The Take

I recently watched The Take (1974) on Tubi. The storyline follows a New Mexico police officer who walks a fine line between upholding the law and turning a blind eye to criminal gangs in exchange for hush money. However, there comes a point where he has to choose a side-and that moment is fast approaching.

Directed by Robert Hartford-Davis (Black Gunn), the film stars Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars), Eddie Albert (Roman Holiday), Sorrell Booke (The Dukes of Hazzard), Vic Morrow (Twilight Zone: The Movie), and Tracy Reed (Running Scared).

There's something satisfying about a protagonist who exists in the moral gray area, and The Take delivers that in spades. Billy Dee Williams shines as a character who is both hero and anti-hero, while the villain is easy to root against. The plot features a few clever twists as the main character faces escalating challenges. The film also includes classic car chases-a staple of the era-and a well-executed final fight scene. Plus, there's a random snake scene thrown in for good measure.

In conclusion, The Take is a fun entry in the blaxploitation genre, with a strong lead performance and some entertaining moments. I'd rate it a 5.5-6/10 and recommend it to fans of the genre.

Billy Dee Williams comes to Arizona to work for Police Chief Eddie Albert. It seems that 'the Syndicate' is moving into Albert's city, and Williams is an expert on them. He's also on the take.

At least in this movie, the anonymous crime syndicate has members with names that sound Italian. Although there is a story involved, of Williams making the occasional effort to come unstuck from the criminals, by and large it's about how he manages to remain undiscovered, and what it does to him, his loneliness and lack of connection to people other than on a professional level. Williams is very good in the role, offering an emotionally guarded performance that occasionally lets his feelings seep through. Vic Morrow, as the local crime boss with a dodgy heart complements him in this relationship, where it's all business in when there's no one else around.

I'm giving this movie a high/er mark because it is VERY unique! In fact I'd give it higher than an 8, but everything MUST have a flaw...the '8' is actually like a '10'...or '11' on an amplifier...or "ludicrous speed", heh heh! Billy Dee's character is a VERY confident, effective yet crooked cop. Imagine that...a character like that...in 1974! He REALLY is the star of the movie and takes no shorts! But, surprisingly, he also prevails in the end! Amazing! It would seem that, in those times especially, white audiences would have wanted to see this black character fall in the end. He's a bad guy...who prevails in the end! Not even white characters did this often back then! Billy is VERY smooth in this movie...a testament to how big a star he was/IS...and I'm CERTAIN this role helped him Land the 'Lando' character a relative few years later...because, again, it is such a RARE character...to even have existed in movie history...and, I can't emphasize enough, at THAT time in our, American history! You get the feeling this movie slipped though the cracks to even be MADE...much like 'The Spook Who Sat by the Door'...which came out the same year...both probably receiving the same, shelved fate at the box office...BECAUSE they were such anomalies...with themes that understandably made white America...unsettled, to say the least. And a nod to Vic Morrow's character...HORRIBLE how this GREAT actor died in real life. He, too, was VERY good in this movie...and pretty much anything, Like Williams, you will ever see him in. Well...it's about to come on (Bounce TV, 1:00 AM, 6/28/15...I WAS here!)...I'm going to watch it for a second time now...maybe with an amendment or two later (another post if compelled/allowed?). Be well movie enthusiasts! THIS one...is a rare gem! Update! 3:00 AM...just watched again. Surprised I remembered this movie so well and stand by my above review! Correction, however...'The Spook Who Sat By the Door' came out in '73...the same year as 'Soylent Green'...maybe I'll do reviews on those...2 of my favorites of ALL time...so simple reviews WON'T be as easy!

At first glance, this seems like a good underworld melodrama/action flick but it's so poorly put together that it's unlikely to satisfy many. The film has the look and feel of a TV-movie and even by 1974, seems to have cheap production values. Most of the actors, especially Williams, seem to walk through their roles and the minimal action/violence scenes are so mild, they produce little effect. It is interesting though to see Sorrell Booke (Boss Hogg from the Dukes of Hazzard)in a straight role. You may not recognize him right away as he seems so different. It's also odd to see Frankie Avalon play a whining, pathetic hood. Given the cast and the premise though, you'd expect a lot more. Williams was an up and comer at the time this was made. It may be one of the reasons why he never quite made it as a mainstream movie star or even as a TV star.

The 1960's was a tough time for the Police of our country. Along with the Armed Forces, the relentless criticism hit from all sides. The Liberal News Media hit about the hardest and was joined by Hollywood.

This was also the Era of the "BLACKSPLOITATION" Film. That is, movies with mostly Black Actors, in Urban Action Films involving Organized Crime, Narcotics Trafficking, Prostitution, 'Super Flies' and one Bad Ass Black Private Detective to do the job that the local Police Department can't or won't do, and clean up the place.

Eventually, we saw some more intelligent, widely appealing films with Black Themes. These had a great appeal to all of the National and World-Wide Movie Going Audience. We had SOUNDER(1972) and CLAUDINE(1974), which are two good examples.

As with all trends, this Black Urban Action movie fell by the wayside, only to be replaced by another short-ride vehicle. But what would it be? Concurrently with the rise of the Black Film, we saw a trend toward presenting Movies featuring Cops who would do their job, no matter what. Fanatically the pursued our enemies, the Burglar, the Mugger, the Rapist, the Serial Killer, all were arrested and "given the Third Degree", that is interrogated over and over, and again if necessary.

It all began with Clint Eastwood as Inspector Harry Callahan in DIRTY HARRY(1971) and based on the Robbin Moore's true life story THE FRENCH CONNECTION(1971)' with Gerne Hackman, Roy Scheider,Fernando Rey, etc. . The Movies gave the public a Fanatical Hero Cop to ease some of their worries, if even for the two hours of the film's running. A Fictional Hero is, after all, better than none.

The period saw some the better, more brutal modern-day shoot-'em-ups, with many different actors. We had: Charles Bronson in THE STONE KILLER(1973), Roy Scheider in THE SEVEN-UPS(also '73), Michael Morriarity in REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONER(1975). This period also saw two (2) John Wayne Tough Guy Cop vehicles in McQ(1974) BRANNIOGAN(1975);the latter his being a Chicago Police Detective and in the former it's the Seattle P.D. that he's portraying.

It seemed that every studio wanted their own "Dirty Harry" so, we continued on this course and 1974, Billie Dee Williams signed for his Tough Cop Film. And so we saw the release of THE TAKE in May of that year.

In that proverbial old nutshell, Veteran San Francisco Detective Reed(Billy Dee )has accepted a position with a smaller New Mexico P.D. The Boss, Chief Berrigan(Eddie Albert)wants and needs someone with Sneed's experience in dealing with Organized Crime. And "deal" he does, as he almost immediately goes on the pad of Local Gang Boss, Manso (Vic Morrow).

We also find out that the very bright and well educated("So why are you just a Cop, Snead?"). He has also re-located because of a Lady,and such a Lady! Dr. Nancy______(Tracy Reed) and he had been an item, but she took off, 'cause of his job, and he is still carrying a torch for her! (And she is a Doctor, yet!) Early on, we see how Detective Sneed is established as a tough-guy cop, albeit in a more subtle manner. But it is not for the violence portrayed or the disgusting criminal acts that makes this film notable; for it is really tame in this area.

This is the one and only film that is known to this writer, that really looks at corruption in a calm and truly analytical manner. The main character Sneed does accept payoffs. He is very open to many of his being on the "take"! He appears to perform his job as well as any, even better, maybe. But he has this payment coming monthly from bad guy Manso and his crew. How can this be? Most often we have our characters presented in Black & White. They are either good or bad. We see no in betweeners, no varying shades of gray.

THE TAKE gets this point right out in the open, begging the question, can a guy be his own "Privateer" and still uphold the law as he has sworn to so.

We were given this unexpected morsel of 'Food for Thought'. So what about it, whataya t'ink?

NOTE: We almost forgot to give our "HATS OFF" salute to some fine performances in supporting roles. We have A.Martinez as young Detective and Sneed admirer, Tallbear, Albert Salmi(Lt.Dolek),Sorrell Booke as Investment Broker Oscar,James Luisi-Big Time Hood Benedetto and Frankie Avalon as Small Time Gangster/Stool Pigeon-Danny James.