SHAFT IN AFRICA (1973) (Warner Archive Blu-ray Review)

SHAFT IN AFRICA (1973)

Label: Warner Archive 
Region Code: Region-FREE
Rating: R
Duration: 112 Minutes 
Audio: English DTS HD-MA 2.0 with Optional English Subtitles 
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.40:1)
Director: John Guillermin
Cast: Richard Roundtree, Frank Finlay, Neda Arnerić, Vonetta McGee, Frank McRae

Shaft in Africa (1973) is the third film in the original trilogy about bad-ass private investigator John Shaft (Richard Roundtree, Earthquake). Directed by John Guillermin (King Kong) the film removes the titular character from his familiar urban setting, broadening the scope of the series with Shaft headed to Africa to investigate an Africa-to-Europe slavery cartel headed-up by Euro-bag-guy Amafi (Frank Finlay, Lifeforce).

At the start of the film Shaft is beaten, drugged and abducted from his Manhattan apartment by a pair of African strongmen working for African diplomat Emir Ramila (Cy Grant). He's then unwillingly put through a series of grueling trials designed to judge his African-worthiness, including being locked in a room with a sand-covered floor under a series of searing heat-lamps meant to simulate the African desert, and forced to stick-fight a towering opponent in the nude, complete with a peek at Shaft's lil' shaft, which is something I never noticed while watching this on DVD .

Passing the unorthodox trials he is contracted by Ramilia after some convincing to travel to Africa and infiltrate a slavery operation posing as an African man looking for work abroad. Along the way there's neck-snapping, biting and torture by electrocution, plus he manages to romances the diplomats very attractive daughter, who serves as his dialect coach, (Vinetta McGee, Blacula), and beds Amafi's nympho lady friend (Neda Arneric) who serve her boss's sexual desires. She's introduced to us while she's slobbing his bone in the backseat of his luxury car, later being sent to Africa to eliminate Shaft when all else fails. She's instructed to seduce him, record the sexual encounter on audio tape, and then kill him.  She's a very sexy lady, and in a very Bond-type way falls victim to a knife meant for Shaft.    

I like that the film removes Shaft from the familiar New York City environs, losing his signature leather jacket for a simpler  traditional African wardrobe and a nguni fighting stick. The undercover aspect of it and the globetrotting locations certainly give the film a very 007 feel, but we still get plenty of bloody action, resulting in a violent blaxploitation spin on the spy-action thrillers. 

Audio/Video: Shaft In Africa (1973) arrives on Blu-ray from Warner Archive with a brand new 2019 2K scan framed in 2.40:1 widescreen, with the 1080p HD image looking sharp and nicely detailed throughout. Though the colors here lean heavily towards brown and beige earth tones occasionally the reds and blues will get a nice pop. The foreign locations looks phenomenal, especially the sun-drenched African landscapes, and you can see the sweat seeping from Shaft's pores like never before, feeling the sun-baked heat radiating right off the screen, this is a very solid looking transfer on Blu-ray.

Audio comes by way of an English DTS-HD MA 2.0 that is clean and free of distortion. Dialogue is crisp throughout with the Johnny Pate score (Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde) sounding great in the mix. While it's not as good as Isaac Hayes score from the first film it's a bit better than what we got in Shaft's Big Score from director Gordon Parks, plus we get a solid theme song from The Four Tops. Optional English ALL CAPS subtitles are included. 

The only extra on the disc is a widescreen HD trailer for the film. The single-disc release comes housed in a standard Blu-ray keepcase with a one-sided sleeve of artwork featuring the very cool and quite phallic original movie poster artwork, which is also featured on the Blu-ray disc inside. 

Shaft In Africa (1973) is a wildly entertaining ending to the trilogy of films, expanding upon the gritty original with globetrotting adventures and spy-thriller action. The film looks great on Blu-ray, and is available as part of a triple-feature Blu-ray release with all three of the original films or single-disc Blu-ray from the Warner Archive, this comes highly recommended for fans of gritty 70's action. 

MORE BLU-RAY SCREENSHOTS 

HAMMER (1972)

HAMMER (1972) 

Label: Olive Films

Region Code: A

Rating: R

Duration: 91 Minutes

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)

Director: Bruce Clark

Cast: Fred Williamson, Bernie Hamilton, Vonetta McGee, William Smith

This is the movie that put the "Hammer" in Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, the former pro-footballer tuned blaxploitation/action star's first leading role and it's a pretty decent slice of gritty 70's cinema not something I would classify as an essential piece of blaxploitation cinema, it still packs a punch. B.J. Hammer (Williamson) is a past his prime former boxer working the warehouse district of L.A. when he is fired after wiping the floor with a racist co-worker. Word of his fighting skills reach the ears of mafia-connected boxing promoter Big Sid (Charles Lampkin) he brings Hammer into his corner under the watchful eye of legit trainer the Professor (Mel Stewart). Things look great for the boxer as he works his way through a series of victorious fights and he begins a relationship with Sid's Secretary Lois (Vonetta McGee) but he begins to get some blow back from the neighborhood who accuse the fighter of selling out to the man. Furthermore local cop Davis (Bernie Hamilton) is after Sid who is dabbling in the drug trade> While Hammer initially refuses to believe his new employer is corrupt his attitude changes when Sid demands he take a dive during the next big fight. Crushed by the request Hammer refuses to take the dive, but Sid's right hand man Brenner, played by 70's baddie William Smith, threatens to kill Lois. 

We have a fairly straight story with the usual grittiness you've come to expect from 70's blaxploitation with the usual tropes of crooks, drugs and corruption at play in the inner city. Hammer is a solid piece of cinema but it does lack the style and sleaze of the Jack Hill directed Pam Grier movies I've been watching lately. Fred Williamson has charisma to spare throughout, a straight-shooter caught up in the corruption of the crooked boxing promoter. I did love the fight scenes which were well-paced with some great boxing action with Williams  natural athleticism on display, and the finale is fierce and ends on a high note with an appropriate amount of violence and comeuppance. 

The disc from Olive Films marks the HD debut of the film and might be the first widescreen presentation as well. The trasnfer looks very nice and is sourced from film elements that were in very good shape. The English language DTS-HD MA 2.0 audio is solid if not overwhelming, well-balanced and free of distortion. There are no extras or subtitles for the feature, a bare-bones disc from Olive Films. 2.5/5

BLACULA: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION (1972-1973)

BLACULA: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION (1972-1973)

Label: Eureka Classics
Duration: 190 Minutes
Region Code: B
Rating: 1 Certificate
Video: HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio: English LPCM Stereo Audio with Optional English SDH Subtitles 
Director: William Crain, Raymond Koenig
Cast: Denise Nicholas, Thalmus Rasulala, William Marshall, Vonetta McGee, Charles Macaulay, Gordon Pinsent, Michael Conrad, Don Mitchell, Pam Grier, Richard Lawson

SYNOPSIS: 
Urban action and fatal attraction give rise to a groove from beyond the grave in this funkadelic, fangadelic Soul Cinema sensation! The eternally cool William Marshall puts a fresh spin on the age-old legend of the vampire, condemned to wander the earth with an insatiable lust for blood. In 1780, African Prince Mamuwalde (Marshall) pays a visit to Count Dracula in Transylvania, seeking his support in ending the slave trade. Instead, the evil count curses his noble guest and transforms him into a vampire! Released from his coffin nearly two centuries later by a pair of luckless decorators, Mamuwalde emerges as “Blacula,” one cool, dressed to kill, dude strollin’ the streets of L.A. on a nightly quest for human blood and fine women!

In Scream, Blacula, Scream Blacula lives, and only the legendary Pam Grier (Jackie Brown) has the power to deep-six his reign of terror. William Marshall returns as the noble African prince turned bloodthirsty fiend in this hair-raising sequel to the terrifying hit Blacula! This time, it’s voodoo power versus vampire fury when Willis (Richard Lawson), the son of the late high priestess, seeks revenge on the cultists who have chosen his foster sister Lisa (Grier) as their new leader. Hoping to curse Lisa, Willis unwittingly resurrects Blacula’s earthly remains and lets loose the Prince of Darkness and his freaked-out army of the undead!

BLACULA (1972)
William Marshall appears as African Prince Mamuwalde in BLACULA as the funk soul brother of his white bread progenitor Count Dracula, whom you might be surprised to learn was a racist. At the start of the film Prince Mamwalde is turned into a bloodsucker by Dracula and imprisoned for nearly 200 years inside of a coffin until he is accidentally released by a pair of gay decorators, who purchased the coffin at an estate sale. Of course they are the first to fall victim to his blood thirst. The vampire adjusts to life in modern L.A. with surprising ease and soon encounters an attractive young woman named Tina Williams (Vonetta McGee) whom he believes to be the reincarnation of his beloved wife Luva.

The two soon start to date but Tina's sister Michelle (Denise Nicholas) and her pathologist boyfriend, Dr. Gordon Thomas (Thalmus Rasulala), suspect her new beau may be the culprit responsible for a series of strange murders, notably the deaths of the decorators. Michelle and Gordon visit the grave of one of the decorators and discover him to be a blue-skinned bloodsucker, learning the supernatural truth of the matter they set out to save Tina from the vampire. 

No one will ever accuse the Blacula films for being politically correct, from the very start we have the white bread Count Dracula scoffing at the idea of stopping the slave trade pitched to him by the African Prince Mamuwalde, who is in turn made a vampire and dubbed "Blacula" by the white prince of darkness, which is pretty funny, c'mon folks, loosen up. Then you have the stereotyped portrayal of homosexuals and suspect black culture references but that's par for the course for a blaxploitation film so you just have to roll with it on this one, it was the era and if you can just except it there's a lot of fun to be had with this funk soul cinema fright fest. 

Marshall cuts quite a figure as the soul brother bloodsucker, a proud, deep voiced vampire, whose baritone easily draws comparisons to Hammer's own bloodsucker extraordinaire Christopher Lee. If you close your eyes you would be hard pressed not to make the comparison yourself but I cannot imagine Christopher Lee saying most of these lines. Marshall brings gravity to the role that could have easily been played for laughs in less capable hands, a proud figure that commands respect, not laughs. 

Loads of side characters bring some fun to the film, notably Ji-Tu Cumbuka in a memorable appearance during a dinner scene whom calls Blacula "one strange dude", and Thomas Rasulala is pretty great in the role of vampire hunter. One of my favorite scenes is that of one of the bloodsuckers victims reanimating at the morgue and attacking the morgue attendant in slow motion, very creepy stuff, but the following scene with the vampire yelping like a chihuahua is cringe worthy, it's a film of lows and highs that way.  

The film has a fantastic soul soundtrack and offers a unique take on the vampire lore with a sweet blaxploitation bent that covers familiar ground but also adds a few new flavors to the mix to keep it interesting. I have to imagine that a strong black character killing white L.A.P.D. officers with impunity must have been quite a scene and offered some much need escapism during a tumultuous era, and framed within the context of a supernatural thriller maybe didn't draw too much attention to itself.

SCREAM BLACULA SCREAM (1973)In the sequel Mamuwalde is resurrected through a voodoo ritual by a guy named Willis (Richard Lawson) who wishes to use the bloodsucker  to usurp the throne of newly crowned voodoo priestess Lisa Fortier (Pam Grier). However, Blacula turns Willis into his own vampire minion which displeases the young man who can now no longer adore himself in the mirror, just one of the many curses of the damned. 

In the role of vampire hunter this time we have Lisa's boyfriend, Justin Carter (Don Mitchell), a former LAPD officer and avid collector of African art who becomes hip to Mamuwalde's bloodsucking ways following a series of strange murders which leave the corpse drained of blood... the victims becoming one of Blacula's resurrected bloodthirsty minions. 

While I enjoyed the first film this sequel is even more enjoyable, and not solely for the addition of the black beauty of Pam Grier as the voodoo priestess. The story arc is far superior this time around and I loved the addition of the voodoo angle, the one area this does not improve upon is the demise of Blacula, the stop-frame end was a real bummer.

I do love how he acquires a horde of bloodsucking minions this time around who take up residence in a mansion and do his bidding, the blue skinned ghouls look great on film and I love the exaggerated incisors which reminded me of Hammer's TWINS OF EVIL. Again we have a funk soul score but nowhere near as enjoyable as the first film in my opinion, but overall this is the better film of the two with a more enjoyable story and just better execution. 

BLU-RAY

Having just reviewed the Scream Factory Blu-ray I can say that the transfers seem very similar and probably derived from the same HD master in my opinion after  comparing still frames from each film, I could not detect a difference. A nice healthy layer of fine film grain, some solid color saturation and decent black levels, a surprisingly satisfying HD transfer. 

Extras do vary between the two, Eureka have not opted for a commentary on either film but do offer a 24-minute piece with critic and author Kim Newman recorded in his home, the shelves and posters will be familiar to anyone who has watched any of his introductions for the VIDEO NASTIES: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE. The critic and author offers up an entertaining and informative analysis of the films that puts them each into the context of the era with some insights about the cast and crew.The only other disc extra is a theatrical trailer for each film. 

The Blu-ray screener disc sent for review did not include artwork or the 32-page booklet and retail copies are dual-format and offer the film and extras on a separate DVD disc.  

SPECIAL FEATURES
- Brand new 1080p high-definition transfer
- Progressive DVD encodes
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Trailers for both films (4 Mins)
- New and exclusive introduction to the films by critic and author Kim Newman (24 Mins)
- 32-page booklet featuring new writing by Josiah Howard, author of Blaxploitation Cinema: The Essential Reference Guide; reprints of original Blacula ephemera; and archival images

VERDICT
The BLACULA series may not be up there with the Hammer horror films but William Marshall is one of the more memorable bloodsuckers in cinema and as far as blaxploitation fright films go these might just be the cream of the crop, which may not be setting the bar very high but true nonetheless. 

BLACULA (1972) / SCREAM BLACULA SCREAM (1973)

BLACULA (1972) / SCREAM BLACULA SCREAM (1973)

SCREAM FACTORY DOUBLE FEATURE 

Label: Scream Factory
Release Date: March 3rd 2015 
Duration: 189 Minutes
Region Code: A
Rating: PG
Video: HD Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio Mono with Optional English Subtitles
Director: William Crain, Raymond Koenig
Cast: Denise Nicholas, Thalmus Rasulala, William Marshall, Vonetta McGee, Charles Macaulay, Gordon Pinsent, Michael Conrad, Don Mitchell, Pam Grier, Richard Lawson

BLACULA (1972)

William Marshall appears as African Prince Mamuwalde in BLACULA as the funk soul brother of his white bread progenitor Count Dracula, whom you might be surprised to learn was a racist. At the start of the film Prince Mamwalde is turned into a bloodsucker by Dracula and imprisoned for nearly 200 years inside of a coffin until he is accidentally released by a pair of gay decorators, who purchased the coffin at an estate sale. Of course they are the first to fall victim to his blood thirst. The vampire adjusts to life in modern L.A. with surprising ease and soon encounters an attractive young woman named Tina Williams (Vonetta McGee) whom he believes to be the reincarnation of his beloved wife Luva.

The two soon start to date but Tina's sister Michelle (Denise Nicholas) and her pathologist boyfriend, Dr. Gordon Thomas (Thalmus Rasulala), suspect her new beau may be the culprit responsible for a series of strange murders, notably the deaths of the decorators. Michelle and Gordon visit the grave of one of the decorators and discover him to be a blue-skinned bloodsucker, learning the supernatural truth of the matter they set out to save Tina from the vampire. 

No one will ever accuse the Blacula films for being politically correct, from the very start we have the white bread Count Dracula scoffing at the idea of stopping the slave trade pitched to him by the African Prince Mamuwalde, who is in turn made a vampire and dubbed "Blacula" by the white prince of darkness, which is pretty funny, c'mon folks, loosen up. Then you have the stereotyped portrayal of homosexuals and suspect black culture references but that's par for the course for a blaxploitation film so you just have to roll with it on this one, it was the era and if you can just except it there's a lot of fun to be had with this funk soul cinema fright fest. 

Marshall cuts quite a figure as the soul brother bloodsucker, a proud, deep voiced vampire, whose baritone easily draws comparisons to Hammer's own bloodsucker extraordinaire Christopher Lee. If you close your eyes you would be hard pressed not to make the comparison yourself but I cannot imagine Christopher Lee saying most of these lines. Marshall brings gravity to the role that could have easily been played for laughs in less capable hands, a proud figure that commands respect, not laughs. 

Loads of side characters bring some fun to the film, notably Ji-Tu Cumbuka in a memorable appearance during a dinner scene whom calls Blacula "one strange dude", and Thomas Rasulala is pretty great in the role of vampire hunter. One of my favorite scenes is that of one of the bloodsuckers victims reanimating at the morgue and attacking the morgue attendant in slow motion, very creepy stuff, but the following scene with the vampire yelping like a chihuahua is cringe worthy, it's a film of lows and highs that way.  

The film has a fantastic soul soundtrack and offers a unique take on the vampire lore with a sweet blaxploitation bent that covers familiar ground but also adds a few new flavors to the mix to keep it interesting. I have to imagine that a strong black character killing white L.A.P.D. officers with impunity must have been quite a scene and offered some much need escapism during a tumultuous era, and framed within the context of a supernatural thriller maybe didn't draw too much attention to itself.

Don't be put of by the corny title, BLACULA is a solid vampire tale with a groovy musical score, some sweet '70s threads and a smattering of social commentary, a film well worth your time. 

SCREAM BLACULA SCREAM (1973)In the sequel Mamuwalde is resurrected through a voodoo ritual by a guy named Willis (Richard Lawson) who wishes to use the bloodsucker  to usurp the throne of newly crowned voodoo priestess Lisa Fortier (Pam Grier). However, Blacula turns Willis into his own vampire minion which displeases the young man who can now no longer adore himself in the mirror, just one of the many curses of the damned. The addition of Pam Grier as the voodoo priestess definitely amps this one up to the next level, a truly excellent castingg decision from the filmmakers. 

In the role of vampire hunter this time we have Lisa's boyfriend, Justin Carter (Don Mitchell), a former LAPD officer and avid collector of African art who becomes hip to Mamuwalde's bloodsucking ways following a series of strange murders which leave the corpse drained of blood... the victims becoming one of Blacula's resurrected bloodthirsty minions. 

While I enjoyed the first film this sequel is even more enjoyable, and not solely for the addition of the black beauty of Pam Grier as the voodoo priestess. The story arc is far superior this time around and I loved the addition of the voodoo angle, the one area this does not improve upon is the demise of Blacula, the stop-frame end was a real bummer.

I do love how he acquires a horde of bloodsucking minions this time around who take up

residence in a mansion and do his bidding, the blue skinned ghouls look great on film and I love the exaggerated incisors which reminded me of Hammer's TWINS OF EVIL. Again we have a funk soul score but nowhere near as enjoyable as the first film in my opinion, but overall this is the better film of the two with a more enjoyable story and just better execution.

BLU-RAY

BLACULA and SCREAM BLACULA SCREAM share space on a dual-layered disc from Scream Factory with a very nice presentation that does not appear to have been scrubbed of grain or manipulated unduly. Detail and color reproduction are strong, with some modest depth and clarity to the image, a surprising amount to be honest, the source material used for this master was in great shape. The DTS-HD MA Mono track does a fine job exporting dialogue, effects and the sweet funk score, optional English subtitles are provided.. 

Extras on the disc feature an audio commentary on BLACULA from author/film historian/filmmaker David F. Walker, who offers a fun and fact-filled commentary that doesn't get too bookish, he manages to keep it conversational and comes across as more of a fan, not just a well-studied scholar. Additionally there is a photo gallery containing 70 images and the theatrical trailer for the film.

Onto the extras for SCREAM BLACULA SCREAM we have a brand new video interview Actor Richard Lawson who speaks of losing out on the role and then having it offered to him once production began on the film. Again we have a photo gallery and a trailer for the film. 

BLACULA SPECIAL FEATURES

- Audio Commentary With Author/Film Historian/Filmmaker David F. Walker (Reflections On Blaxploitation: Actors And Directors Speak)
- Photo Gallery (70 Images)
- Theatrical Trailer (2 Minutes)

SCREAM BLACULA SCREAM SPECIAL FEATURES

- New Interview With Actor Richard Lawson (13 Minutes) 
- Photo Gallery (71 Images)
-Theatrical Trailer (2 Minutes) 

VERDICT
After a couple of somewhat mediocre double feature releases I am happy to report that Scream Factory have done a fine job with this BLACULA double feature, a very fine presentation of two solid blaxploitation horror spins. The HD transfer is not eye-popping but I suspect it does accurately reflect the source material and they've done a damn decent job adding a brand-new audio commentary and the interview, plus trailers and galleries. William Marshall is a memorable bloodsucker and if you needed more convincing, all I have to say is Pam Grier in HD! Hope to see more blaxploitation titles from scream Factory and very pleased to see them digging into some Italian schlock in the near future, these are two avenues worth exploiting on Blu-ray.