Cleopatra Jones (1973)

Brilliant and touching

A Brilliant Conflict

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

"Cleopatra Jones" (Tamara Dobson) is a Special Agent for the United States whose primary mission concerns itself with drug interdiction. As a result she travels to Turkey and oversees the destruction of a huge poppy field which just happens to be a main source of heroin for an American mob boss by the name of "Mommy" (Shelley Winters). Needless to say the destruction of this poppy field infuriates Mommy who decides to get her revenge by closing a halfway house in Los Angeles which is near and dear to Cleopatra Jones. This news brings Cleopatra back to Los Angeles where Mommy already has plans to eliminate her one way or the other. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that even though this isn't the most realistic "blaxploitation movie" ever filmed it does have a few good things going for it. The first good attribute is the presence of Tamara Dobson who was both sexy and elegant at the same time. Another good aspect of this film pertained to the excellent timing of the movie during a period when quality blaxploitation films like this were in high demand but low supply. It was sort of a diamond in the rough so to speak. That's not to say that there weren't flaws of course but overall this movie was enjoyable and because of that I rate it as slightly above average.

Former model Tamara Dobson struts around in some wacky fashions with one mean afro, taking on drug dealer Shelley Winters who really is the quintessential embankment to protect low land from being flooded, if you know what I mean, in this oddity that also features Antonio "Huggy Bear" Fargas, Bernie "Lamda Lamda Lamda" Casey, Bill "Squeal" McKinney, Esther "Movin' on up" Rolle, and Albert "I gots to know" Popwell. Dobson's lack of acting skill is offset by watching her feign karate in an epic battle with Shelley Winters. Yeah, Cleopatra Jones may be silly, but it's a lot of fun too. If you want grit, watch Shaft. If you want sex and violence, watch Coffy. Yeah, Cleopatra Jones may be silly, but it's a lot of fun too.

Cleopatra Jones was an inspired effort, given the period it was made. As a black male, I really appreciate the film. The character is one of liberation, and contrary to what has been said about the film, her job is to get rid of drugs, and keep America safe, black or white!!! And yes, you can do good in the hood and look good as well! She is clearly not meant to be anti-establishment, and the story goes a long way in that regard. It is too bad that characters such as Cleopatra Jones, Foxy Brown, and Coffy do not get the credit they deserve. You wouldn't find too many strong heroines beside Wonder Woman, until Ellen Ripley comes along in Alien.

While it is pitiful black exploitation as we view with 20/20 hindsight, this film marked another of H*wood's strenuous efforts to embrace black actors and actresses on the silver screen. In today's view the glam outfits look ridiculous, but then if you walked the streets in the 70's, the outfits and characters might easily be a collage of reality. Big afros and "to the max" jackets are all hallmarks of the 1970's American style--especially, the Black neighborhood.The metaphorical message means much when taken in its contextual setting. Blacks were fighting for their neighborhoods against the onslaught of "urban renewal" and infestation of drug dealers and pimps, which compared to the 80's now seem a 'walk in the park'. It could be classed as some morality play--where combatants take on the role of the nemesis in reality and the heroine becomes the overcoming and empowered victims in reality.It's "fly".