Original Gangstas

Last updated
Original Gangstas
Original gangstas poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Larry Cohen
Written byAubrey K. Rattan
Produced byWolf Schmidt
Fred Williamson
Starring
Cinematography Carlos González
Edited byPeter B. Ellis
David Kern
Music by Vladimir Horunzhy
Production
company
Po' Boy Productions
Distributed by Orion Pictures
Release date
  • May 10, 1996 (1996-05-10)
Running time
99 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3.6 million [1]
Box office$4,000,000 (US) [2]

Original Gangstas is a 1996 action-gangster film filmed and set in urban Gary, Indiana starring Blaxploitation film stars such as Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, Jim Brown, Richard Roundtree, and Ron O'Neal. [3] It is the final film directed by Larry Cohen before his death in 2019, [4] though he continued to write screenplays through 2010.

Contents

The film details the deteriorating state of an impoverished Gary neighborhood terrorized by a street gang called the Rebels. When the gang murders a local boy, it prompts the emergence of several individuals who grew up in the neighborhood: the original members of the Rebels. [5] [6]

Plot

The movie opens to a narration detailing the poor economic state of a gang-ridden Gary, Indiana. The narrator explains to the audience of how the city came into such a state. After the opening narrative, the scene switches to the base of operations for the Rebels, a local street gang, and a one-on-one basketball game between a Rebels gang member and a local boy named Kenny Thompson. Kenny humiliates the Rebel by winning and taking the gambled winnings as his own. After he leaves, Spyro, the current co-leader of the Rebels (opposite Damien) is under the impression that Kenny's skills are something more than "something he picked up." He instructs his lieutenant, Kayo, to exact retribution on Kenny for being hustled.

While Kenny and his friend Marcus are relaxing at a diner, Kenny decides to call his girlfriend. He enters a phone booth to make the call but is subsequently shot and killed by Kayo in a drive-by shooting. The owners of the grocery store, Marvin Bookman and Gracie Bookman, two members of the community well-respected by both the Rebels and local citizens, feel that justice should be brought to Kenny's murderer and discloses the license plate number of the shooter's vehicle.

When the Rebels discover this, Spyro orders Kayo to dispose of the vehicle. Kayo and the Rebels then proceed to confront Marvin about his assistance to the investigators of Kenny's death. Marvin argues that Kenny was a good person and did not deserve to be shot. The co-leaders of the Rebels describe how they respected the Bookmans' store and, while others around it were robbed and ransacked, their store was left alone. The fact that Marvin would "sell them out" expresses a high amount of disrespect to the Rebels, who immediately seek revenge on Marvin. Eventually, Kayo and initiate Bobby, with a group of fellow Rebels, attack the grocery store, resulting in the near-fatal shooting of Marvin by Bobby.

The attack on Marvin's life prompts his son, pro football coach and ex-Rebel John Bookman, to return to the impoverished Gary neighborhood to find Bobby. After seeing his father, John goes to save his father's shop and kicks all the Rebels members out of there. Then he goes to a local barbershop, where Kayo eventually turns up. Trouble immediately brews, and John and the gang members fight. John has the upper hand but is overpowered. Jake Trevor, another original Rebel, enters the fray and saves John. After the fight, the two converse, and it is revealed that Jake is here to bury Kenny, who was his illegitimate son. Jake goes to visit "Slick", who reveals to Jake that his son was killed because he hustled the Rebels. Jake is astounded and enraged that his son was killed over money.

The next day, John and Jake attend Kenny's funeral, where a distraught Laurie Thompson is reunited with her ex-husband. While talking, Laurie implores Jake to reconsider seeking vengeance upon his son's murderers, expressing her disdain by stating that he always wishes to resolve such issues by fighting, which "only makes things worse". John tells Jake that he has a meeting with the Rebels at the church that makes Jake and Laurie disappointed at him. Jake confronts Spyro at the basketball court about Kenny Thompson. After failed treaty negotiations at the church and the rising of neighborhood gang violence, the other gangs (Diablos and Rangers), have a meeting with Spyro, Damien and the Rebels about Kenny. At the party for the Rebels, John and Jake drive Spyro and Damien's car into Diablo territory and shoot at them to set up a broken truce. In retaliation, the Rebels light the community houses on fire with Molotov cocktails. "Dink", the teenage "messenger boy" who had linked up with John and Jake, was murdered prior to this.

John and Jake receive help from their former gang mates in Laurie, Slick and Bubba, while Kenny's friend Marcus also joins them in their fight. They devise a plan to "lose" a trunk of weapons to the Rebels. When the gang tries to use said weapons, the guns malfunction and explode in their faces, stunning the gang. In another area, the Rebels are attempting to escape the battle, but they are stopped by a group of community members, armed with bats and other improvised weapons. Eventually, Spyro and Damien fear they may lose the fight, and escape to the old steel mill, with Jake and John set on catching them. In their absence, Laurie successfully guns down Kayo, killing him, and finally avenging Kenny's death. Eventually, Jake and John reach the steel mill, each taking on Spyro and Damien separately as Diablo members watch on. After an intense hand-to-hand fight between Jake and Spyro, who reveals himself to be his son, Spyro is killed. After Spyro is taken down by Jake, the leader of the Diablo and a few cohorts shoot a battered Damien, destroying the Rebel leadership. After refusing to forge a truce with the Diablos, Jake and John walk off as officers pour into the scene.

Cast

Reception

The film had mixed reviews. [7] [8] [9] The film holds a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 15 reviews. [10]

Box office

The movie debuted at the US box office at No.9. [11]

Because Orion Pictures ultimately went bankrupt, Williamson, who was also one of the producers, was not able to realize any profits and many expenses came out of his pocket. [12]

Soundtrack

A soundtrack containing hip hop and R&B music was released on April 30, 1996 by Noo Trybe/Virgin/EMI. It peaked at #41 on the Billboard 200 and #8 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Television airings

The movie was a very popular staple, either on Showtime, Encore, or Starz, Encore's sister network. For broadcast television (both station and network), the movie, especially in the late 90s, was constantly aired on UPN, which was at the height of its popularity from 1995 - 2002, and constantly beating The WB in the ratings. It also aired on its stations, though in New York, it aired on WNYW in 1998, although it could have aired on WWOR too, at later dates. On cable TV, it also was a big hit on BET. Unlike the usual promoters, HBO, and even moreso Cinemax, this movie's first behind-the-scene promotional featurette was either on Showtime, Encore, or Starz.

Note

In later years, in the late 2000s, the movie was rereleased on home entertainment media (Blu-ray and DVD) by Warner Home Video, making this movie a Warner Bros. movie to some degree. Orion was originally a Warner Bros. company and its movies were similar to Warner Bros. movies throughout the 1980s.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daffy Duck</span> Warner Bros. theatrical cartoon character

Daffy Duck is a cartoon character created by animators Tex Avery and Bob Clampett for Leon Schlesinger Productions. Styled as an anthropomorphic black duck, he has appeared in cartoon series such as Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, in which he is usually depicted as a foil for either Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig or Speedy Gonzales. He was one of the first of the new "screwball" characters that emerged in the late 1930s to replace traditional everyman characters who were more popular earlier in the decade, such as Mickey Mouse, Porky Pig, and Popeye.

<i>Out for Justice</i> 1991 film directed by John Flynn

Out for Justice is a 1991 American neo-noir action thriller film directed by John Flynn and co-produced by and starring Steven Seagal as Gino Felino, a veteran police detective who sets out to avenge his partner Bobby's murder by killing Richie, the trigger-happy, drug-addicted mafioso culprit. The film was released theatrically on April 12, 1991.

<i>The Public Enemy</i> 1931 film by William A. Wellman

The Public Enemy is a 1931 American pre-Code gangster film produced and distributed by Warner Bros. The film was directed by William A. Wellman, and starring James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward Woods, Donald Cook and Joan Blondell. The film relates the story of a young man's rise in the criminal underworld in Prohibition-era urban America. The supporting players include Beryl Mercer, Murray Kinnell, and Mae Clarke. The screenplay is based on an unpublished novel—Beer and Blood by two former newspapermen, John Bright and Kubec Glasmon—who had witnessed some of Al Capone's murderous gang rivalries in Chicago.

<i>Rebel Without a Cause</i> 1955 American film directed by Nicholas Ray

Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 American coming-of-age romantic drama film, directed by Nicholas Ray. The film stars James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo, Jim Backus, Ann Doran, Corey Allen and William Hopper. It is also the film debut of Dennis Hopper, albeit in a minor role. It was filmed in the then recently introduced CinemaScope format. Focusing on emotionally confused suburban, middle-class teenagers, the film offers both social commentary and an alternative to previous films depicting delinquents in urban slum environments.

<i>Training Day</i> 2001 film directed by Antoine Fuqua

Training Day is a 2001 American crime thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by David Ayer. It stars Denzel Washington as Alonzo Harris and Ethan Hawke as Jake Hoyt, two LAPD narcotics officers followed over a 24-hour period in the gang-ridden neighborhoods of Westlake, Echo Park, and South Central Los Angeles. It also features Scott Glenn, Eva Mendes, Cliff Curtis, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Macy Gray in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Martin Smith</span> American actor and director (born 1953)

Charles Martin Smith is an American actor and filmmaker, based in British Columbia, Canada.

<i>Big Jake</i> 1971 film

Big Jake is a 1971 American Technicolor Western film starring John Wayne, Richard Boone and Maureen O'Hara. The picture was the final film for George Sherman in a directing career of more than 30 years, and Maureen O'Hara's last film with John Wayne and her last before her twenty-year retirement. The supporting cast features Patrick Wayne, Christopher Mitchum, Glenn Corbett, Jim Davis, John Agar, Harry Carey Jr. and Hank Worden.

Danyel Robinson, better known by his stage name Dru Down, is an American rapper and actor from Oakland, California. He is currently a member of The Regime, a collective of rappers that includes Yukmouth, Tech N9ne, Messy Marv, BG Bulletwound, Dorasel, Grant Rice, and Tha Realest.

<i>The Comancheros</i> (film) 1961 film by Michael Curtiz

The Comancheros is a 1961 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Michael Curtiz, based on a 1952 novel of the same name by Paul Wellman, and starring John Wayne and Stuart Whitman. The supporting cast includes Ina Balin, Lee Marvin, Nehemiah Persoff, Bruce Cabot, Jack Elam, Joan O'Brien, Patrick Wayne, and Edgar Buchanan. Also featured are Western-film veterans Bob Steele, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, and Harry Carey, Jr. in uncredited supporting roles.

<i>James Dean</i> (2001 film) 2001 television film by Mark Rydell

James Dean is a 2001 American made-for-television biographical drama film based on the life of the American actor James Dean. James Franco plays the title role under the direction of Mark Rydell, who chronicles Dean's rise from a struggling actor to an A-list movie star in 1950s Hollywood. The film's supporting roles included Michael Moriarty, Valentina Cervi, Enrico Colantoni, and Edward Herrmann.

<i>Mad as a Mars Hare</i> 1963 film

Mad as a Mars Hare is a 1963 Warner Bros. Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble. The short was released on October 19, 1963, and stars Bugs Bunny and Marvin the Martian. The cartoon's title is a play-on-words of the phrase "mad as a March hare". This is Marvin's final appearance in the Looney Tunes shorts during the Golden Age of American Animation.

<i>Marvin the Martian in the Third Dimension</i> 1996 film

Marvin the Martian in the Third Dimension was a 1997 3-D Looney Tunes film formerly an attraction at Drayton Manor Resort in Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire, England, Warner Bros. Movie World in Gold Coast, Australia, Warner Bros. Movie World in Bottrop, Germany and Six Flags Great America.

<i>Shorts</i> (2009 film) 2009 American film

Shorts is a 2009 fantasy comedy film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez and starring Jon Cryer, William H. Macy, Leslie Mann, James Spader, Jimmy Bennett, Kat Dennings, and introducing Jolie Vanier in her film debut, with Jake Short, Devon Gearhart, Leo Howard, Trevor Gagnon, and Rebel Rodriguez in supporting roles. It tells the story of a rainbow wishing rock that ends up in the possession of different people where the wishes have various results for those who make the wishes in a "series of shorts".

<i>Clash of the Titans</i> (2010 film) Film directed by Louis Leterrier

Clash of the Titans is a 2010 action fantasy film and remake of the 1981 film of the same name produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The story is very loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus. An Australian-American production directed by Louis Leterrier from a screenplay by Travis Beacham, Phil Hay, and Matt Manfredi, starring Sam Worthington, Gemma Arterton, Mads Mikkelsen, Alexa Davalos, Ralph Fiennes, and Liam Neeson, the film was originally set for standard release on March 26, 2010. However, it was later announced that the film would be converted to 3D and was released on April 2, 2010.

<i>Montana</i> (1950 film) 1950 film by Ray Enright

Montana is a 1950 American Western film directed by Ray Enright and starring Errol Flynn. It was only the second time Flynn played an Australian on screen, the first time being Desperate Journey (1942).

Events in 1913 in animation.

<i>Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!</i> 2022 American film

Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! is a 2022 American animated direct-to-video supernatural horror comedy mystery film produced by Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. It is the thirty-seventh direct-to-video Scooby-Doo film and was released digitally on October 4, 2022, and was released on DVD on October 18, 2022.

References

  1. ↑ Patrick McGilligan, "Larry Cohen: Manic Energy", Backstory 4: Interviews with Hollywood Screenwriters of the 1970s and 1980s, University of California, 2006 p. 64
  2. ↑ Original Gangstas at Box Office Mojo
  3. ↑ Boyd, Todd (1996-06-09). "Listen to Their Rap". The Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
  4. ↑ "Original Gangstas". Turner Classic Movies . Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  5. ↑ Dretzka, Gary (1996-05-12). "RECLAIMING THEIR TURF IN 'ORIGINAL GANGSTAS,' FRED WILLIAMSON REUNITES A CAST OF FORMER 'BLAXPLOITATION' ACTORS AND HOPES TO WIN BACK AN ESTRANGED AUDIENCE". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  6. ↑ "Some Super Grown-ups Righteously Take Back The Streets - Philly.com". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  7. ↑ "Return Of The Washed-up - Philly.com". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  8. ↑ Thomas, Kevin (1996-05-11). "'In 'Original Gangstas,' the Rough Stuff Is Still the Lure Movies". The Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
  9. ↑ Van Gelder, Lawrence (1996-05-11). "FILM REVIEW;Middle-Aged Vigilantes: The Gang Has Grown Up". The New York Times . Retrieved 2011-01-30.
  10. ↑ rottentomatoes.com, "Original Gangstas". Accessed June 1, 2022. Archived May 28, 2024, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ Brennan, Judy (1996-05-13). "'Twister' Blows Rivals Away; Box office: The tornado thriller pulled in an estimated $37.5 million, the seventh-biggest opening in history, and left blue skies instead of clouds for Warner Bros. and Universal". The Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2011-01-30.
  12. ↑ "Hollywood & Football Legend Fred "The Hammer" Williamson (Full Interview) VladTV". YouTube .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.