- The Black Six
Infobox_Film
name = The Black Six
imdb_id = 0071227
writer =George Theakos
starring =Gene Washington Lem Barney Mercury Morris
Joe GreeneWillie Lanier Carl Eller
director =Matt Cimber
producer =George Theakos Matt Cimber Jefferson Richard
cinematography =Ernest Palmer Joseph A. Valentine | editing =William Swenning | distributor =Cinemation Industries
released =March 13 ,1974
runtime = 94 min
language = English
country = USA
budget =
"The Black Six" (
1974 ) is ablaxploitation film released in 1974. The movie was written byGeorge Theakos and directed byMatt Cimber .cite web|title=Internet Movie Database - The Black Six|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071227/|accessdate=2008-08-03] It starred severalNational Football League stars in the title roles.cite book|title=Against the Grain|author=Eugene "Mercury" Morris with Steve Fiffer|year=1988|page=67-69|isbn=0-07-043195-7] The plot had some similarities to "The Magnificent Seven " and "Easy Rider ". It was one of the first all-black biker films.cite web|title=TV Guide Review The Black Six|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/black-six/109523|accessdate=2007-08-07]Cast
The titular "Black Six" was played by six then-current National Football League stars:
*
Gene Washington , awide receiver with theSan Francisco 49ers
* Joe Greene, adefensive tackle with thePittsburgh Steelers
*Mercury Morris , arunning back with theMiami Dolphins
*Lem Barney , acornerback with theDetroit Lions
*Willie Lanier , alinebacker with theKansas City Chiefs
*Carl Eller , adefensive end with theMinnesota Vikings In addition, the cast includes
Ben Davidson , who had recently retired from football, as a member of a motorcycle gang opposing the Black Six.Maury Wills , a recently retiredMajor League Baseball star, also has a role in the film.Plot
The plot involves an
African American veteran of theVietnam War , played byGene Washington , who returns home to find that his brother (played by Robert Howard) has been killed. The killing was done by a white motorcycle gang who objected to the fact that the Robert Howard character had been dating a white woman. The Gene Washington character and his motorcycle gang, also known as the Black Six, attempt to avenge the brother's death. The gang encounters a number of obstacles, including hostile motorcycle gangs (which included the Ben Davison character) and prejudiced policemen. The movie ends in an inconclusive gun battle with southern policemen. [cite web|title=Internet Movie Database - The Black Six Plot|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071227/plotsummary|accessdate=2008-08-03]Production
Several of the football players were disappointed with elements in the original script, especially that the black motorcyclists would be killed in the end, despite the fact that they stood for truth, justice and the American way. As a result of their protests, an inconclusive ending was shot.
DVD
"The Black Six" was released on DVD on
October 12 ,2004 .References
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