daughter, Sydney, refuses to sell, and wants revenge. Byrd's students call the Black Belt Jones for help. Jones reluctantly teams with Sydney in many battles.

  • Director
    • Robert Clouse
  • Writers
    • Oscar Williams
    • Fred Weintraub
    • Alexandra Rose
  • Stars
    • Jim Kelly
    • Gloria Hendry
    • Scatman Crothers
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    2.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Clouse
    • Writers
      • Oscar Williams
      • Fred Weintraub
      • Alexandra Rose
    • Stars
      • Jim Kelly
      • Gloria Hendry
      • Scatman Crothers
    • 46User reviews
    • 49Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:59
    Trailer

    Photos49

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    Top cast29

    Edit
    Jim Kelly
    Jim Kelly
    • Black Belt Jones
    Gloria Hendry
    Gloria Hendry
    • Sydney
    Scatman Crothers
    Scatman Crothers
    • Pop
    Eric Laneuville
    Eric Laneuville
    • Quincy
    Alan Weeks
    Alan Weeks
    • Toppy
    Andre Philippe
    Andre Philippe
    • Don Steffano
    Vincent Barbi
    • Big Tuna
    Mel Novak
    • Blue Eyes
    Malik Carter
    • Pinky
    Eddie Smith
    Eddie Smith
    • Oscar
    Alex Brown
    Alex Brown
    • Plummer
    Sonny Barnes
    • Tango
    • (as Clarence Barnes)
    Earl Jolly Brown
    Earl Jolly Brown
    • Jelly
    • (as Earl Brown)
    Jac Emel
    • Bogart
    • (as Jac Emil)
    Wayne Musgrove
    • Bogart
    Ray C. Davis
    • Bogart
    Leroy Wofford
    • Bogart
    Earl Maynard
    Earl Maynard
    • Bogart
    • Director
      • Robert Clouse
    • Writers
      • Oscar Williams
      • Fred Weintraub
      • Alexandra Rose
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews46

    6.22.8K
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    Featured reviews

    7gridoon

    Breezy and enjoyable.

    Jim Kelly may not be in the class of Bruce Lee, but he does show some impressive martial-arts moves; his co-star, Gloria Hendry, more than holds her own. This flick is half blaxploitation actioner and half Bond movie; in both fields, you could do much worse. The plot is minimal, to say the least, and the silly sound effects used to "enhance" the various kicks and punches do date the film, but it's still very fast-paced, playful and thoroughly enjoyable. (**1/2)
    7disdressed12

    a blast

    i think this film belongs to the genre of 70's blaxploitation/martial arts/action.regardless,i really enjoyed it.i thought it was a real blast.there's plenty of martial arts action.there's also a lot of funny scenes,some i'm sure are intentional,and some that might not be.the acting wasn't that bad,in my opinion.it wasn't Oscar Worthy or anything,but i don't think it was supposed to be.the music was kinda cheesy but it grew on me after awhile.this was actually the first movie i've seen of this genre.i picked it as part of a four pack of movies of the same genre.i'll definitely be checking out the other three very soon.The other three titles are "Black Samson","Hot Potato",and "Three the Hard Way".for me,Black Belt Jones is a 7/10
    hitman514

    Whacky, wild, and unbelievably funny!

    When you have a 70's kung-fu flick full of polyester suits and afro's, along with such choice dialogue as "Ouch! You shot me!", "I'm Gonna turn you into fudge", or "Tuna who?", you know you're in for the time of your life!

    Definitely to be watched with a group of friends, this is a one-of-a-kind gem among all movies. The action is often so badly choreagraphed and timed that it's F'N good!

    Plot is the same as any basic old-school chop-socky... martial arts school fights from being taken over, master is killed, and main character must avenge the master. Think "Chinese Connection" (Bruce Lee), but 70's ghetto style!

    The sound track itself is a reason enough to see BLACK BELT JONES! Jim Kelly ROCKS!
    10gersz

    I'll slap the black off you!

    This has got to be one of the most funky and hilarious movies of all time. The sheer amount of celery used is phenomenal. I especially enjoy Pinky's rhyme about bread, his groin, and coins. Some of the acting is poor and lack luster, notably BB's girlfriend. However, this adds a kind of camp or kitsch making the movie that much more enjoyable. Jim Kelley is by far one of the coolest brothers ever. This is definitely Blaxploitation at its finest.
    6lastliberal

    I'm gonna make you sweat one way... and then the other.

    Pop (Scatman Crothers) is a womanizing, gambling caricature, but he has a piece of property the Mob wants. He and his friends, win the first battle, but the Mob and their henchmen are persistent.

    Jim Kelly Enter the Dragon, Three the Hard Way) is Black Belt Jones, and the action sequences certainly make up for the lack of acting ability.

    Ah, but it is Florida Seminole Gloria Hendry (Across 110th Street, Black Caesar, Slaughter's Big Rip-Off) that attracts me to the film, and she doesn't disappoint.

    Malik Carter (Cobra, Pervert!) as Pinky, the tool for the Mob was hilarious. he is the quintessential caricature of blaxploitation.

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    Related interests

    Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon (1973)
    Martial Arts
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Robert Clouse was deaf and was reliant on his assistant directors to hear the dialogue and verify that it had been delivered effectively as was done on his other pictures.
    • Goofs
      During the infiltration of Don Steffano's winery, the picture taken to fool the security camera was taken with a Polaroid instant camera, which has a big white border at the bottom of the picture. The picture was taken with the camera right side up, which means that the border at the bottom would mean that the picture would be right side up. But on the rig they put on the security camera, it is shown that it is holding the instant picture with the white border at top, meaning the picture is upside down, but is shown as right side up through the security camera.
    • Quotes

      Pinky: What the hell is that?

      Big Tuna: Panties!

      Pinky: That son-of-a-bitch threw his panties in my face?

    • Alternate versions
      UK cinema and video versions were cut by 1 min 27 secs by the BBFC with cuts to nearly every fight scene including heavy edits to crotch kicks and neck chops.
    • Connections
      Featured in It Came from Hollywood (1982)
    • Soundtracks
      Theme from Black Belt Jones
      Performed and Composed by Dennis Coffey (as Dennis Coffy) & Luchi De Jesus

      Arranged by Dennis Coffey (as Dennis Coffy) & Mike Theodore

      Courtesy of Sussex Records

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 29, 1974 (Denmark)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Freie Fahrt ins Jenseits
    • Filming locations
      • San Fernando Building - 400 S Main St., Los Angeles, California, USA(Pinky's Hip Pocket pool hall scenes. Building still intact and converted to apartments in the 2000s.)
    • Production companies
      • Sequoia Productions (II)
      • Sequoin Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $727,449
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 25m(85 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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