February 3, 2025 • 55 mins
Bucktown (1975)
AIP Production #7512
Jeff and Cheryl make a pilgrimage to the Midwest’s version of Sin City in Bucktown.
Directed by Arthur Marks
Written by Bob Ellison
Produced by Bernard Schwartz
Cast:
Fred Williamson as Duke
Pam Grier as Aretha
Thalmus Rasulala as Roy
Tony King as T.J.
Bernie Hamilton as Harley
Art Lund as Chief Patterson
Tierre Turner as Steve
Morgan Upton as Sam
Carl Weathers as Hambone
Jim Bohan as Clete
Robert Burton as Merle
Gene Simms as Josh
Bruce Watson as Warren, the Bagman
Larry Hill as Deputy Sheriff Duane (uncredited)
Jody Maxwell as the topless dancer (uncredited)
Produced and released by American International Pictures
You can stream Bucktown on Plex or Tubi, or rent it on Fandango at Home, Apple TV+ or Amazon Prime
View the Bucktown trailer here.
Visit our website - https://aippod.com/ and follow the American International Podcast on Letterboxd, Instagram and Threads @aip_pod and on Facebook at facebook.com/AmericanInternationalPodcast
Our open and close includes clips from the following films/trailers: How to Make a Monster (1958), The Brain That Wouldn’t Die (1962), I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957), High School Hellcats (1958), Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), The Wild Angels (1966), It Conquered the World (1956), The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), and Female Jungle (1955)
AIP Production #7512
Jeff and Cheryl make a pilgrimage to the Midwest’s version of Sin City in Bucktown.
Directed by Arthur Marks
Written by Bob Ellison
Produced by Bernard Schwartz
Cast:
Fred Williamson as Duke
Pam Grier as Aretha
Thalmus Rasulala as Roy
Tony King as T.J.
Bernie Hamilton as Harley
Art Lund as Chief Patterson
Tierre Turner as Steve
Morgan Upton as Sam
Carl Weathers as Hambone
Jim Bohan as Clete
Robert Burton as Merle
Gene Simms as Josh
Bruce Watson as Warren, the Bagman
Larry Hill as Deputy Sheriff Duane (uncredited)
Jody Maxwell as the topless dancer (uncredited)
Produced and released by American International Pictures
You can stream Bucktown on Plex or Tubi, or rent it on Fandango at Home, Apple TV+ or Amazon Prime
View the Bucktown trailer here.
Visit our website - https://aippod.com/ and follow the American International Podcast on Letterboxd, Instagram and Threads @aip_pod and on Facebook at facebook.com/AmericanInternationalPodcast
Our open and close includes clips from the following films/trailers: How to Make a Monster (1958), The Brain That Wouldn’t Die (1962), I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957), High School Hellcats (1958), Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), The Wild Angels (1966), It Conquered the World (1956), The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), and Female Jungle (1955)
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
There's a town where law and order are dirty words where you can buy a cop as easy as a beer
(00:07):
where the women are friendly as long as you've got the price they call it's buck town.
Bucktown, starring Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, Thalmus Rasulala and Tony King
they're the greatest black attack pack you'll ever see.
What the hell did you know about that?
And they're taking over Bucktown.
(00:28):
Like stealing candy from a baby.
You need a chance, crack it.
Damn brother, you have become one violent doom.
Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, Thalmus Rasulala and Tony King, together they're dynamite in Bucktown.
(00:49):
We're not talking about actors, we mean a real monster.
I brought her back.
She'll live and I'll get her another body.
I know they're gonna catch me but don't let anyone see me like that? Please, Doctor, help me!
Biologically speaking, it's of primary importance that man should want to mate.
Hey, that's right!
You don't get all your kicks from surfing do you?
We want to be free to ride our machines without being hassled by the man.
(01:13):
And we want to get loaded.
You think you're gonna make a slave of the world?
I'll see you in Hell first!
The American International Podcast.
Are you ready?
Hello, you reach your destination, the American International Podcast.
I'm Cheryl Lightfoot.
And I'm Jeff Markin.
And today we're getting off the train in Bucktown from 1975.
(01:37):
Bucktown was directed by Arthur Marks, written by Bob Ellison, and produced by Bernard Schwartz.
Bucktown stars Fred Williamson as Duke Johnson, Pam Grier as Erita, Thalmus Rasulala as Roy, Tony King as TJ, Bernie Hamilton as Waldo Harley,
Art Lund as Chief Brian Patterson, Tierre Turner as Stevie, Carl Weathers as Hambone,
(02:01):
Also appearing are Morgan Upton as Sam, Jim Bowen as Clete, Robert Burton as Merle, Jean Sims as Josh, Bruce Watson as Warren the Bagman,
and Uncredited are Larry Hill as Deputy Sheriff Dwayne and Jody Maxwell as the Topless Dancer.
As the movie starts, A jazz-funk music bed helps introduce us to Bucktown, the city of a thousand bars and nightclubs.
(02:27):
The police here keep a close eye on the local prostitutes unless their job duties require their attention.
The night the movie starts, two local deputies are called out to catch a thief who allegedly ripped off the poker palace.
These officers are Sam and Clete, and we will be hearing more from them later.
They give chase to the alleged perpetrator and Clete Jim's son of the car to chase him. He goes over some train tracks in front of an oncoming train.
(02:53):
Clete catches up to him there and starts beating him up. The train stops and Duke Johnson steps off.
By now Sam has joined his partner and Duke sees the police laughing over the man they've just beaten. Clete sure loves his job.
The two are also relieving the alleged perpetrator of whatever money he allegedly stole from the poker palace.
Duke scowls at this, but is he going to do anything about it? Apparently not. He lets them see his disapproval and Cleet says that the guy that they're beating up is a real bad cat.
(03:20):
Then Clete asks Duke if he's going to be in town long. Duke asks, "Why are you the welcoming committee?" He walks on and he's Cleet scowls at him.
Duke hails a taxi and the cab driver asks Duke if he believes in God.
Duke says, "Yeah, why not?"
Because if he does, he's in the wrong place. Duke gets into the back of the car as the man who is beaten by the police officers is dragged off to the hospital.
The cab stops in front of the club Alabama. It's closed and Duke asks the cabbie why he didn't tell him it was closed.
(03:45):
And the reason is because Duke never asked him.
Duke sighs and asks the cabbie for the name of a good hotel. "We don't got one," says the cabbie.
Duke then asks for one where they change the sheets at least every other night. The cabbie recommends the Dixie, a couple blocks down the street.
Duke insists on walking there after the cabbie offers him a ride. As he approaches the hotel, a prostitute with two Johns is leaving.
(04:06):
I don't know why she's leaving though because she's selling them on her services.
Next, Duke bumps into Steve. Steve is around 13 years old and tells the new in town Duke that he knows where he could find some action.
He can tell Duke where to play cards.
Sam and Cleet have returned from the hospital now and they've pulled the up near Rye to watch.
Duke turns down Steve's offer and Steve changes tactics and tells him he knows where he can get a woman.
(04:27):
Duke laughs and says he's still not interested.
The two cabs are watching this exchange from their car with interest.
Then Steve walks over to his child's size motorbike. Duke calls him a pimp but Steve corrects him.
He's Walt Disney and this is Disneyland.
Then Duke enters the Dixie and rings the bell on the desk. The clerk flirts with him but Duke's not interested in her either.
He's only there for one night.
(04:49):
She asks what a fine black man like him is doing here and Duke says he's just here to bury his brother.
Having totally killed the mood, Duke heads up to his room and her netta, the woman at the desk, calls up police chief Patterson at home.
She tells him that a man just checked in who came into town for Ben's funeral and then she's calling it in just as he'd asked her to.
Patterson thanks her for the intel and hangs up. Then he gets his dinner served to him by his black maid.
(05:13):
He prays before eating though.
At Ben Johnson's funeral, Duke stands apart from the few other mourners.
Steve is one of them along with Ben's girlfriend, Aretha, played by Pam Grier.
Rye also in attendance is Harley, an older man who can't stop boozing long enough to console his fellow mourners.
As the casket is lowered into the grave, Aretha throws a flower onto it.
Then goes back to Harley, who gives her a big hug with Stevie caught in between them.
(05:37):
Harley goes up to Duke and asks if he knew Ben. Duke says that he's Ben's brother.
Harley's happy to meet him. Ben always said Duke was the smartest one in the family.
But Ritha is not so happy. Where was Duke when Ben needed him? Duke wonders what Ben needed.
But Aretha snarls, it's too late now. He's just here to go to the funeral, grab Ben's stuff and go.
Steve asks if Duke is going to stay in town and Ritha replies, of course not.
(06:01):
She says he wouldn't dirty his shoe shine in this cow pasture.
He's got better things to do and with that she drags TV to the car as dramatic music plays.
I don't know why they keep calling it like this. Cow pasture, it's an urban setting.
Duke looks confused as Ritha turns to go. Harley explains that Ben was good to Aretha.
And it's the grief talking, not her. Duke understands.
Next, Duke goes into town to settle his brother's estate.
(06:24):
He signs and documents, then asks if everything belongs to him now, to use or sell or whatever.
The probate officer tells him not quite. It takes about 50 days to settle in a state.
Duke doesn't want to have to stay in this rat trap for the next two months.
And the officer says they may be able to make things a little easier for Duke.
They could give him access to Ben's property. Duke gets what's going on here. How much he asks.
The probate officer settles on the contents of Ben's wallet, about 39 bucks.
(06:49):
Harley and Steve are waiting in the lobby of the courthouse as Duke leaves.
Harley is excited that Duke's going to be reopening the club. So is Steve.
He lives in the back. I think that's what they said.
Duke roughly says he's stuck there for two months. So what he wants from Harley is a buyer for that club.
He exits the building and Harley and Steve give each other concern looks and then go chase after Duke.
(07:10):
Harley tells Duke that it's going to be difficult to find a buyer for a closed club.
But if Duke were to reopen the club, it would be a lot easier to find a buyer.
Duke is unmoved so Harley kicks his pitch up a notch. He describes the club with customers and music.
And tells Duke he can up his asking price four times. And Steve he reminds him that he'll be making money as he waits.
Harley says the tours come from across the river to swing all night and Steve adds and get some relaxation.
(07:35):
They apply a little emotional black belt on Duke and apparently it's working.
Duke tells Steve he reminds him of Duke when he was his age. Always jiving and hustling.
Let's see if he says he's not hustling. He's just trying to grow up in a fast town and ask for Harley.
He's just an old football player who maybe drinks a bit too much now and then.
But reopening the club could give him something to look forward to.
And now we're at the police station where the town's mouthiest horror is mad.
(07:59):
We saw her earlier and now she's been arrested. They are giving her grief for robbing her johns.
That's bad for business. One of them says.
And also bad for their bustling commercial sex industry. They can't have her clipping the marks.
She feels she's justified because some freaky bastard wanted to wear her underwear.
She storms out just as Duke enters the place.
He's come to speak with them about the clothes tying on the club Alabama.
(08:21):
Sam and Merle officers on duty tell him that he'll have to come up with license fee to reopen the club.
Merle younger cop with a mustache says what's the cost of that license? $400.
Sam says no, I think it's $450. Duke sees the chief exiting his office with another deputy named Duane.
And decides to go straight to the top ignoring the petty officers. The chief allows this over Sam's objections.
(08:43):
The chief invites Duke into his office. Duke asked what it is he asked to do to get the club ready open.
Patterson tells him that would require a city license.
And he shall talk to Sam to get the latest figure on that amount and confirms it's still $450.
But the renewal was due today's after bend died. So it's now overdue.
And until that fee is paid, Duke can't sell it or use it or whatever.
(09:04):
But that's what's going to take to have the padlocks removed.
The chief says as long as the green crosses his desk, Duke can do whatever he likes with the place.
After a couple beats, Duke pulls out his wallet and begrudgingly pays, making the chief very happy.
And now we're with Merle, the mustache cop we saw before, and the bagman. This is Warren.
(09:29):
They're out on the street and the bagman is shaking down someone who's standing in front of a club. And then they both go to the Dixie Hotel.
Warren, the bagman immediately runs upstairs and knocks on a door.
The door opens and a prostitute named Cleo. Very pretty. Let's him in. Cleo has an envelope.
She's rubbing it all over her body. Warren, the bagman is extremely turned on by this.
And even though she apparently likes this strange featured fellow, she pays him anyways. Then they get it on and both of them seem really into it.
(09:55):
Next, Charlie burst into a bar to tell everyone that the club Alabama will be reopening, which is a little confusing because this bar appears to be the club Alabama.
And people are drinking there, but we just have to move on.
Arita is sitting at a table and Harley joins her. And she's surprised that Duke has decided to reopen the club.
Arita tells her that he'd convinced Duke by telling him how much money he was going to make.
He'll say just long enough to find a buyer or Arita snorts. And Harley asks her why she's always so cold.
(10:20):
Duke has been his brother, so she should own a little respect. But Arita's mind Duke is just another guy from the big city and she's met a hundred guys just like him and they're all the same.
And every one of them is scarred her.
Clete and Sam roll up on the same block where Merle and the bagman are walking by. Apparently they've left the hotel Dixie.
Warren, the bagman is waxing her up. Sotic about his time with Clio, but Sam says that if he weren't the chief's cousin, Clio wouldn't so much as look in his direction.
(10:45):
Merle wonders if the club Alabama now open and conveniently across the street from where they're parked should join the protection racket that they've got going on.
Clayton tells bagman to stay with Sam as they go in to sign Duke up or in the bagman protest, but Sam barks at him to get in the car.
So Clayton Merle go into the Alabama and no one there seems happy to see them.
Merle helps himself to a beer and spits it out. He says it tastes like it's been flushed down the toilet.
(11:09):
So he has it to Clayton to try. But Clay just gives it a sniff and pours it onto the floor.
I just Merle know what stuff flushed down the toilet tastes like. That's the question I'd be asking behind the counter. Duke clears at them and says if you smell and look like a pig, I guess you got to act like one.
Please tell Duke that if he wants to stay in business, he's going to have to pay. Duke tells him he gave it the office and Merle tells him that was just to remove the sign.
(11:32):
At this inopportune moment, Harley and Arita enter the club. Harley oblivious to the drama happening at the bar commands everyone to start partying.
Clete is still dealing with Duke and asks for $100 every Saturday. And if he doesn't get his Saturday money, there'll be another sign on the door that means nobody can come in.
His entire speech is laced with racist epithets and insults, something we really need to get used to in watching this movie unfortunately.
(11:54):
Duke tells them that they've had their laps and they should probably go now.
Merle says he just wants to check the cash register before they leave and Duke tells him the price he's got to pay to do that isn't worth it.
Stevie makes a joke about Clete and Merle's sexuality. I mean, they're always together and the fight is on. Merle throws Stevie into a wall, then Duke starts throwing punches.
Harley tries to help, but he's no Fred Williamson. Eventually Duke prevails and Clete and Merle get thrown out on the sidewalk like the white trash they are. Duke turns on Harley and Aretha. Why did they tell them it was going on in this town?
(12:25):
Harley explains that he didn't say anything because he didn't want Duke to go and Aretha thought he was going to leave anyway so why should she say anything?
So Duke returns to the police station to tell Chief Patterson what's what. Duke tells him he's not paying off anybody. $450 was his first and final payment.
Patterson closes the door and tells Duke that this is a busy department and they can't get by on parking tickets.
(12:47):
Take Ben's case for instance, they're not giving up. Duke asks what he means by not giving up and Patterson says some unknown assailant beat him and left him for dead.
This is news to Duke. He was told his brother died of natural causes pneumonia. Patterson says yes, that's true, but what brought that on was exposure and loss of blood.
After being beaten and left for dead, Patterson says that Duke seems like a smart man wouldn't be better to just go along to get along.
(13:09):
Now we're with Aretha. She's walking up to Duke's house formerly Ben's and she's holding an apology six pack. Duke lets her in and accepts the six pack but is still upset about everything that no one told him.
Especially now that he knows that his brother was left for dead in a freezing rain. Aretha isn't proud of admitting so much information but dot dot dot.
You wanted to play it safe supplies Duke. Arita agrees, but Duke says everyone's got it rough baby. So Aretha walks back her apology and screams at Duke.
(13:35):
Oh, he's so successful and smart Ben told them this over and over until they were sick of hearing about it. She says she must have been crazy to come down here and try to apologize.
And Duke asks what she wants from him the keys to the city. Duke bastard. She shouts reaching to slap him, but he grabs her and kisses her and they wind up in bed superimposed over the house's exterior.
I should have mentioned before that as they're discussing this both of them have significant portions of their chest exposed.
(13:59):
Outside of Duke's house, the four corrupt lawmen we've already met get into position. All but Patterson opened fire on the house as Duke throws himself on top of Aretha and tries to shield her from the bullets.
After a moment Patterson emerges from his car and urges the men to stop shooting, telling them that they've made their point.
This conversation is loud enough for Duke's benefit, I believe. Patterson also says that it wouldn't look good at the state house to have another death of a Johnson so soon after the first one.
(14:26):
Arita tells Duke that he's got a run they're going to kill him. Duke says he's never run from anyone in his life and he's not about to start now.
So instead he goes to the phone and makes a call. He calls his friend Roy in Philadelphia. Roy goes on about how people have been wondering where Duke has been and when he's getting back into town.
Finally Roy shuts up long enough for a Duke to tell him what's going on. He asks Roy if he remembers what they did in Detroit.
(14:49):
Roy remembers they were out number four to one and they still overtook the town to tell them if the odds even worse where he is. It's a jive town with a bunch of crackers.
Duke asks Roy to come down and Roy says when Duke says yesterday and not only that brings some muscle with him. He hangs up. Arita looks at him and dramatically says.
She's looking at a dead man but then again Arita says everything dramatically so I don't know if it's worth even pointing it out.
(15:11):
Now it's the next day and we're back at the train station. Deputy Sam is there to be the welcome wagon.
The train stops in Roy, TJ, Josh and Hambone all disembark. They're looking a lot classier than just about anyone else in this town.
Roy goes up to Sam and asks how to get to the club Alabama by taxi or stage coach.
The befuddled deputy tells them that the cab's broken down and Roy grimly starts walking to town.
(15:35):
TJ takes a moment to crush the deputy's hat by stepping on it. Then he looks at Sam's shirt and tells them that he's a real slob.
The four of them walk through town and Stevie is there to greet them. Hey fresh meat. What's he want? Gambling, pinnacle, poontang?
One of them tells Stevie to buzz off and Roy says to leave him be. He's just trying to make his hustle. Roy started out the same way.
Stevie puffs out and is chest with pride.
(15:57):
Roy is getting fine the Alabama and they go inside. Aretha announces to Duke that his friends are here and an introductions are made.
Duke introduces Harley and Aretha to his friends and TJ looks a little too interested, maybe a lot too interested in Aretha.
You can see that trouble is brewing here. Now we're switching to a completely different location. We're outside the hotel Dixie.
Deputy Dwayne is outside the hotel squinting up at the window. He's talking through the radio saying that he doesn't like to look at these newcomers.
(16:24):
As for Roy and his men, they have all checked into the Dixie. TJ comes down the hall with a blonde on each arm.
He knocks on the door and Roy answers. He tells TJ to get rid of the jail bait and they go in for a meeting. Duke, Aretha, Hambo and Josh are already there.
They start talking strategy. They have to worry about four cops and a chief. Roy asks about the mayor and Aretha says they won't have to worry about him.
He's the one who brought in Patterson to clean up the town and he didn't turn out to be what was expected so the mayor will be just as happy to see the chief go.
(16:51):
Then Hambo notices that one of the cops is standing outside the hotel even as they speak. Duke warns them not to dismiss Patterson. He's not just some old guy. He's more trouble than he seems to be.
And says they really need to do this job quickly just like the last one. In the meantime, you see that TJ is getting too handsy with Arita.
He leans over and whispers something in her ear that makes her explode and anger. She calls him a sick animal and storms out.
(17:13):
Roy asks what's with her. TJ just shrugs and Duke clears at him.
But he does nothing outside deputy Sam and chief Patterson are also in attendance. Sam marbles that anyone could stay in that hotel for four hours straight.
Sam's worried about the newcomers, but Patterson says not to fret. They're the law and by the way, God's on their side.
Okay.
(17:39):
And now we're inside one of Bucktown's hundreds of nightclubs where a topless dancer is shimming on stage. Duke and Roy are at a table plenty of how to get at one of the cops.
Another woman comes bopping up to their table to offer them some female companionship. But Duke and Roy hold hands and Roy even kisses Duke's hand pretend that they have chosen each other's company and don't need a woman. She screws up her face and discussed.
(18:00):
Then Duke and Roy go outside where deputy sheriff Dwayne is standing waiting for them on a uniform. They joke with them that they're headed down the street to another club. If he'd like to continue following them, then they walk off laughing.
Through voiceover, Duke is telling Roy about each of the cops they'll be taking out. Sam gets his kicks at the casino each night and we see that that is the case.
Merleworks over the ladies at Ruby's or house of which Merle is a part owner and we see what's being described here too. Some poor unfortunate woman looks like she's about to get thrown over a banister outside the courthouse flash police station. Probably the police station.
(18:35):
It's hard to tell Duke tells Roy that there's usually only one cop on duty at night and Roy notes that that cops probably asleep deputy Dwayne is still following and hiding nearby listening.
They agree that the first thing they have to do is take out the radio, which is manned by a warrant the bagman for some reason. Well, he's the chief's cousin. It's like taking candy from a baby chuckle's Roy.
We have a brief shot through the streets of Bucktown to show time passing and.
(18:59):
Weren't the bagman is at the hotel for his weekly pick up slash rendezvous, but instead he meets handbone with a baseball bat.
Ambon knocks Weren out and walks off with the bagman's bag. We see that Cleet has a room at the Dixie as well and he has a lady friend for the evening.
He's getting dressed and she asked for a cigarette, but Roy sneaks up from behind her and sticks a gun in her face warning her to be quiet.
(19:20):
Duke comes in through the main door and Cleet lacks himself in the bathroom. Then he jumps out the window and goes down the fire scape.
Weren't out to his car, but handbone is already there holding a shotgun. He starts blasting Clete's car even as Cleet is inside trying to pull a revolver from the glove compartment. Finally, one of those shots hits the gas tank and the car gloriously explodes.
This flips Clete over and he's now unconscious or dead or both on the ground.
(19:44):
Duke and Roy run up with their guns, but see that handbone has already finished the job. Back at the police station, Duane is complaining to someone who has made him a hamburger that he wanted it with mustard and without ketchup, but this one came without mustard. And this is a disaster.
As Duane storms out of the kitchen area, Josh sneaks in the back with a shotgun.
He motions for the sandwich artist to be quiet as he follows Duayne.
(20:05):
Josh sneaks into the police station. Duane's looking out the window. Josh picks up the phone and drops it on the floor.
The startled Duane turns around and sees Josh in a shotgun aimed at him. Josh tells Dwayne don't move and questions whether Dwayne knows any prayers, the radio crackles to life and then Josh blows him away.
Josh then clips. You should have had the ketchup.
Next we see Sam is at the casino as it been foretold. Roy comes in with a gun and everyone starts to panic. He says he doesn't want any of them. He just wants Sam.
(20:33):
Sam grabs the nearest available female and puts his gun to her head. Roy calls out for Duke who casually strolls in.
Then Sam makes a run for it and Duke and Roy follow him outside.
Sam drops the woman, holds his gun up, aiming at both Roy and Duke. Roy shoots first though, getting Sam in the arm.
He tells Duke that he's losing his touch. Duke then fires at Sam's retreating form and gets him in the ass.
(20:56):
Then we see that TJ was in the cop car sitting nearby. He opens the car door and delivers the fatal shot, killing Sam.
Why waste ammo, he asks, looking at Roy and Duke. Roy laughs and Duke just looks angry. It's his plan. I don't know why he's so angry during him.
Murl is in the warehouse being ridden by his lady choice of the evening. Hambone comes in, grabs her and pulls her off of Merle.
(21:18):
Then TJ enters and Merle kicks him back and reaches for his gun, which is sitting on the dresser. Hambone smashes his hand and grabs the gun.
TJ holds Merle still as Hambone shoots him dead. And though I describe it, it's really a lot more complicated than that.
Yeah, we watched about five times and we are still not sure who shoots whom. You see a hand holding a gun, firing, and somehow it hits Murl even though it's nowhere near him.
(21:40):
Moving on, Merle falls next to the mattress, gripping the covers and grimacing weirdly as his body slides to the floor.
TJ cracks his gum and nods at Handbone. It's time to go. And now it's time for the last one.
Roy and Duke infiltrate the bedroom of the sleeping chief. They both draw their guns and position themselves on either side of his head.
They cock their weapons and the noise makes Patterson's eyes fly open.
(22:04):
"Rise and shine," chief says one of the men. "The war is over," says the other.
They bring the chief to the jail, which is now under the control of Duke Roy and company.
Poor guy's in his jammies.
They discuss what time the chief's execution should be scheduled. Sun up as too early.
High noon would interfere with lunch, so when o'clock maybe? Then Roy suggests now is a good time.
"You're not going to kill me," says the chief. He goes on to say that the state troopers will hear about this and they're going to have to have the mayor tell them that they've locked up the chief for breaking the law.
(22:33):
I know how to keep them alive to prove that he wasn't executed. But everyone laughs at this suggestion as they lock Patterson in a cell.
At the government building, the mayor's staff, including the probate officer we met earlier, are telling up the police bribery funds for the night.
How much for gambling, how much for prostitution, etc.
The mayor is very grateful to Duke, Roy, and the others. And wonders how best to express that gratitude before they leave.
(22:59):
Roy asks the mayor what he plans to do with the badges they've collected. The mayor is unsure off the top of his head, but he would like to do something to show his appreciation before they leave town.
Then that probate officer says he's counted up the sheriff's entire night's take.
$6,319. Roy looks over the ledger with interest.
The mayor is still pondering to just a parade. Marching bands, pom pom girls, nope says Roy and handbone. Roy assures the mayor that he will think of something.
(23:26):
And here's where this movie should be over, but there are still 41 minutes left, so it's time for a plot twist.
Arita bursts into Duke's house. He's in bed and she tells him to get up. He says anytime is the right time and invites her to join him, but she says that she didn't come to get him in bed. She's come to get him out of it.
(23:51):
Duke says it's too early for that. Roy isn't leaving until noon, but that's what Arita is here to tell him.
It trains leaving at noon, but Roy and his boys aren't. Roy is kind the mayor into making them the new police force in town. With Roy as the chief, Duke thinks this is pretty funny with each of them having a rap sheet a mile long, but he admits that Roy must be up to something.
Arita has more info to dump. They're going to take over the bribery racket. The police had running Duke chuckles some more, but Arita says it doesn't matter that their brothers, no matter what color a person is when they see a little money, they want it. She calls Duke a dummy and urges him to stop chuckling and get up.
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Now we're back at the jail and chief Patterson still in his pajamas is being held at gunpoint by TJ while Roy is questioning him and handbone is sharpening a razor on a leather strap.
Roy asks where the money is that the police have been taking Patterson can't take his eyes off the razor paying off streets come as easy giving into them impossible. He says, which makes absolutely no sense.
No, but what it seems to mean is that the chief's not talking.
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Roy tells Patterson that a man that won't talk doesn't need a tongue. Then he looks over to handbone with his now sharpened razor.
Duke has decided to pay Roy a visit at his hotel. Roy is entertaining Arnetta Roy sends her away so that he can tell Duke about their new partnership what partnership asked Duke. I thought you were leaving town Roy says that they were going to leave until they realize the lucrative opportunities this town will provide them unlimited bribery potential.
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He tells Duke that the Lord helps those who help themselves. They mean to help themselves to all the money in Bucktown.
And now they've got badges to validate what they're doing and there's even one extra one for Duke. But Duke says that's not his bag. Besides, this is his brother's town and his brother's friends. He doesn't want to lean on them like that.
Roy says, okay, they'll just collect enough to pay the rent like Robin Hood stealing from the rich to give to the poor and Duke can go back and run his club and they'll take his cut and put it in the safe in the city hall and then when Duke is ready to collect it, it will be all there waiting for him.
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Roy tries to toast to this new partnership and to Bucktown. Duke accepts the cup but does not drink. And now he's seeing Hambone and his loud red plaid jacket. He's walking down the street shaking down a door man successfully. And then he's with Cleo where he tries to get money out of her but is not so successful. She doesn't have it.
And bone tells her that she best open up her piggy bank. Everyone pays their dues now. Then Hambone returns to the city hall with the bag of money he was able to collect. T.J.
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Complains to Hambone about Duke. Duke's got a percentage of the money and he doesn't even want it. And he doesn't do any of the work.
And the Hambone says that's the way Roy wants it. T.J. says that's because there's such good buddies. But what if they weren't good buddies? Maybe they can change that.
Hambone is skeptical but T.J. has already set his plan in motion and Josh is going to help too. And now we're at the club Alabama where a drunken Harley is holding court regaling Josh T.J. and Hambone about his football exploits.
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Harley is significantly wasted here.
The others start bragging on him telling him there's no way was the big football star he claims to be. Harley tries to defend his honor and ends up getting the crap kicked out of him.
It's a three on one fight and Josh has a blade. Harley is getting slashed and the next time we see him he's being hauled out on a gurney to an ambulance.
Duke comes walking down the street sees the crowd and walks up to the gurney where Harley is laying. Stevie and Aritha are already there. Aritha tells Duke that she and Stevie are going with Harley to the ambulance.
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And after everyone's loaded in the ambulance we see it drive away.
So Duke goes off to find Roy and he finds him in the courthouse at City Hall. Duke asks Roy why he sent his goons to beat up on Harley. Roy said that what he'd heard of was a Harley got drunk and was causing a disturbance and that's why his men are wearing those badges to keep the peace.
Duke says that's BS and Roy knows it. Roy asks why Duke is all up in it with them and Duke says it's not like that.
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He just wants Roy to control his goons because if they keep messing with his people they're going to have to tangle the Duke. Duke leaves and TJ enters. Roy asks TJ what happened again with Harley and TJ repeats the same story he told Roy before.
Harley was drunk and took three of them to bring him down.
A likely story. In a corridor meant to serve as a hospital hallway. Anderson and Orley park Harley's gurney there and then they go. Aritha arrives to see him.
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She asked Harley what happened but he really can't remember they were all drinking though. Aritha comforts Harley and tells him he's going to be all right.
Harley says it took 45 stitches to sew him back up and that must be some kind of record and Aritha agrees that it must be.
Now at the town barbershop where the mayor is being prepped for a haircut. He's talking to Duke and saying that Roy seems to be building up an army.
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He goes on to say that things were bad under the old chief but now they're 10 times worse. Mayor says there's no way they can fight them and Duke just tears off into space.
Now we're at the club Alabama. Roy enters. He spies Aritha who's sitting in a booth singing weirdly to herself. Apparently trying to keep time with whatever song is on the jukebox.
Roy asks Aritha if he can join her and Aritha acquiesces. Roy thinks it's time for Duke to leave Bucktown with all the money he's earned so far.
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He suggests that Aritha can go with him and they can live happily ever after. And if I'd rather stay as Aritha to Roy that sounds like a win-win scenario because if the latter were the case he could make her a proposition that could turn on to be for her benefit.
Aritha says well what if we both decide to stay and Roy says it won't be pleasant for you or him. Now we see a police car parked outside Aritha's home or Duke's home or both.
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Aretha is inside in underwear and is in plain view of Josh and TJ.
TJ tells Josh that he's going to enjoy this whatever they're about to do.
Josh isn't sure this is a good idea but TJ says that it will work and that Duke will just think that Roy said all this up.
TJ bursts inside the house and smacks Aritha who flies across the room. Duke appears out of nowhere and tells TJ he's going to break his arms and his face and his legs as he slaps TJ repeatedly.
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Duke throws TJ outside and Josh is there gun drawn but Duke has his gun too. Josh asks aren't we friends? Duke tells him to get TJ out of there and they both leave.
So next Duke runs over to the Dixie to confront Roy. After getting rid of Roy's current lady friend, Duke has Roy sit down and tells them that he called Roy in to do him a favor but then he took over the whole town.
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And it's worse now because their brothers and now Roy sent his punks after Harley and then he sent them after Aritha. Roy denies this but Duke tells them if they cross him again, they'll plant them in their own stink.
Roy tells Duke that he's been acting weird and won't even accept the money they put aside for him.
Then Roy reminds them that he's running the town and he's got the mayor and everyone else by the walls including Duke.
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So if anyone is going to be leaving, it's going to be Duke. Duke tells Roy that that's the way it's going to be that all bets are off. Duke leaves and Roy picks up the phone and calls TJ.
Roy says that from here on out everyone pays so lean on him.
At the club Alabama Harley has returned his arms in a sling and Aretha and Stevie are also there.
Harley sits at the booth across Aretha and Stevie. Aretha says Harley is supposed to be resting at home but Harley says he'd rather be here with his friends. Aritha gets up to take care of business.
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She used the waitress there after all.
At the courthouse, Duke quietly breaks in. He runs up the stairs for the safest store.
In another scene we see TJ, Josh and Hambone entering the club Alabama.
TJ is holding a gas can and Aritha tells Stevie to go send word to Duke.
Stevie doesn't know where Duke is so Aretha riskers his location in his ear and Stevie leaves.
Hambone says they have a special message for Duke and TJ dumps gasoline all over the bar and then Josh lights a match.
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Josh says it only takes one little match in a very ominous tone. Aretha calls Josh a bastard and attacks.
TJ grabs her and Aretha bites his hand. Harley joins the fraying. It's a gun butt to the belly.
Then they arrest Harley for assaulting a law man. They drag Harley out as Aretha screams out Harley.
But she's helplessly restrained by TJ. Now we're with Stevie who sneaks into City Hall via an access panel or something.
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He runs up to find Duke, exactly where he is. He tells Duke to come to the club Alabama. Aretha needs him.
Duke asks how many men are out front and Stevie says just one. So they sneak out and Duke knocks out the one guard.
A man we've never seen before but is apparently now working for Roy and then they head off to find Aritha.
When Duke goes into the club, he sees Aretha there alone with a can of gasoline.
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He asks her what's going on and she fills him in. She says Roy's his friend and Duke can talk to him and get them to release Harley.
But Duke says not anymore. Aretha tells Duke that he can't go to the jail alone. There'll be five or six of them there.
But Duke says he has a plan to even the odds. Aretha remains skeptical though.
Duke exits the club Alabama, finds Stevie and asks him if he can get him to that armory across the river.
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Stevie says, "Oh yeah, we can help him find it." And they get in a car and drive off. Aretha finds Roy, apparently in a parking garage, and asks Roy to let Harley go.
Roy tells her that this is all Duke's fault but Aretha says he can't take his disappointment in Duke out on Harley.
She says that Duke doesn't want to go against Roy. He's called Roy his friend.
And Roy admits that he and Duke were tight, but that came from respect and living in streets and knowing how things are.
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But Duke's head is in a weird place right now, he says.
He tells her that if she can show him anybody who cares about anybody else, he'll show her a fool.
Roy's hung up on validating his criminal tendencies and is lamenting that Duke wants no part of this.
Aretha calls him out for letting his ego destroy his friendship with Duke.
She tells Roy that she wants to love Duke, not bury him. But Roy says that everyone's the same.
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Everyone has their hands out, reaching for more, and they don't care who gets killed, as long as the dice keep rolling and the hose keep pulling and the money keeps flowing.
Everyone's scratching, but Roy is just scratching a little harder than anyone else.
Aretha asks if he's ever loved anyone. Roy says, "Maybe, maybe not."
He's never had a woman to fight for him the way Aritha is fighting for Duke and maybe he envies that a little.
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But Aretha doesn't get another chance to convince Roy. He tells her, "Be seen ya," and drives off.
Now Duke and Steve are pulling up at the gate outside the armory. They break the chain and make their way inside.
Then they go through a second gate, and soon they find an M20 AUC. It's an armored car/battle truck.
An urban assault vehicle.
Meanwhile, Aretha goes to the police station to talk to TJ.
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She tells him that they haven't been too friendly with each other, and she'd like to change that.
TJ is listening. She tells him that she wants him to let Harley go. She says Harley is just an old drunken of no use to anyone, but she feels sorry for him.
Aritha says that if he'll do her this one little favor, things will be really sweet between them, if he gets her drift.
And he does. He wants the sweetness first, but Aretha says that it'll be good between them if she knows that Harley's safe.
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So TJ takes her back to see Harley. Aretha tells TJ that she needs to take Harley to the hospital, and TJ thinks that's pretty funny.
After she's come in here trying to make a deal, TJ takes what he wants.
And he says he's going to kill Duke. Like this, he pulls out a gun and shoots Chief Patterson in the neighboring cell.
I guess he's been there this whole time.
Then he points to the gun at Harley and tells Aretha to beg.
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He demands Aretha's honey, sugar, and milk, whatever that means.
And once her to beg for Harley's life, but Aretha refuses.
This doesn't seem very wise considering that all she wanted to do was save Harley.
Now we see that Duke and Stevie are slowly driving the M20 back to Bucktown.
When a Roy's guard sees a coming and tries to drive off to warn the others, but Duke runs down the car, causing it to explode.
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Then Duke drives straight into the police station.
Battering Ram extended.
Duke jumps out and shoots Josh. Then he moves on and shoots TJ.
Harley goes over to TJ's corpse and tries to get the last word with it.
Duke checks on Aretha and then tells him that Stevie's outside in the chariot.
But Stevie has gotten out of the vehicle and comes around to warn Duke that Hambone is also out there.
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Duke and Hambone fire at each other.
Then Duke warns Aretha and Harley to hang back.
On foot, he chases Hambone to city hall and shoots him in the back because he runs up some stairs.
Duke then continues up the stairs where he catches up with Roy.
"Did you get them all?" asked Roy.
"All except for one," says Duke.
Duke says he never would have guessed that the two of them would ever be on opposite sides of a fight.
Roy tells Duke that, "Though we probably won't believe him, Roy never lied to Duke."
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He never sent anyone after Harley and Aretha.
It was all TJ. He wanted Roy and Duke to tangle.
Duke says he did a good job at that.
He goes on to tell Roy that he doesn't want to kill him.
He just wants to beat the crap out of him.
Roy agrees to his terms.
They'll fight and the loser has to leave town.
And the two have a knockdown dragout fight.
Roy almost pitches Duke over a railing to the floor below.
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The two fight some more and end up rolling down the stairs.
They fight throughout the first floor of the courthouse to a back room where they store bladders.
And the fight gets more violent and more bloody until they crash through an outside door.
Harley, Aretha and Stevie are in the audience now.
As the fight goes on, they're using two by fours and shovels on one another.
Duke manages to crouch behind a car and to find him Roy climbs the top one and then straddles another.
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Duke sneaks up between the two cars and kicks up at Roy's crotch, sending him to the ground.
Duke picks up Roy and a final punch into a saw horse ends the fight.
Aritha runs up to Duke, Harley holds Stevie back so he doesn't run up to join them.
They need their alone time. Aretha helps Duke limp off and Harley tells Stevie to get some sleep.
They both have school tomorrow.
Stevie objects to this, but Harley asks him, "Don't you want to be somebody?"
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Stevie says he is. He's a man.
And then as the credits roll, we watch Duke and Aretha stagger home as the Bucktown theme song plays.
And that's the end.
Welcome back to the American International Podcast.
Today we're talking about Bucktown from 1975.
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In August of 1974, a box office magazine article announced that Fred Williamson had made a co-production deal with Henry Plitt,
vice president of ABC Theatre Holding, to make a film.
However, Plitt did not receive an on-screen credit for Buktown.
As became obvious, Pam Greer was cast against type in Bucktown.
Director Arthur Marks said in an interview that he told Grier his idea for her character.
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"You wouldn't be shooting anyone or any of that stuff.
Your job is to provide a solid base as to why Duke wants to stay in this small town."
The budget for Buktown was set at $600,000 and principal photography was to be on location in Kansas City, Missouri, primarily downtown,
with some scenes shot in Platt County and Leavenworth, Kansas.
Director Arthur Marks stated in an October 1974 box office article that the story was originally inspired by an article in Time magazine about a bartender who fought back against shakedowns by having a gunfight on the streets of Brooklyn, Illinois.
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Marks chose to shoot in Kansas City since the film needed a large city that is separated by a river from a smaller city.
And that fit the bill.
Marks also said that his daughter's husband, president of a local country club, asked him to come out there.
The article also reported that principal production began on September 30th, 1974.
Locations included 12th Street, 9th Street, and Locust.
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The railroad depot was in Leavenworth, Kansas, and the cemetery was in Platt City, Missouri.
A story published in the October 14th, 1974 edition of box office reported that officials at the Platt County Courthouse were unhappy that the filmmakers had not obtained permission to use the courthouse before shooting scenes there.
The court requested copies of the script as well as acknowledgement of the production company's financial responsibility to decide if further filming would be allowed.
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Presiding judged Henry J. Miller stated in a variety article published on October 23rd that if the movie proved to be immoral, he did not think it should use public property to film.
At the time of the hearing, scenes in the Courthouse lobby, probate office, and circuit courtroom had already been filmed.
In October 16th, the Kansas City Times reported that production had resumed, and that the court officials relented when they received a letter from the producers saying there would be no explicit sex scenes in the film.
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Producers had been waiting to shoot the parking lot fight in the jailbreak, where a breakaway wall was employed for the scene, where the armored car broke through the jail wall.
Tom Thomas, the Platt County Sheriff had already given the producers permission to film in the jail cell.
The Kansas City Times reported that around 200 spectators were treated to the site of several scantily clad dancers who had bit parts in Bucktown, as they were walking through the crowd as producers shot a scene outside the Can Can Club featuring Fred Williamson and Thomas Rasoolala.
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The article quoted by Sanders as wondering what the name of the movie was, and a girl in the crowd claiming she was supposed to be in it.
Williamson, a former football player, told the Kansas City Star that while he was in Kansas City shooting in Bucktown, he would have time to fulfill his Monday night football broadcast duties. They were going to give him a break.
Jody Maxwell, who played the topless dancer in one scene, told the Kansas City Star in July of 1975 that her role in Bucktown was her way of trying to appear in regular movies.
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Maxwell was previously known for ex-weighted roles, and had hoped to grow her career beyond them.
I don't know that she succeeded, though. In March of 1975, the Hollywood Reporter published a blurb sitting that three studios were bidding for the rights to distribute Bucktown.
Daily Variety reported on June 2nd that A.I.P. had won those rights.
Bucktown was released on July 2nd, 1975, and was given an R rating.
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Box office magazine recommended theater owners used the star power of Fred Williamson and Pam Greer to their advantage, and to create a lucky Buck contest, allowing theater goers with the right combination of serial numbers on a dollar bill to get admission to the showing.
The sole tagline for Bucktown is "Whatever you want, they got, and Bucktown is where you find it." Bucktown, according to director Arthur Marx, was a big success.
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He said in a 2012 interview that A.I.P. wanted to distribute the film after they saw it, and that, quote, "it made back its initial cost very quickly, and played every inner city in the north.
It was making, playing the state lake theater in Chicago, about $60,000 to $70,000 a week."
Marx's success with Bucktown for A.I.P. led to their distributing his subsequent films, like Friday Foster, JD's Revenge, and the Monkey Hustle.
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Reviews for Bucktown were generally not good. Vincent Can be in the New York Times said bluntly that Bucktown is a rather nasty black exploitation melodrama.
Bucktown, which is located about halfway between Kansas City and Oz, is so riddled with vice that it would make Gamora look like Salt Lake City.
There may be a point here, but it is a very tiny one.
Joe Botaki and the Philadelphia Daily News had nothing good to say about the black exploitation genre, calling it the most tubious of the new movie genres.
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He said Bucktown has nothing to do with current black life. Bucktown, directed by Arthur Marx, usually a good B-movie-sleeze director is about sleaze period.
The plot is pure stupidity. It's all ugly, saying even Pam Grier was unattractive in the film.
Marie Beach and the Richmond Times dispatched disagreed on the aesthetics of the two leads, saying, quote, "starring the handsome Fred Williamson and the equally attractive Pam Greer, Bucktown sticks in immoral at the end, but that's a cover for bloody, lacerated beaten bodies."
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The review in News Day warned moviegoers that anyone interested in black exploitation movies and their attendant mythologies will want to know that Pam Greer doesn't deliver a single crunching need to the groin in Bucktown.
It's Greer's co-star, Fred Williamson, who was top banana in the violence department. Greer, whose tough mama exploits have earned her stardom and big bucks at the box office, sticks more or less to merely by her man.
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He then calls the plot less logical than a comic strip and is predictable as a spaghetti western or a spear in sandalepic.
George McKinnon of the Boston Globes said Bucktown was, quote, "so unreal with an elemental, predictable plot line that is more tedious than terrifying."
Fred Williamson and Pam Grier, two of the screen's most personable and photogenic performers, give the film what little class it has and make the viewer wish for something better for them instead of this throwaway trash.
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There's a town where law and order are dirty words where you can buy a cop as easy as a beer
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where the women are friendly as long as you've got the price they call it's buck town.
Bucktown, starring Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, Thalmus Rasulala and Tony King
they're the greatest black attack pack you'll ever see.
What the hell did you know about that?
And they're taking over Bucktown.
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Like stealing candy from a baby.
You need a chance, crack it.
Damn brother, you have become one violent doom.
Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, Thalmus Rasulala and Tony King, together they're dynamite in Bucktown.
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We're not talking about actors, we mean a real monster.
I brought her back.
She'll live and I'll get her another body.
I know they're gonna catch me but don't let anyone see me like that? Please, Doctor, help me!
Biologically speaking, it's of primary importance that man should want to mate.
Hey, that's right!
You don't get all your kicks from surfing do you?
We want to be free to ride our machines without being hassled by the man.
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And we want to get loaded.
You think you're gonna make a slave of the world?
I'll see you in Hell first!
The American International Podcast.
Are you ready?
Hello, you reach your destination, the American International Podcast.
I'm Cheryl Lightfoot.
And I'm Jeff Markin.
And today we're getting off the train in Bucktown from 1975.
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Bucktown was directed by Arthur Marks, written by Bob Ellison, and produced by Bernard Schwartz.
Bucktown stars Fred Williamson as Duke Johnson, Pam Grier as Erita, Thalmus Rasulala as Roy, Tony King as TJ, Bernie Hamilton as Waldo Harley,
Art Lund as Chief Brian Patterson, Tierre Turner as Stevie, Carl Weathers as Hambone,
(02:01):
Also appearing are Morgan Upton as Sam, Jim Bowen as Clete, Robert Burton as Merle, Jean Sims as Josh, Bruce Watson as Warren the Bagman,
and Uncredited are Larry Hill as Deputy Sheriff Dwayne and Jody Maxwell as the Topless Dancer.
As the movie starts, A jazz-funk music bed helps introduce us to Bucktown, the city of a thousand bars and nightclubs.
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The police here keep a close eye on the local prostitutes unless their job duties require their attention.
The night the movie starts, two local deputies are called out to catch a thief who allegedly ripped off the poker palace.
These officers are Sam and Clete, and we will be hearing more from them later.
They give chase to the alleged perpetrator and Clete Jim's son of the car to chase him. He goes over some train tracks in front of an oncoming train.
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Clete catches up to him there and starts beating him up. The train stops and Duke Johnson steps off.
By now Sam has joined his partner and Duke sees the police laughing over the man they've just beaten. Clete sure loves his job.
The two are also relieving the alleged perpetrator of whatever money he allegedly stole from the poker palace.
Duke scowls at this, but is he going to do anything about it? Apparently not. He lets them see his disapproval and Cleet says that the guy that they're beating up is a real bad cat.
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Then Clete asks Duke if he's going to be in town long. Duke asks, "Why are you the welcoming committee?" He walks on and he's Cleet scowls at him.
Duke hails a taxi and the cab driver asks Duke if he believes in God.
Duke says, "Yeah, why not?"
Because if he does, he's in the wrong place. Duke gets into the back of the car as the man who is beaten by the police officers is dragged off to the hospital.
The cab stops in front of the club Alabama. It's closed and Duke asks the cabbie why he didn't tell him it was closed.
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And the reason is because Duke never asked him.
Duke sighs and asks the cabbie for the name of a good hotel. "We don't got one," says the cabbie.
Duke then asks for one where they change the sheets at least every other night. The cabbie recommends the Dixie, a couple blocks down the street.
Duke insists on walking there after the cabbie offers him a ride. As he approaches the hotel, a prostitute with two Johns is leaving.
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I don't know why she's leaving though because she's selling them on her services.
Next, Duke bumps into Steve. Steve is around 13 years old and tells the new in town Duke that he knows where he could find some action.
He can tell Duke where to play cards.
Sam and Cleet have returned from the hospital now and they've pulled the up near Rye to watch.
Duke turns down Steve's offer and Steve changes tactics and tells him he knows where he can get a woman.
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Duke laughs and says he's still not interested.
The two cabs are watching this exchange from their car with interest.
Then Steve walks over to his child's size motorbike. Duke calls him a pimp but Steve corrects him.
He's Walt Disney and this is Disneyland.
Then Duke enters the Dixie and rings the bell on the desk. The clerk flirts with him but Duke's not interested in her either.
He's only there for one night.
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She asks what a fine black man like him is doing here and Duke says he's just here to bury his brother.
Having totally killed the mood, Duke heads up to his room and her netta, the woman at the desk, calls up police chief Patterson at home.
She tells him that a man just checked in who came into town for Ben's funeral and then she's calling it in just as he'd asked her to.
Patterson thanks her for the intel and hangs up. Then he gets his dinner served to him by his black maid.
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He prays before eating though.
At Ben Johnson's funeral, Duke stands apart from the few other mourners.
Steve is one of them along with Ben's girlfriend, Aretha, played by Pam Grier.
Rye also in attendance is Harley, an older man who can't stop boozing long enough to console his fellow mourners.
As the casket is lowered into the grave, Aretha throws a flower onto it.
Then goes back to Harley, who gives her a big hug with Stevie caught in between them.
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Harley goes up to Duke and asks if he knew Ben. Duke says that he's Ben's brother.
Harley's happy to meet him. Ben always said Duke was the smartest one in the family.
But Ritha is not so happy. Where was Duke when Ben needed him? Duke wonders what Ben needed.
But Aretha snarls, it's too late now. He's just here to go to the funeral, grab Ben's stuff and go.
Steve asks if Duke is going to stay in town and Ritha replies, of course not.
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She says he wouldn't dirty his shoe shine in this cow pasture.
He's got better things to do and with that she drags TV to the car as dramatic music plays.
I don't know why they keep calling it like this. Cow pasture, it's an urban setting.
Duke looks confused as Ritha turns to go. Harley explains that Ben was good to Aretha.
And it's the grief talking, not her. Duke understands.
Next, Duke goes into town to settle his brother's estate.
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He signs and documents, then asks if everything belongs to him now, to use or sell or whatever.
The probate officer tells him not quite. It takes about 50 days to settle in a state.
Duke doesn't want to have to stay in this rat trap for the next two months.
And the officer says they may be able to make things a little easier for Duke.
They could give him access to Ben's property. Duke gets what's going on here. How much he asks.
The probate officer settles on the contents of Ben's wallet, about 39 bucks.
(06:49):
Harley and Steve are waiting in the lobby of the courthouse as Duke leaves.
Harley is excited that Duke's going to be reopening the club. So is Steve.
He lives in the back. I think that's what they said.
Duke roughly says he's stuck there for two months. So what he wants from Harley is a buyer for that club.
He exits the building and Harley and Steve give each other concern looks and then go chase after Duke.
(07:10):
Harley tells Duke that it's going to be difficult to find a buyer for a closed club.
But if Duke were to reopen the club, it would be a lot easier to find a buyer.
Duke is unmoved so Harley kicks his pitch up a notch. He describes the club with customers and music.
And tells Duke he can up his asking price four times. And Steve he reminds him that he'll be making money as he waits.
Harley says the tours come from across the river to swing all night and Steve adds and get some relaxation.
(07:35):
They apply a little emotional black belt on Duke and apparently it's working.
Duke tells Steve he reminds him of Duke when he was his age. Always jiving and hustling.
Let's see if he says he's not hustling. He's just trying to grow up in a fast town and ask for Harley.
He's just an old football player who maybe drinks a bit too much now and then.
But reopening the club could give him something to look forward to.
And now we're at the police station where the town's mouthiest horror is mad.
(07:59):
We saw her earlier and now she's been arrested. They are giving her grief for robbing her johns.
That's bad for business. One of them says.
And also bad for their bustling commercial sex industry. They can't have her clipping the marks.
She feels she's justified because some freaky bastard wanted to wear her underwear.
She storms out just as Duke enters the place.
He's come to speak with them about the clothes tying on the club Alabama.
(08:21):
Sam and Merle officers on duty tell him that he'll have to come up with license fee to reopen the club.
Merle younger cop with a mustache says what's the cost of that license? $400.
Sam says no, I think it's $450. Duke sees the chief exiting his office with another deputy named Duane.
And decides to go straight to the top ignoring the petty officers. The chief allows this over Sam's objections.
(08:43):
The chief invites Duke into his office. Duke asked what it is he asked to do to get the club ready open.
Patterson tells him that would require a city license.
And he shall talk to Sam to get the latest figure on that amount and confirms it's still $450.
But the renewal was due today's after bend died. So it's now overdue.
And until that fee is paid, Duke can't sell it or use it or whatever.
(09:04):
But that's what's going to take to have the padlocks removed.
The chief says as long as the green crosses his desk, Duke can do whatever he likes with the place.
After a couple beats, Duke pulls out his wallet and begrudgingly pays, making the chief very happy.
And now we're with Merle, the mustache cop we saw before, and the bagman. This is Warren.
(09:29):
They're out on the street and the bagman is shaking down someone who's standing in front of a club. And then they both go to the Dixie Hotel.
Warren, the bagman immediately runs upstairs and knocks on a door.
The door opens and a prostitute named Cleo. Very pretty. Let's him in. Cleo has an envelope.
She's rubbing it all over her body. Warren, the bagman is extremely turned on by this.
And even though she apparently likes this strange featured fellow, she pays him anyways. Then they get it on and both of them seem really into it.
(09:55):
Next, Charlie burst into a bar to tell everyone that the club Alabama will be reopening, which is a little confusing because this bar appears to be the club Alabama.
And people are drinking there, but we just have to move on.
Arita is sitting at a table and Harley joins her. And she's surprised that Duke has decided to reopen the club.
Arita tells her that he'd convinced Duke by telling him how much money he was going to make.
He'll say just long enough to find a buyer or Arita snorts. And Harley asks her why she's always so cold.
(10:20):
Duke has been his brother, so she should own a little respect. But Arita's mind Duke is just another guy from the big city and she's met a hundred guys just like him and they're all the same.
And every one of them is scarred her.
Clete and Sam roll up on the same block where Merle and the bagman are walking by. Apparently they've left the hotel Dixie.
Warren, the bagman is waxing her up. Sotic about his time with Clio, but Sam says that if he weren't the chief's cousin, Clio wouldn't so much as look in his direction.
(10:45):
Merle wonders if the club Alabama now open and conveniently across the street from where they're parked should join the protection racket that they've got going on.
Clayton tells bagman to stay with Sam as they go in to sign Duke up or in the bagman protest, but Sam barks at him to get in the car.
So Clayton Merle go into the Alabama and no one there seems happy to see them.
Merle helps himself to a beer and spits it out. He says it tastes like it's been flushed down the toilet.
(11:09):
So he has it to Clayton to try. But Clay just gives it a sniff and pours it onto the floor.
I just Merle know what stuff flushed down the toilet tastes like. That's the question I'd be asking behind the counter. Duke clears at them and says if you smell and look like a pig, I guess you got to act like one.
Please tell Duke that if he wants to stay in business, he's going to have to pay. Duke tells him he gave it the office and Merle tells him that was just to remove the sign.
(11:32):
At this inopportune moment, Harley and Arita enter the club. Harley oblivious to the drama happening at the bar commands everyone to start partying.
Clete is still dealing with Duke and asks for $100 every Saturday. And if he doesn't get his Saturday money, there'll be another sign on the door that means nobody can come in.
His entire speech is laced with racist epithets and insults, something we really need to get used to in watching this movie unfortunately.
(11:54):
Duke tells them that they've had their laps and they should probably go now.
Merle says he just wants to check the cash register before they leave and Duke tells him the price he's got to pay to do that isn't worth it.
Stevie makes a joke about Clete and Merle's sexuality. I mean, they're always together and the fight is on. Merle throws Stevie into a wall, then Duke starts throwing punches.
Harley tries to help, but he's no Fred Williamson. Eventually Duke prevails and Clete and Merle get thrown out on the sidewalk like the white trash they are. Duke turns on Harley and Aretha. Why did they tell them it was going on in this town?
(12:25):
Harley explains that he didn't say anything because he didn't want Duke to go and Aretha thought he was going to leave anyway so why should she say anything?
So Duke returns to the police station to tell Chief Patterson what's what. Duke tells him he's not paying off anybody. $450 was his first and final payment.
Patterson closes the door and tells Duke that this is a busy department and they can't get by on parking tickets.
(12:47):
Take Ben's case for instance, they're not giving up. Duke asks what he means by not giving up and Patterson says some unknown assailant beat him and left him for dead.
This is news to Duke. He was told his brother died of natural causes pneumonia. Patterson says yes, that's true, but what brought that on was exposure and loss of blood.
After being beaten and left for dead, Patterson says that Duke seems like a smart man wouldn't be better to just go along to get along.
(13:09):
Now we're with Aretha. She's walking up to Duke's house formerly Ben's and she's holding an apology six pack. Duke lets her in and accepts the six pack but is still upset about everything that no one told him.
Especially now that he knows that his brother was left for dead in a freezing rain. Aretha isn't proud of admitting so much information but dot dot dot.
You wanted to play it safe supplies Duke. Arita agrees, but Duke says everyone's got it rough baby. So Aretha walks back her apology and screams at Duke.
(13:35):
Oh, he's so successful and smart Ben told them this over and over until they were sick of hearing about it. She says she must have been crazy to come down here and try to apologize.
And Duke asks what she wants from him the keys to the city. Duke bastard. She shouts reaching to slap him, but he grabs her and kisses her and they wind up in bed superimposed over the house's exterior.
I should have mentioned before that as they're discussing this both of them have significant portions of their chest exposed.
(13:59):
Outside of Duke's house, the four corrupt lawmen we've already met get into position. All but Patterson opened fire on the house as Duke throws himself on top of Aretha and tries to shield her from the bullets.
After a moment Patterson emerges from his car and urges the men to stop shooting, telling them that they've made their point.
This conversation is loud enough for Duke's benefit, I believe. Patterson also says that it wouldn't look good at the state house to have another death of a Johnson so soon after the first one.
(14:26):
Arita tells Duke that he's got a run they're going to kill him. Duke says he's never run from anyone in his life and he's not about to start now.
So instead he goes to the phone and makes a call. He calls his friend Roy in Philadelphia. Roy goes on about how people have been wondering where Duke has been and when he's getting back into town.
Finally Roy shuts up long enough for a Duke to tell him what's going on. He asks Roy if he remembers what they did in Detroit.
(14:49):
Roy remembers they were out number four to one and they still overtook the town to tell them if the odds even worse where he is. It's a jive town with a bunch of crackers.
Duke asks Roy to come down and Roy says when Duke says yesterday and not only that brings some muscle with him. He hangs up. Arita looks at him and dramatically says.
She's looking at a dead man but then again Arita says everything dramatically so I don't know if it's worth even pointing it out.
(15:11):
Now it's the next day and we're back at the train station. Deputy Sam is there to be the welcome wagon.
The train stops in Roy, TJ, Josh and Hambone all disembark. They're looking a lot classier than just about anyone else in this town.
Roy goes up to Sam and asks how to get to the club Alabama by taxi or stage coach.
The befuddled deputy tells them that the cab's broken down and Roy grimly starts walking to town.
(15:35):
TJ takes a moment to crush the deputy's hat by stepping on it. Then he looks at Sam's shirt and tells them that he's a real slob.
The four of them walk through town and Stevie is there to greet them. Hey fresh meat. What's he want? Gambling, pinnacle, poontang?
One of them tells Stevie to buzz off and Roy says to leave him be. He's just trying to make his hustle. Roy started out the same way.
Stevie puffs out and is chest with pride.
(15:57):
Roy is getting fine the Alabama and they go inside. Aretha announces to Duke that his friends are here and an introductions are made.
Duke introduces Harley and Aretha to his friends and TJ looks a little too interested, maybe a lot too interested in Aretha.
You can see that trouble is brewing here. Now we're switching to a completely different location. We're outside the hotel Dixie.
Deputy Dwayne is outside the hotel squinting up at the window. He's talking through the radio saying that he doesn't like to look at these newcomers.
(16:24):
As for Roy and his men, they have all checked into the Dixie. TJ comes down the hall with a blonde on each arm.
He knocks on the door and Roy answers. He tells TJ to get rid of the jail bait and they go in for a meeting. Duke, Aretha, Hambo and Josh are already there.
They start talking strategy. They have to worry about four cops and a chief. Roy asks about the mayor and Aretha says they won't have to worry about him.
He's the one who brought in Patterson to clean up the town and he didn't turn out to be what was expected so the mayor will be just as happy to see the chief go.
(16:51):
Then Hambo notices that one of the cops is standing outside the hotel even as they speak. Duke warns them not to dismiss Patterson. He's not just some old guy. He's more trouble than he seems to be.
And says they really need to do this job quickly just like the last one. In the meantime, you see that TJ is getting too handsy with Arita.
He leans over and whispers something in her ear that makes her explode and anger. She calls him a sick animal and storms out.
(17:13):
Roy asks what's with her. TJ just shrugs and Duke clears at him.
But he does nothing outside deputy Sam and chief Patterson are also in attendance. Sam marbles that anyone could stay in that hotel for four hours straight.
Sam's worried about the newcomers, but Patterson says not to fret. They're the law and by the way, God's on their side.
Okay.
(17:39):
And now we're inside one of Bucktown's hundreds of nightclubs where a topless dancer is shimming on stage. Duke and Roy are at a table plenty of how to get at one of the cops.
Another woman comes bopping up to their table to offer them some female companionship. But Duke and Roy hold hands and Roy even kisses Duke's hand pretend that they have chosen each other's company and don't need a woman. She screws up her face and discussed.
(18:00):
Then Duke and Roy go outside where deputy sheriff Dwayne is standing waiting for them on a uniform. They joke with them that they're headed down the street to another club. If he'd like to continue following them, then they walk off laughing.
Through voiceover, Duke is telling Roy about each of the cops they'll be taking out. Sam gets his kicks at the casino each night and we see that that is the case.
Merleworks over the ladies at Ruby's or house of which Merle is a part owner and we see what's being described here too. Some poor unfortunate woman looks like she's about to get thrown over a banister outside the courthouse flash police station. Probably the police station.
(18:35):
It's hard to tell Duke tells Roy that there's usually only one cop on duty at night and Roy notes that that cops probably asleep deputy Dwayne is still following and hiding nearby listening.
They agree that the first thing they have to do is take out the radio, which is manned by a warrant the bagman for some reason. Well, he's the chief's cousin. It's like taking candy from a baby chuckle's Roy.
We have a brief shot through the streets of Bucktown to show time passing and.
(18:59):
Weren't the bagman is at the hotel for his weekly pick up slash rendezvous, but instead he meets handbone with a baseball bat.
Ambon knocks Weren out and walks off with the bagman's bag. We see that Cleet has a room at the Dixie as well and he has a lady friend for the evening.
He's getting dressed and she asked for a cigarette, but Roy sneaks up from behind her and sticks a gun in her face warning her to be quiet.
(19:20):
Duke comes in through the main door and Cleet lacks himself in the bathroom. Then he jumps out the window and goes down the fire scape.
Weren't out to his car, but handbone is already there holding a shotgun. He starts blasting Clete's car even as Cleet is inside trying to pull a revolver from the glove compartment. Finally, one of those shots hits the gas tank and the car gloriously explodes.
This flips Clete over and he's now unconscious or dead or both on the ground.
(19:44):
Duke and Roy run up with their guns, but see that handbone has already finished the job. Back at the police station, Duane is complaining to someone who has made him a hamburger that he wanted it with mustard and without ketchup, but this one came without mustard. And this is a disaster.
As Duane storms out of the kitchen area, Josh sneaks in the back with a shotgun.
He motions for the sandwich artist to be quiet as he follows Duayne.
(20:05):
Josh sneaks into the police station. Duane's looking out the window. Josh picks up the phone and drops it on the floor.
The startled Duane turns around and sees Josh in a shotgun aimed at him. Josh tells Dwayne don't move and questions whether Dwayne knows any prayers, the radio crackles to life and then Josh blows him away.
Josh then clips. You should have had the ketchup.
Next we see Sam is at the casino as it been foretold. Roy comes in with a gun and everyone starts to panic. He says he doesn't want any of them. He just wants Sam.
(20:33):
Sam grabs the nearest available female and puts his gun to her head. Roy calls out for Duke who casually strolls in.
Then Sam makes a run for it and Duke and Roy follow him outside.
Sam drops the woman, holds his gun up, aiming at both Roy and Duke. Roy shoots first though, getting Sam in the arm.
He tells Duke that he's losing his touch. Duke then fires at Sam's retreating form and gets him in the ass.
(20:56):
Then we see that TJ was in the cop car sitting nearby. He opens the car door and delivers the fatal shot, killing Sam.
Why waste ammo, he asks, looking at Roy and Duke. Roy laughs and Duke just looks angry. It's his plan. I don't know why he's so angry during him.
Murl is in the warehouse being ridden by his lady choice of the evening. Hambone comes in, grabs her and pulls her off of Merle.
(21:18):
Then TJ enters and Merle kicks him back and reaches for his gun, which is sitting on the dresser. Hambone smashes his hand and grabs the gun.
TJ holds Merle still as Hambone shoots him dead. And though I describe it, it's really a lot more complicated than that.
Yeah, we watched about five times and we are still not sure who shoots whom. You see a hand holding a gun, firing, and somehow it hits Murl even though it's nowhere near him.
(21:40):
Moving on, Merle falls next to the mattress, gripping the covers and grimacing weirdly as his body slides to the floor.
TJ cracks his gum and nods at Handbone. It's time to go. And now it's time for the last one.
Roy and Duke infiltrate the bedroom of the sleeping chief. They both draw their guns and position themselves on either side of his head.
They cock their weapons and the noise makes Patterson's eyes fly open.
(22:04):
"Rise and shine," chief says one of the men. "The war is over," says the other.
They bring the chief to the jail, which is now under the control of Duke Roy and company.
Poor guy's in his jammies.
They discuss what time the chief's execution should be scheduled. Sun up as too early.
High noon would interfere with lunch, so when o'clock maybe? Then Roy suggests now is a good time.
"You're not going to kill me," says the chief. He goes on to say that the state troopers will hear about this and they're going to have to have the mayor tell them that they've locked up the chief for breaking the law.
(22:33):
I know how to keep them alive to prove that he wasn't executed. But everyone laughs at this suggestion as they lock Patterson in a cell.
At the government building, the mayor's staff, including the probate officer we met earlier, are telling up the police bribery funds for the night.
How much for gambling, how much for prostitution, etc.
The mayor is very grateful to Duke, Roy, and the others. And wonders how best to express that gratitude before they leave.
(22:59):
Roy asks the mayor what he plans to do with the badges they've collected. The mayor is unsure off the top of his head, but he would like to do something to show his appreciation before they leave town.
Then that probate officer says he's counted up the sheriff's entire night's take.
$6,319. Roy looks over the ledger with interest.
The mayor is still pondering to just a parade. Marching bands, pom pom girls, nope says Roy and handbone. Roy assures the mayor that he will think of something.
(23:26):
And here's where this movie should be over, but there are still 41 minutes left, so it's time for a plot twist.
Arita bursts into Duke's house. He's in bed and she tells him to get up. He says anytime is the right time and invites her to join him, but she says that she didn't come to get him in bed. She's come to get him out of it.
(23:51):
Duke says it's too early for that. Roy isn't leaving until noon, but that's what Arita is here to tell him.
It trains leaving at noon, but Roy and his boys aren't. Roy is kind the mayor into making them the new police force in town. With Roy as the chief, Duke thinks this is pretty funny with each of them having a rap sheet a mile long, but he admits that Roy must be up to something.
Arita has more info to dump. They're going to take over the bribery racket. The police had running Duke chuckles some more, but Arita says it doesn't matter that their brothers, no matter what color a person is when they see a little money, they want it. She calls Duke a dummy and urges him to stop chuckling and get up.
(24:24):
Now we're back at the jail and chief Patterson still in his pajamas is being held at gunpoint by TJ while Roy is questioning him and handbone is sharpening a razor on a leather strap.
Roy asks where the money is that the police have been taking Patterson can't take his eyes off the razor paying off streets come as easy giving into them impossible. He says, which makes absolutely no sense.
No, but what it seems to mean is that the chief's not talking.
(24:47):
Roy tells Patterson that a man that won't talk doesn't need a tongue. Then he looks over to handbone with his now sharpened razor.
Duke has decided to pay Roy a visit at his hotel. Roy is entertaining Arnetta Roy sends her away so that he can tell Duke about their new partnership what partnership asked Duke. I thought you were leaving town Roy says that they were going to leave until they realize the lucrative opportunities this town will provide them unlimited bribery potential.
(25:12):
He tells Duke that the Lord helps those who help themselves. They mean to help themselves to all the money in Bucktown.
And now they've got badges to validate what they're doing and there's even one extra one for Duke. But Duke says that's not his bag. Besides, this is his brother's town and his brother's friends. He doesn't want to lean on them like that.
Roy says, okay, they'll just collect enough to pay the rent like Robin Hood stealing from the rich to give to the poor and Duke can go back and run his club and they'll take his cut and put it in the safe in the city hall and then when Duke is ready to collect it, it will be all there waiting for him.
(25:42):
Roy tries to toast to this new partnership and to Bucktown. Duke accepts the cup but does not drink. And now he's seeing Hambone and his loud red plaid jacket. He's walking down the street shaking down a door man successfully. And then he's with Cleo where he tries to get money out of her but is not so successful. She doesn't have it.
And bone tells her that she best open up her piggy bank. Everyone pays their dues now. Then Hambone returns to the city hall with the bag of money he was able to collect. T.J.
(26:10):
Complains to Hambone about Duke. Duke's got a percentage of the money and he doesn't even want it. And he doesn't do any of the work.
And the Hambone says that's the way Roy wants it. T.J. says that's because there's such good buddies. But what if they weren't good buddies? Maybe they can change that.
Hambone is skeptical but T.J. has already set his plan in motion and Josh is going to help too. And now we're at the club Alabama where a drunken Harley is holding court regaling Josh T.J. and Hambone about his football exploits.
(26:37):
Harley is significantly wasted here.
The others start bragging on him telling him there's no way was the big football star he claims to be. Harley tries to defend his honor and ends up getting the crap kicked out of him.
It's a three on one fight and Josh has a blade. Harley is getting slashed and the next time we see him he's being hauled out on a gurney to an ambulance.
Duke comes walking down the street sees the crowd and walks up to the gurney where Harley is laying. Stevie and Aritha are already there. Aritha tells Duke that she and Stevie are going with Harley to the ambulance.
(27:06):
And after everyone's loaded in the ambulance we see it drive away.
So Duke goes off to find Roy and he finds him in the courthouse at City Hall. Duke asks Roy why he sent his goons to beat up on Harley. Roy said that what he'd heard of was a Harley got drunk and was causing a disturbance and that's why his men are wearing those badges to keep the peace.
Duke says that's BS and Roy knows it. Roy asks why Duke is all up in it with them and Duke says it's not like that.
(27:29):
He just wants Roy to control his goons because if they keep messing with his people they're going to have to tangle the Duke. Duke leaves and TJ enters. Roy asks TJ what happened again with Harley and TJ repeats the same story he told Roy before.
Harley was drunk and took three of them to bring him down.
A likely story. In a corridor meant to serve as a hospital hallway. Anderson and Orley park Harley's gurney there and then they go. Aritha arrives to see him.
(27:54):
She asked Harley what happened but he really can't remember they were all drinking though. Aritha comforts Harley and tells him he's going to be all right.
Harley says it took 45 stitches to sew him back up and that must be some kind of record and Aritha agrees that it must be.
Now at the town barbershop where the mayor is being prepped for a haircut. He's talking to Duke and saying that Roy seems to be building up an army.
(28:17):
He goes on to say that things were bad under the old chief but now they're 10 times worse. Mayor says there's no way they can fight them and Duke just tears off into space.
Now we're at the club Alabama. Roy enters. He spies Aritha who's sitting in a booth singing weirdly to herself. Apparently trying to keep time with whatever song is on the jukebox.
Roy asks Aritha if he can join her and Aritha acquiesces. Roy thinks it's time for Duke to leave Bucktown with all the money he's earned so far.
(28:44):
He suggests that Aritha can go with him and they can live happily ever after. And if I'd rather stay as Aritha to Roy that sounds like a win-win scenario because if the latter were the case he could make her a proposition that could turn on to be for her benefit.
Aritha says well what if we both decide to stay and Roy says it won't be pleasant for you or him. Now we see a police car parked outside Aritha's home or Duke's home or both.
(29:07):
Aretha is inside in underwear and is in plain view of Josh and TJ.
TJ tells Josh that he's going to enjoy this whatever they're about to do.
Josh isn't sure this is a good idea but TJ says that it will work and that Duke will just think that Roy said all this up.
TJ bursts inside the house and smacks Aritha who flies across the room. Duke appears out of nowhere and tells TJ he's going to break his arms and his face and his legs as he slaps TJ repeatedly.
(29:32):
Duke throws TJ outside and Josh is there gun drawn but Duke has his gun too. Josh asks aren't we friends? Duke tells him to get TJ out of there and they both leave.
So next Duke runs over to the Dixie to confront Roy. After getting rid of Roy's current lady friend, Duke has Roy sit down and tells them that he called Roy in to do him a favor but then he took over the whole town.
(29:55):
And it's worse now because their brothers and now Roy sent his punks after Harley and then he sent them after Aritha. Roy denies this but Duke tells them if they cross him again, they'll plant them in their own stink.
Roy tells Duke that he's been acting weird and won't even accept the money they put aside for him.
Then Roy reminds them that he's running the town and he's got the mayor and everyone else by the walls including Duke.
(30:17):
So if anyone is going to be leaving, it's going to be Duke. Duke tells Roy that that's the way it's going to be that all bets are off. Duke leaves and Roy picks up the phone and calls TJ.
Roy says that from here on out everyone pays so lean on him.
At the club Alabama Harley has returned his arms in a sling and Aretha and Stevie are also there.
Harley sits at the booth across Aretha and Stevie. Aretha says Harley is supposed to be resting at home but Harley says he'd rather be here with his friends. Aritha gets up to take care of business.
(30:47):
She used the waitress there after all.
At the courthouse, Duke quietly breaks in. He runs up the stairs for the safest store.
In another scene we see TJ, Josh and Hambone entering the club Alabama.
TJ is holding a gas can and Aritha tells Stevie to go send word to Duke.
Stevie doesn't know where Duke is so Aretha riskers his location in his ear and Stevie leaves.
Hambone says they have a special message for Duke and TJ dumps gasoline all over the bar and then Josh lights a match.
(31:13):
Josh says it only takes one little match in a very ominous tone. Aretha calls Josh a bastard and attacks.
TJ grabs her and Aretha bites his hand. Harley joins the fraying. It's a gun butt to the belly.
Then they arrest Harley for assaulting a law man. They drag Harley out as Aretha screams out Harley.
But she's helplessly restrained by TJ. Now we're with Stevie who sneaks into City Hall via an access panel or something.
(31:38):
He runs up to find Duke, exactly where he is. He tells Duke to come to the club Alabama. Aretha needs him.
Duke asks how many men are out front and Stevie says just one. So they sneak out and Duke knocks out the one guard.
A man we've never seen before but is apparently now working for Roy and then they head off to find Aritha.
When Duke goes into the club, he sees Aretha there alone with a can of gasoline.
(32:01):
He asks her what's going on and she fills him in. She says Roy's his friend and Duke can talk to him and get them to release Harley.
But Duke says not anymore. Aretha tells Duke that he can't go to the jail alone. There'll be five or six of them there.
But Duke says he has a plan to even the odds. Aretha remains skeptical though.
Duke exits the club Alabama, finds Stevie and asks him if he can get him to that armory across the river.
(32:23):
Stevie says, "Oh yeah, we can help him find it." And they get in a car and drive off. Aretha finds Roy, apparently in a parking garage, and asks Roy to let Harley go.
Roy tells her that this is all Duke's fault but Aretha says he can't take his disappointment in Duke out on Harley.
She says that Duke doesn't want to go against Roy. He's called Roy his friend.
And Roy admits that he and Duke were tight, but that came from respect and living in streets and knowing how things are.
(32:50):
But Duke's head is in a weird place right now, he says.
He tells her that if she can show him anybody who cares about anybody else, he'll show her a fool.
Roy's hung up on validating his criminal tendencies and is lamenting that Duke wants no part of this.
Aretha calls him out for letting his ego destroy his friendship with Duke.
She tells Roy that she wants to love Duke, not bury him. But Roy says that everyone's the same.
(33:12):
Everyone has their hands out, reaching for more, and they don't care who gets killed, as long as the dice keep rolling and the hose keep pulling and the money keeps flowing.
Everyone's scratching, but Roy is just scratching a little harder than anyone else.
Aretha asks if he's ever loved anyone. Roy says, "Maybe, maybe not."
He's never had a woman to fight for him the way Aritha is fighting for Duke and maybe he envies that a little.
(33:34):
But Aretha doesn't get another chance to convince Roy. He tells her, "Be seen ya," and drives off.
Now Duke and Steve are pulling up at the gate outside the armory. They break the chain and make their way inside.
Then they go through a second gate, and soon they find an M20 AUC. It's an armored car/battle truck.
An urban assault vehicle.
Meanwhile, Aretha goes to the police station to talk to TJ.
(33:57):
She tells him that they haven't been too friendly with each other, and she'd like to change that.
TJ is listening. She tells him that she wants him to let Harley go. She says Harley is just an old drunken of no use to anyone, but she feels sorry for him.
Aritha says that if he'll do her this one little favor, things will be really sweet between them, if he gets her drift.
And he does. He wants the sweetness first, but Aretha says that it'll be good between them if she knows that Harley's safe.
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So TJ takes her back to see Harley. Aretha tells TJ that she needs to take Harley to the hospital, and TJ thinks that's pretty funny.
After she's come in here trying to make a deal, TJ takes what he wants.
And he says he's going to kill Duke. Like this, he pulls out a gun and shoots Chief Patterson in the neighboring cell.
I guess he's been there this whole time.
Then he points to the gun at Harley and tells Aretha to beg.
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He demands Aretha's honey, sugar, and milk, whatever that means.
And once her to beg for Harley's life, but Aretha refuses.
This doesn't seem very wise considering that all she wanted to do was save Harley.
Now we see that Duke and Stevie are slowly driving the M20 back to Bucktown.
When a Roy's guard sees a coming and tries to drive off to warn the others, but Duke runs down the car, causing it to explode.
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Then Duke drives straight into the police station.
Battering Ram extended.
Duke jumps out and shoots Josh. Then he moves on and shoots TJ.
Harley goes over to TJ's corpse and tries to get the last word with it.
Duke checks on Aretha and then tells him that Stevie's outside in the chariot.
But Stevie has gotten out of the vehicle and comes around to warn Duke that Hambone is also out there.
(35:27):
Duke and Hambone fire at each other.
Then Duke warns Aretha and Harley to hang back.
On foot, he chases Hambone to city hall and shoots him in the back because he runs up some stairs.
Duke then continues up the stairs where he catches up with Roy.
"Did you get them all?" asked Roy.
"All except for one," says Duke.
Duke says he never would have guessed that the two of them would ever be on opposite sides of a fight.
Roy tells Duke that, "Though we probably won't believe him, Roy never lied to Duke."
(35:51):
He never sent anyone after Harley and Aretha.
It was all TJ. He wanted Roy and Duke to tangle.
Duke says he did a good job at that.
He goes on to tell Roy that he doesn't want to kill him.
He just wants to beat the crap out of him.
Roy agrees to his terms.
They'll fight and the loser has to leave town.
And the two have a knockdown dragout fight.
Roy almost pitches Duke over a railing to the floor below.
(36:14):
The two fight some more and end up rolling down the stairs.
They fight throughout the first floor of the courthouse to a back room where they store bladders.
And the fight gets more violent and more bloody until they crash through an outside door.
Harley, Aretha and Stevie are in the audience now.
As the fight goes on, they're using two by fours and shovels on one another.
Duke manages to crouch behind a car and to find him Roy climbs the top one and then straddles another.
(36:39):
Duke sneaks up between the two cars and kicks up at Roy's crotch, sending him to the ground.
Duke picks up Roy and a final punch into a saw horse ends the fight.
Aritha runs up to Duke, Harley holds Stevie back so he doesn't run up to join them.
They need their alone time. Aretha helps Duke limp off and Harley tells Stevie to get some sleep.
They both have school tomorrow.
Stevie objects to this, but Harley asks him, "Don't you want to be somebody?"
(37:02):
Stevie says he is. He's a man.
And then as the credits roll, we watch Duke and Aretha stagger home as the Bucktown theme song plays.
And that's the end.
Welcome back to the American International Podcast.
Today we're talking about Bucktown from 1975.
(37:24):
In August of 1974, a box office magazine article announced that Fred Williamson had made a co-production deal with Henry Plitt,
vice president of ABC Theatre Holding, to make a film.
However, Plitt did not receive an on-screen credit for Buktown.
As became obvious, Pam Greer was cast against type in Bucktown.
Director Arthur Marks said in an interview that he told Grier his idea for her character.
(37:45):
"You wouldn't be shooting anyone or any of that stuff.
Your job is to provide a solid base as to why Duke wants to stay in this small town."
The budget for Buktown was set at $600,000 and principal photography was to be on location in Kansas City, Missouri, primarily downtown,
with some scenes shot in Platt County and Leavenworth, Kansas.
Director Arthur Marks stated in an October 1974 box office article that the story was originally inspired by an article in Time magazine about a bartender who fought back against shakedowns by having a gunfight on the streets of Brooklyn, Illinois.
(38:16):
Marks chose to shoot in Kansas City since the film needed a large city that is separated by a river from a smaller city.
And that fit the bill.
Marks also said that his daughter's husband, president of a local country club, asked him to come out there.
The article also reported that principal production began on September 30th, 1974.
Locations included 12th Street, 9th Street, and Locust.
(38:38):
The railroad depot was in Leavenworth, Kansas, and the cemetery was in Platt City, Missouri.
A story published in the October 14th, 1974 edition of box office reported that officials at the Platt County Courthouse were unhappy that the filmmakers had not obtained permission to use the courthouse before shooting scenes there.
The court requested copies of the script as well as acknowledgement of the production company's financial responsibility to decide if further filming would be allowed.
(39:02):
Presiding judged Henry J. Miller stated in a variety article published on October 23rd that if the movie proved to be immoral, he did not think it should use public property to film.
At the time of the hearing, scenes in the Courthouse lobby, probate office, and circuit courtroom had already been filmed.
In October 16th, the Kansas City Times reported that production had resumed, and that the court officials relented when they received a letter from the producers saying there would be no explicit sex scenes in the film.
(39:28):
Producers had been waiting to shoot the parking lot fight in the jailbreak, where a breakaway wall was employed for the scene, where the armored car broke through the jail wall.
Tom Thomas, the Platt County Sheriff had already given the producers permission to film in the jail cell.
The Kansas City Times reported that around 200 spectators were treated to the site of several scantily clad dancers who had bit parts in Bucktown, as they were walking through the crowd as producers shot a scene outside the Can Can Club featuring Fred Williamson and Thomas Rasoolala.
(39:55):
The article quoted by Sanders as wondering what the name of the movie was, and a girl in the crowd claiming she was supposed to be in it.
Williamson, a former football player, told the Kansas City Star that while he was in Kansas City shooting in Bucktown, he would have time to fulfill his Monday night football broadcast duties. They were going to give him a break.
Jody Maxwell, who played the topless dancer in one scene, told the Kansas City Star in July of 1975 that her role in Bucktown was her way of trying to appear in regular movies.
(40:20):
Maxwell was previously known for ex-weighted roles, and had hoped to grow her career beyond them.
I don't know that she succeeded, though. In March of 1975, the Hollywood Reporter published a blurb sitting that three studios were bidding for the rights to distribute Bucktown.
Daily Variety reported on June 2nd that A.I.P. had won those rights.
Bucktown was released on July 2nd, 1975, and was given an R rating.
(40:44):
Box office magazine recommended theater owners used the star power of Fred Williamson and Pam Greer to their advantage, and to create a lucky Buck contest, allowing theater goers with the right combination of serial numbers on a dollar bill to get admission to the showing.
The sole tagline for Bucktown is "Whatever you want, they got, and Bucktown is where you find it." Bucktown, according to director Arthur Marx, was a big success.
(41:06):
He said in a 2012 interview that A.I.P. wanted to distribute the film after they saw it, and that, quote, "it made back its initial cost very quickly, and played every inner city in the north.
It was making, playing the state lake theater in Chicago, about $60,000 to $70,000 a week."
Marx's success with Bucktown for A.I.P. led to their distributing his subsequent films, like Friday Foster, JD's Revenge, and the Monkey Hustle.
(41:32):
Reviews for Bucktown were generally not good. Vincent Can be in the New York Times said bluntly that Bucktown is a rather nasty black exploitation melodrama.
Bucktown, which is located about halfway between Kansas City and Oz, is so riddled with vice that it would make Gamora look like Salt Lake City.
There may be a point here, but it is a very tiny one.
Joe Botaki and the Philadelphia Daily News had nothing good to say about the black exploitation genre, calling it the most tubious of the new movie genres.
(42:00):
He said Bucktown has nothing to do with current black life. Bucktown, directed by Arthur Marx, usually a good B-movie-sleeze director is about sleaze period.
The plot is pure stupidity. It's all ugly, saying even Pam Grier was unattractive in the film.
Marie Beach and the Richmond Times dispatched disagreed on the aesthetics of the two leads, saying, quote, "starring the handsome Fred Williamson and the equally attractive Pam Greer, Bucktown sticks in immoral at the end, but that's a cover for bloody, lacerated beaten bodies."
(42:28):
The review in News Day warned moviegoers that anyone interested in black exploitation movies and their attendant mythologies will want to know that Pam Greer doesn't deliver a single crunching need to the groin in Bucktown.
It's Greer's co-star, Fred Williamson, who was top banana in the violence department. Greer, whose tough mama exploits have earned her stardom and big bucks at the box office, sticks more or less to merely by her man.
(42:50):
He then calls the plot less logical than a comic strip and is predictable as a spaghetti western or a spear in sandalepic.
George McKinnon of the Boston Globes said Bucktown was, quote, "so unreal with an elemental, predictable plot line that is more tedious than terrifying."
Fred Williamson and Pam Grier, two of the screen's most personable and photogenic performers, give the film what little class it has and make the viewer wish for something better for them instead of this throwaway trash.
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