Blaxploitation Cinema: The Essential Reference Guide [Paperback]

Josiah Howard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2008

Dazzling, highly stylized, excessively violent and brimming with sex, Blaxploitation films enjoyed a brief and memorable moment in motion picture history -- and never before or since - have so many African American performers been featured in starring roles. Twenty-five years after they first thrilled audiences, Blaxploitation films are enjoying a robust renaissance. The genre, with its bevy of colorful, contemporary characters, irresistible soundtracks and catchy titles, has taken its rightful place among the entertainment industry's most enjoyed and influential films. Here's a new and appreciative look back at a distinctly American motion picture phenomenon, the first truly comprehensive examination of the genre, its films, its trends and its far-reaching impact, covering more than 240 Blaxploitation films in detail. This is the primary reference book on the genre, covering not just the films' heyday (1971-1976) but the entire decade (1970-1980). Includes: • film posters and ads

Product Details

• Paperback: 239 pages
• Publisher: FAB Press (June 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903254442
• ISBN-13: 978-1903254448
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #370,381 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better than any other book on the subject currently available, December 2, 2008

By 

curtis martin (Redmond, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blaxploitation Cinema: The Essential Reference Guide (Paperback)

...because there are really only two, and this one is better than the other one.
Don't get me wrong. I have purchased and really enjoy this book. But if there were as many books out there on "Blaxploitation" films as there are on Hitchcock or Spielberg films, this one would probably fall in the middle of the road, quality-wise. But the fact is that there are only two books I know of that cover the genre as a whole--this one and "Black Action Films" by James Robert Parish and George A. Hill, available from McFarland in a VERY overprices "library binding" edition. (Another book on the subject, "What it is, What it Was" by Andres Chavez, is also very good but is really a picture book with a few interviews thrown in). While "Black Action Films" has more in-depth listings, "Blaxploitation Cinema" is the much more informative and better-written volume.

But "Blax" could have been a lot better. The book is basically broken down into three sections: 1) interviews with directors famous for Blaxploitation; 2) color reproductions of BLX movie posters and 3) short columns on the films in question. The interviews, I hate to say, kind of suck. The participants are game, but the author shoots them each basically the same bland questions indicating he had little knowledge of the individual's career beforehand ("How do you feel about the term 'Blaxploitation'?"). The poster art section is very good, but if that's what you want, the aforementioned "What it is.." is the better purchase. And the section on the individual films, while well-written, includes too many films that are not in any way "Blaxploitation" or even "Black" films (a problem "Black Action" has as well). "Silver Streak," for example, though it features a black actor, Richard Pryor, is in no way a part of the blaxploitation genre.

But on the whole and in spite of its comparably minor flaws, this is a very entertaining book on a subject that gets too little serious attention.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 1970s black gold!, November 24, 2008

By 

Anthony G. Alansky (NYC area,United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blaxploitation Cinema: The Essential Reference Guide (Paperback)

I never knew i was a fan of "Blaxploitation" cinema when i was a teenager in the 1970s, after reading Mr.Howards book and seeing alot of these films at the Castle Theatre in Irvington, NJ, well, i am now a fan of the genre,and God help me find some of these gems i never knew existed. The interviews are interesting and the photos and artwork of the original movie posters are gorgeous, where did the Author find them?? For me, i loved seeing some of the old double features again ! thank you,
Anthony Alansky

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glad I discovered this book!, January 10, 2009

By 

Rodney G. Sherrill (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blaxploitation Cinema: The Essential Reference Guide (Paperback)

Developing ideas for a radio show about movies I stumbled across this title and knew it would have some great ideas. Had no idea there were so many different films produced during the blaxploitation era! The still photos from the films and the poster art along with the text was a great balance. I especially enjoy reading the taglines of the films. The information on actors, directors, film composers,..etc. excellent. So glad some of the directors from the blaxploitation era were interviewed and included. Look forward to hearing more from book developer, Josiah Howard!