Boss Nigger (1975)

[Dust Devil]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072725/


I'm surprised to see this classic doesn't have a topic of its own... (?)


About the movie: what can I say, there aren't many classics like this around: 95% of the cast can't act for shit, the action scenes are as low-budget bad as they could possibly be, most of the character's lines have a tragicomic value, the score is something a child could come up with, the characters themselves are a mockery. Besides that the direction is basic, the screenplay is simple, and the W elements are crude...

But who cares really? Boss Nigger is a wonderful blaxpoitation-flavored W/macho parody.


7/10

[Arizona Colt]

I did a review of it here some time back...

http://www.coolasscinema.com/search/label/Boss%20Nigger

I found it to be an average, yet enjoyable popcorn flick. Some of the action scenes were nicely done and some others appeared rushed due to lack of coverage. With William Smith as the lead heavy it was a must buy for me regardless of its shortcomings. It doesn't pretend to be anything more than dumb mindless fun. I couldn't help but be reminded of BLAZING SADDLES throughout.

[Banjo]

It's on youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amiUs_fLoio&feature=PlayList&p=B03C532EFAEE77C2&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=38

[Dust Devil]

I did a review of it here some time back...

http://www.coolasscinema.com/search/label/Boss%20Nigger

I found it to be an average, yet enjoyable popcorn flick. Some of the action scenes were nicely done and some others appeared rushed due to lack of coverage. With William Smith as the lead heavy it was a must buy for me regardless of its shortcomings. It doesn't pretend to be anything more than dumb mindless fun. I couldn't help but be reminded of BLAZING SADDLES throughout.

I'd say it's not a (W) movie you watch because it's good in a classic sense, but rather to see what they're gonna do. If that what I said makes any sense whatsoever. It's like, you know it's a masquerade, but you wanna stay till the end to see if they're gonna embarrass themselves, and most importantly - how. But Boss Nigger balances well and in the end makes an entertaining experience. I didn't catch the Blazing Saddles resemblance, but now that you pointed it out it really does look obvious, though I don't think they themselves had that idea in their heads while they were filming this.

[Arizona Colt]

I'd say it's not a (W) movie you watch because it's good in a classic sense, but rather to see what they're gonna do. If that what I said makes any sense whatsoever. It's like, you know it's a masquerade, but you wanna stay till the end to see if they're gonna embarrass themselves, and most importantly - how. But Boss Nigger balances well and in the end makes an entertaining experience. I didn't catch the Blazing Saddles resemblance, but now that you pointed it out it really does look obvious, though I think they themselves didn't have that idea in their heads while they were filming this.

Oh, I agree with you. I enjoyed it a bit better than LEGEND OF NIGGER CHARLEY. But then that film is so rare only a (supposedly) cut tv print exists. The sequel is better, though. The BLAZING SADDLES references are in Williamson and Martin entering the town and taking over as sheriff and getting all the racist remarks towards them. These bits are comedic, too, as you know.

[Dust Devil]

Oh, I agree with you. I enjoyed it a bit better than LEGEND OF NIGGER CHARLEY. But then that film is so rare only a (supposedly) cut tv print exists. The sequel is better, though.

I never watched those two but I was actually thinking 'bout it after re-visiting ''da Boss''.

How do you mean it's rare? What's this on YT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtsp-g2e68U

[Dust Devil]

It's on youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amiUs_fLoio&feature=PlayList&p=B03C532EFAEE77C2&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=38

Jed Clayton: Go ahead and kill me, nigger!

Boss Nigger: ''Mister Nigger'' to you!

Jed Clayton: Go to Hell, Mister Neagger!

Boss Nigger: To Hell is where you're going, this is for Clara Mae!

[Arizona Colt]

I never watched those two but I was actually thinking 'bout it after re-visiting ''da Boss''.

How do you mean it's rare? What's this on YT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtsp-g2e68U

that's the same print that's been floating around in collector circles for years. There's nothing else at least nothing else that has surfaced. It's a Paramount movie, so it is likely sitting in their vaults.

[Dust Devil]

I had no idea it was hard to find, I thought I just had to ask a couple of people to find it. Ah well, I'll take YT then...

[Arizona Colt]

I had no idea it was hard to find, I thought I just have to ask a couple of people to find it. Ah well, I'll take YT then...

There is no complete version of it available, nor a good looking copy of the film. The only available version is the same cut tv print that's been floating around for years. Just because someone uploads the movie to youtube doesn't negate its rarity. What's odd is that the version available retains much if not all of the racial slurs in the film. Tricia O'neil (PIRANHA 2: THE SPAWNING)  is a striking beauty here. The sequel is a bit better. They may have it on youtube as well. Williamson did some other black westerns like the comedy with Richard Pryor ADIOS, AMIGO, the serious western film JOSHUA, TAKE A HARD RIDE with Van Cleef and Jim Brown. I think that's all the westerns he did. I feel like I'm forgetting one, though.

[Dust Devil]

There is no complete version of it available, nor a good looking copy of the film. The only available version is the same cut tv print that's been floating around for years. Just because someone uploads the movie to youtube doesn't negate its rarity. What's odd is that the version available retains much if not all of the racial slurs in the film. Tricia O'neil (PIRANHA 2: THE SPAWNING)  is a striking beauty here. The sequel is a bit better. They may have it on youtube as well. Williamson did some other black westerns like the comedy with Richard Pryor ADIOS, AMIGO, the serious western film JOSHUA, TAKE A HARD RIDE with Van Cleef and Jim Brown. I think that's all the westerns he did. I feel like I'm forgetting one, though.

You misunderstood me, I wasn't negating its rarity, I just said I didn't (and still don't) know nothing about it. I thought (prior to this topic) it was just a movie like any other, and that I could find it easily by one of those guys that I usually borrow hard-to-find DVDs/movies from. Like I said, couldn't know it since I never watched it, but, since you said this on YT is as good as it gets, and I have no reason not to trust you, I'll proceed straight to good ole YT.

Bloody Hell, they don't have the sequel on YT. I guess nothing on this world is perfect...

[Arizona Colt]

You misunderstood me, I wasn't negating its rarity, I just said I didn't (and still don't) know nothing about it. I thought (prior to this topic) it was just a movie like any other, and that I could find it easily by one of those guys that I usually borrow hard-to-find DVDs/movies from. Like I said, couldn't know it since I never watched it, but, since you said this on YT is as good as it gets, and I have no reason not to trust you, I'll proceed straight to good ole YT.

Bloody Hell, they don't have the sequel on YT. I guess nothing on this world is perfect...

You might like it as much as BOSS NIGGER. It's more or less the same film anyways. I have an original poster for NIGGER CHARLEY, too.

[moorman]

This is the first of two Fred Williamson westerns, the other being "Joshua" from 1976,  that tried to take a serious tone into the sphagetti western theme and follow in the steps of Clint Eastwood's " Man with No Name Trilogy ".  Whereas Joshua did a good job of getting away from the straight up Blaxploitation themes that were common during the 70s with Moorish actors,  Boss embraced those themes and suffured as a consequence.  ( Seems Williamson learned from this and made a better film with Joshua).   The language being used and the musical scoring in Boss were straight up Blaixploitation.   The shame in this is Boss had terrific filming locations.  Its not clear whether this is Arizona or New Mexico as both locations are given credit from various sources.

The Blaxploitation musical scoring and language aside, the first two thirds of the film actually had a good plot.  It fell apart during the last third with a horribly written, contrived plot.  This undermined a terrific beginning to the film.  Williamson and D'Urville Martin play two Moorish Bounty hunters that ride into town looking for Jed Clayton to collect the reward.  They soon become Sheriff and Deputy by force.  D'Urville in particular was brilliant as the deputy.  ( I learned he initially was gonna play the role of Lionel Jefferson in All in the Family).

Boss received better critical reviews than Joshua made two years later, but I feel that Joshua is the better film because it for the most part did away with the Blaxploitation themes.  If you are bored, its a watch.  Its not anything I would wanna watch a second time.  4 out of 10...

[cigar joe]

Fix

[moorman]

Fix

No way I expected that one to have a review posted...lol