Black Samson (Blu-ray)

It's notable that unlike the black gang movies of the 90s and beyond that glorified the gangsta lifestyle, most 70s blaxploitation films had righteous dudes or foxy ladies fighting those gangstas to keep their streets clean, and this forgotten entry is a pretty good example. It's no classic for the ages but while a small 'safe' investment for a major studio it still has a good enough budget to look good, is blessed with a likeable lead in Rockne Tarkington (who tends to have an unfair advantage in most fights by carrying a huge staff everywhere he goes, which doesn't really compensate for failing to set his lion loose on the honky drug dealers trying to move into his hood) and a terrific villain in William Smith, who's in top form here, coming across like George Lazenby's cheerful beefed up older brother. It's a warm, friendly drink of a film that goes down easy with no nasty aftertaste without being kids stuff, though it's a shame that aside from briefly taking his lion for a walk the poor animal is reduced to just lazing behind the bar with nothing to do for the whole film.

Rockne Tarkington is Black Samson, the nightclub owner (with a pet lion) who resolves to protect his neighbourhood from the overtures of Italian mobsters, led by the great William Smith's ruthless enforcer. It's a really fun film, with a crazy ending. Warner Archive's Blu-ray looks fantastic. If you like blaxploitation, an essential purchase.