Five On The Black Hand Side
directed by Oscar Williams
directed by Oscar Williams
From the mid sixties to the early seventies there was a cultural and artistic component to the US and associated diaspora civil rights/Black power movements. It didn't last long but for about a decade there was renewed interest--marketable interest--in Black centered stories and other art.
This film's director and writer thought that there were too many movies which presented Black actors and actresses as gangsters, pimps, drug dealers, super studs, and foxy mamas all looking to "stick it to the Man" over a wah-wah guitar and congas soundtrack. The writer and playwright Charlie Russell, the older brother of NBA superstar Bill Russell, conceived this movie as an anti-blaxploitation corrective.
This film has no nudity, toplessness, or real violence. It's a broadly humorous, though not slapstick look, at issues impacting a Black Los Angeles family.
John Henry Brooks (Leonard Jackson) is an exacting man who thinks he's always right. Brooks ignores different perspectives, particularly if such opinions emanate from his wife Gladys (Clarice Taylor) or middle son Gideon (Glynn Turman).
John Henry insists on referring to his wife as "Mrs. Brooks". Although he's a barber, John Henry likes giving the impression that he's a business mogul. John Henry requires Gladys to keep a daily task schedule which he approves or edits each morning. John Henry will criticize Gladys if she's $0.17 over the approved grocery spending limit.
Gideon is a Black nationalist who intends to major in anthropology in college. His father disapproves because he thinks that career is poorly paid. John Henry is dismissive of anything hinting at African cultural pride, viewing himself as only an American.
John Henry dislikes the Afro hair styles worn by all of his children, including his daughter Gail (Bonnie Banfield) and eldest son Booker T. (D'Urville Martin).
Booker T. tries to keep the peace but he's already moved out. Booker T. has his own issues. Gail is preparing to marry (in an African themed wedding), and is happy to be leaving. Gideon refuses to talk to his father or even be in the same room as him, despite his mother's pleas.
Emotions erupt one morning when Gladys decides she will no longer tolerate her husband's overbearing ways and cheapness. Although her friends (Virginia Capers, Ja'net Dubois) tease her that she's just blowing off steam, Gladys has had it.
If John Henry won't meet Gladys' demands she will leave. To demonstrate her seriousness, Gladys presents her demands (which are mostly just centered around basic respect like calling her by her first name) in her husband's barbershop in front of his customers and co-workers.
John Henry doesn't like women in his barbershop. Heresy! Blasphemy!! Revolution!!!
This starts a comic squabble which may require outside intervention to set right. Gideon is eager to get back at his Dad for many imagined or real sins, and uses activist tactics to help his mother.
The family has double agents and would be peacemakers. John Henry is not a bad guy. There are no real bad guys here. The writer has love for all the characters. Some are just misunderstood.
The movie is firmly based in Black American culture circa 1973 but families who don't understand each other but still love each other exist in all cultures. Parents and children often have different ideas about the child's future.
Clarice Taylor would later have roles in The Cosby Show and Sanford and Son. Glynn Turman would have a star turn in Cooley High. This was a good positive movie that didn't overstay its welcome. I saw some of my relatives in the story.
