Short Takes

Surely the most pedestrian of drive-in king Al Adamson's dalliances in blaxploitation. This meandering crime story chronicles an international drugs-for-guns scheme seasoned by sleazy Vegas hijinks and NFL running back Timothy Brown's quest, as bare-knuckled copper Kicks Carter, to avenge his partner's gangland murder. Doesn't get more stock than that, but with typical Adamson panache, there's a grittier subplot featuring Jana Bellan as an addicted gambler who bets her bod, loses and is gang raped by a rough bunch of her poker cronies. CineSchlockers may find greater amusement by flipping to Adamson right-hand-man Sam Sherman's commentary for a detailed saga of the flick's other two incarnations as Girl's Hotel and The Murder Gang. He also fires a few choice barbs back at the Medved Brothers' "Golden Turkey" basting of Al's "breezy sleazy" career. But by bailing 45 minutes in Mr. Sherman, who's recorded several exemplary tracks, seems to acknowledge that even a three-headed beast such as this can be a bore. Two breasts. 14 corpses. Gratuitous rooftop shootout. Skinny dipping. One Regina Carrol piano solo. Hiney biting. Mini-sledge to the gut. Hand hacking. Gratuitous Flip Wilson reference. Al Richardson shines as an undercover brother, "Low profile? I'll turn sideways, Jack, and you won't even see my black ass!" (1976, 94 mins, Fullframe, DD 2.0, Alternate "Girls Hotel" titles, Two fleshy deleted scenes, Trailers, Extensive liner notes.)