Black Caesar

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Black Caesar

R,

1973,

1h 36m,

Crime/

Drama

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69%

16 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Growing up on the tough streets of Harlem, Tommy Gibbs (Fred Williamson) has his life made even harder by John McKinney (Art Lund), a crooked cop who breaks the boy's leg, crippling him for life. Drawing on his anger at the racism he faces on a daily basis, Tommy grows up to become the crime kingpin of Harlem. Now that he has the power, he aims to take down New York's Mafia bosses -- and also get bloody revenge on his nemesis, McKinney, no matter what the cost.

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Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

Unfortunately it all remains too crude to convince one of its better intentions.

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

Jan 19, 2006

B+

Suffused with socio-political resentment and enlivened by James Brown's classic soul-funk soundtrack.

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New York Times

May 9, 2005

2/5

Mr. Williamson, in short, can't be blamed for the plot contrivances that hinge mostly on action and bloodshed.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Jul 28, 2026

Larry Cohen... captures the bustle and color of the city and invests his fast-paced tale with colorful characters, high energy and scruffy style. Through it all, his pulp take on bigotry and racism provides the edgy undercurrent.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Dec 27, 2025

2.5/4

Fred Williamson sells this fairly entertaining yarn.

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Gregory Mims

New Pittsburgh Courier

Dec 13, 2021

The acting, though spotty, is generally convincing. In fact, this may just be the best performance Fred Williamson has given to date.

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Abraham L

Apr 2, 2019

Cut with a manic energy that propels each moment into the next with a sense of disregard and inevitability, much like its titular antecedent, the film is as suffused with a tragic spirit as it is with street violence. It is a despair beyond individual peripeteia, one born of resentment and rage felt by an entire community, which lifts up a strongman to save it only to be stepped on in turn, giving a social depth to the story beyond its gangster film source material. On the contrary, for these souls, when the die is cast, it's never more than a game of craps; at least they have a classic soundtrack from none other than James Brown---a different sort of godfather---to carry them through.

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Larry Cohen

Director

Fred Williamson

Tommy Gibbs

Art Lund

McKinney

Gloria Hendry

Helen

Julius Harris

Mr. Gibbs

Val Avery

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Synopsis

Growing up on the tough streets of Harlem, Tommy Gibbs (Fred Williamson) has his life made even harder by John McKinney (Art Lund), a crooked cop who breaks the boy's leg, crippling him for life. Drawing on his anger at the racism he faces on a daily basis, Tommy grows up to become the crime kingpin of Harlem. Now that he has the power, he aims to take down New York's Mafia bosses -- and also get bloody revenge on his nemesis, McKinney, no matter what the cost.

Director: Larry Cohen
Producer: Larry Cohen, Benjamin Fisz, Kenneth Rive
Screenwriter: Larry Cohen
Distributor: Orion Pictures, American International Pictures
Production Co: American International Pictures (AIP)
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 7, 1973, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 1h 36m

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