Hell Up In Harlem

Starring:Fred Williamson, Julius Harris, Gloria Hendry, Margaret Avery, D'Urville Martin, Tony King, Gerald Gordon (II), Bobby Ramsen, James Dixon, Esther Sutherland, Charles MacGuire, Al Kirk, Mindi Miller
Director: Larry Cohen
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Fred Williamson returns as Tommy Gibbs, the self-styled Godfather of Harlem in Larry Cohen's quickly made sequel to the low-budget Black Caesar. The film opens with a different perspective on the finale from the earlier film, this time with Gibbs surviving an assassination attempt with the help of his estranged father (Julius Harris), who becomes Tommy's new chief lieutenant in his rebuilt organization. Tommy takes his revenge on those who set him up but faces a new threat from within as the corrupt DA partners with an ambitious gang member to take Tommy down. It's not going to be as easy as they think. Shooting on NYC streets and locations, Cohen punches up the slim rise-and-fall/revenge story line with gritty action, a driving pace, and edgy, always-on-the-move, hand-held camera work. The production feels rushed at times and the performances don't have the energy of the previous film, but Cohen doesn't give you much time to think about it with his speeding plot and machine-gun editing, moved along nicely with help from Edwin Starr's funky score. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Tougher than Shaft and smoother than Superfly, this high-voltage sequel to Black Caesar explodes with enough action to incinerate New York City. Packed with machine-gun mayhem and riveting adventure, Hell up in Harlem is nothing less than a modern-day tribute to the classic 30s gangster film. Fred Williamson (Original Gangstas) is Tommy Gibbs, a fearless, bulletproof tough guy who blasts his way from the gutter to become the ultimate soul brother boss. When he steals a ledger with the name of every crooked cop and official on the mob's payroll, he becomes the most hunted man in the city. Enlisting the aid of his father and an army of Harlem hoods, Gibbs goes from defense to offense, launching a deadly attack on his enemies that sets off a violent chain reaction from Harlem all the way to the Caribbean, climaxing in one of the hottest turf-war shoot-outs in Hollywood history.

Customer Reviews:

Freddie Gibbs is Back ! ! !.......2006-05-17

This was the infinitely more popular sequal to BLACK CAESAR (American International Films and Blaxploitation's answer to THE GODFATHER.) In truth, BLACK CAESAR is really where the story is at... but HELL UP IN HARLEM is a lot more visually exciting in terms of costumes and action. Basically it takes up where CAESAR ended finding every loose string it could, and using them for HK style movie cut fast paced action and chase scenes. As for the soundtrack... you can get it on CD now(!) CEASAR's soundtrack was by JB - - but I think Edwin Starr actually gave him a good run for his money capturing all that Starsky and Hutch meets SPEED type action...

Whatever you do, if you really want to appreciate the campy element of this film, be sure to see PART ONE first... and you'll realize how ridiculous the story in this one is (especially the extremes to which it went to keep certain actors working as well as others who were unavailable) - - but enjoy it just as much ! (In the end though, nothing will ever beat Glory Hendry getting the afro wig knocked over her head in CAESAR... but still, Tommy Gibb's dad turned (occasionally bedwetting) gangster ain't so bad either !

Pathetic piece of trash...I'd rather see Amos and Andy or Beulah. .......2006-01-02

I mean this stuff was horrible. The minute the man put the gun up to the little boy's temple, I was out of this picture and I mean way out. That kind of stuff should have been edited out of this pic. And speaking of the editing, this picture was edited to not make sense by having certain scenes that have nothing to do with the premise of the film to sadly become a part of this abysmal movie. On the dvd's special feature as to how the film was made, the director, Mr. Cohen stated that the editor doesn't include this picture on his resume and rightfully so. This picture was a disgrace to filmmaking in general and ought to be shown to NYU film students as to how you should not make a movie.

There were certain scenes that got underneath my skin such as the one were the white guy gets hung by Gibbs--Gibbs is the main character in the film, the black hero-- by using a necktie as a rope. A scene, which in my opinion, was way over the top. How can Gloria Hendry --a fine actress with a long resume-- prostitute her acting abilities into a film such as this? How can Margaret Avery--another stellar actress largely known for-- do the same thing as well?!?

Some of the blaxploitation films from the 1970's are not as bad as this partiuclar one; Some provide a well thought out script lines and stories but why do they always cast white characters as evil, demonic and uncaring individuals about to unleash fifty tons of heroin into the entire black population? It seems that a lot of these films from that period operate on that same premise, give or take. Why is it that black and white chacters can't come together--like Mel Gibson and Danny Glover did in Lethal Weapon-- to defeat a common nemesis? It would be refreshing to see a movie from that period with such a theme.

I guess the only redeeming factor of this picture was the soundtrack featuring Edwin Starr. Starr really put all of it into the music.

Have A Cigar.......2006-01-01

Hell Up In Harlem w/Fred "The Hammer" Williamson and directed by the one and only, Larry Cohen! If that alone doesn't make you hit the purchase button, then the hell with ya. Harlem continues pretty much immediately after Black Caesar left off. The very last scene in Caesar is changed a bit-he's no longer beaten by a mob-in order to continue the story. Tommy still has the list of corrupt officials, and naturally the corrupt officials still want the thing. Tommy's dad, a minor character in the first film, is now a major player as he goes through a big change from humble old guy to big city crime boss. Tommy's ex is still hanging around, but she's pretty much treated like a doormat the entire time, and Tommy only seems to care once she's already dead. He finds a new spouse though, a religious chick who seems to jump in the sack with Tommy a little too easily(not that much different from real life I suppose). Tommy tries to leave his crime life behind, but do you think that actually works? Once a traitorous schmuck takes over Tommy's old territory, kills his dad and attempts to kill Tommy, well there's hell to pay. Hell Up In Harlem, that is! Tommy goes into Rambo mode in the last half hour of the film. This sequel is more action oriented than Black Caesar. Caesar, like Scarface, was more of a crime drama about how a small time crook makes it big. Harlem is more focused on the butt kickin', and The Hammer has no problem dishing it out. Good times.

CLASSIC FRED WILLIAMSON!!!!.......2003-07-16

THIS is an awesome movie and I would truly recommend this to any Fred Williamson fan who enjoys his movies and I loved this movie it was pretty good Julius W. Harris and Gloria Hendry returns also and she is a very beautiful woman and they are very good legendary actors and actresses and this movie is really good I would really recommend Tommy Gibbs falls in love again with a minister by the name of Jennifer and may I also add that this is a nice soundtrack also this time this soundtrack is done by Edwin Starr and this is the sequel to Black Caesar !!!!h

Great sequel to Black Ceasar.......2002-06-02

Fred Williamson is the man. He was the sexiest african american actor of the 70's..and still sexy today..:-)

It was a great sequel. The James Brown sound tracks were right on! I would suggest buying the 2 DVD special. It's a great deal. I've seen Black Ceasar and Hell up in Harlem sold for a lot more.

I will always love Fred Williamson. If you are Fred Williams fan..you will like him in One down..two to go" the "Kill Reflex".."Bucktown". I can go on and on.

I own every film that Fred Williamson has been in.

The Best of Soul Cinema DVD Collection (Coffy / Cooley High / Foxy Brown / Hell up in Harlem / I'm Gonna Get You Sucka)
Average customer rating:
The Best of Soul Cinema DVD Collection (Coffy / Cooley High / Foxy Brown / Hell up in Harlem / I'm Gonna Get You Sucka)
Starring: Soul Cinema Collection
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
All MGM Titles | MGM Home Entertainment | Studio Specials | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Cleopatra Jones

Superfly

The Mack (New Line Platinum Series)

Black Caesar

Sheba, Baby

ASIN: B0000VD0MY
Release Date: 2004-01-20

Description

Disc 1: COFFEY Disc 2: COOLEY HIGH Disc 3: FOXY BROWN Disc 4: I'M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA Disc 5: HELL UP IN HARLEM

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

2 DVD's-The Piano Styles of Dr John

Willie Nelson: Greatest Hits Live

Man About The House - Series 1 [1973]

DVD: The Best of Ernie Kovacs

Tai Chi - In Flight