MEAN JOHNNY BARROWS (1975)

Directed & Edited by: Fred Williamson Written By: Jolivett Gato & Charles Walker 

Cast: Fred Williamson, Roddy McDowall, Stuart Whitman, Tony Caruso, Jenny Sherman, Luther Adler, R.G. Armstrong, Elliott Gould, Mike Henry 

A G.I. is unjustly thrown out of the service, and winds up being a gas station attendant. A gangster wants to hire him as a hitman. He agrees, with disastrous results.

Now while this film isn’t great. One can understand the appeal Of films like this. Especially at the time. Getting to see representation on-screen does feel empowering for certain members of the audience and makes them feel seen, represented and honored by what you can be Or want to be.  That there is a chance at success

Usually the films that were made in the day were action films or more genre films. As those were the ones that were most popular and sold to make money to other studios and markets. 

It also might be the films that most of the audience it was targeted at were more interested in watching also. Even though this film has some African American characters, Fred Williamson is usually the only one especially the only one who is more than one Dimensional and inter-gal to the story 

The films direction is flat and in engaging. The film unfortunately is Nothing like the poster. There is no excitement. The poster makes it seem like a action classic, but the film ends up being  More of a drama than anything that involves a mob war and the Main Character getting dragged into it and we see how low he has to get in life to accept an offer that more goes against his normal decency.

In The third act the film becomes more of an action film that is built out of revenge. As all that came before was the build-up and this is the release. Even then the film Just doesn’t deliver what seems promised.

The film has way Too many montages that seem to make up half of the movie. Where nothing happens. It just shows us in slow motion real-time and the situations the character is going through. As there is nothing really too engaging in the filmmaking or acting 

The montages seem more done to add frantic weight but also showcase the soundtrack more and more. 

Can see this as maybe mroe personal to Williamson and wanting to show more of his dramatic chops and talents more than being an action hero or being cool 

The major big-name stars of the film are barely in it Roddy McDowell and Elliot Gould who is only here in one scene mroe as a cameo and done as a favor to the writer/director/star. 

Roddy McDowell seems here more as stunt casting. As the mobsters softer son who seems to be a mastermind 

Was hoping this would be one of the better blaxploitation films of the past but can see why it is more remembered just for it's name and star. Rather then quality or reputation. 

At least what it offers is plenty of predictable double-crosses and more a character pulled into this who was never part of it’s origins. As it should never be really his problem but who is forced more out of desperation and a kind of payback to those who helped him. 

You know the action is going to pick up once Williamson gets a better wardrobe then the one he wears throughout most of the film. He is teased to kill literally. 

In the end this is less a blaxploitation film other then In budget and presentation and more just a action drama that involves a black lead more an Fred Williamson extravaganza production, but good for him. As he offers himself a chance most directors didn’t seem willing to do, but in a kind of role, he usually plays only here given more depth and a chance to see what brings him to this point.

 

Grade: C