Five On The Black Hand Side
by Oscar Williams
List Price:
Our Price: $13.49
You Save: $1.49 (10%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $6.96 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Clarice Taylor, D'Urville Martin, Glynn Turman, Leonard Jackson, Virginia CapersDirector: Oscar Williams
Cinematographer: Gene Polito
Editor: Michael Economou
Producer: Brock Peters
Producer: Kay Korwin
Producer: Michael Tolan
Writer: Charlie L. Russell
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 96 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-10-16
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Movie Reviews of Five On The Black Hand Side
Movie Review: Groundbreaking is not the word.
Summary: 5 Stars
Most blacks I know love this movie, even the most Europeanized. It is the first film that I am aware of to depict such a pro-African mindstate for African Americans. How groundbreaking this was in 1973 is lost to the people of today who can not comprehend the extent of anti-Africanism in American culture and what it was like for these first years when African Americans formally became full citizens in America. This film has yet to be followed up as it drowned in the mist of blaxploitation.
Though I'm sure some African Americans out of touch will not get this movie, but it is interesting to note that the only person who rated it low on here was icebergslims, who I know to be white, though many of his reviews show an interest in Africana studies. Many of his reviews are spot on and insightful, though his distance from the experience is evident and an obstacle to depthful comprehension.
However, because the black experience is experienced and not read about or watched on TV or even from black friends, there is an ineffable reality of the black existence in america that has aspects of it that are esoteric to the black community. Such esoteric experiences are common in any marginalized group. It crosses over to gender or sexuality,etc. For example, no matter how much I respect women there are many things about there existence I wont get, simply because I am not one. Likewise, some nonblack people will be unable to get the lure of Five on the Black Hand Side. Sure they know there is a meaningful message but it does not overide the "corny" aspect of the film. Corny because it's not full of the typical dolemite, of which Icebergslims admits to be a great fan of, or richard pryor bambozzled humor? To the liver of black experience it is the subtleties of the experience revealed in the film (even as a man I cried when the mother looked at her new afro in the mirror, and said,"is that me?")that no amount of black research will make nonblacks sensitive to.
That being said, this is such a powerful movie. Watch it not to be thrilled with great acting or even plot, heck, not even message. Instead be moved by the spirit of Five on the Black Hand Side.
Summary of Five On The Black Hand Side
You've been Coffy-tized, Blacula-rized and Superflied. Now prepare to be glorified, unified and filled-with-pride with this "breakthrough film" (Variety) that delivers "enough solid laughs forany audience" (Boxoffice)! With "a combination of seriousness and warmth that is rare in anyfilm" (Players) and a sense of family that anyone can relate to, "Five on the Black Hand Side" is "a wisely entertaining film" (New York)! In the Brooks family, Papa may rule with an iron fist but Mama's about to slap him down with her open hand! Tired of being told what to do and when to do it, she goes to war! Swapping her old housedress for army green duds and combing her tidily coiffed head into a ceiling-scraping 'fro, she takes to the roof on strike until her browbeating, penny-pinching, gas-passing husband agrees to meet her bill of rights!Action & Adventure DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in CLASSIC BLACK COMEDY CINEMA
Five On The Black Hand SideRelease date: 2001-10-16; DVD
Best price: $8.46
Price in other shops:
Car Wash (Full Screen)Release date: 2001-05-01; DVD
Best price: $40.00
Friday (New Line Platinum Series)Warner Brothers; Release date: 1999-03-02; DVD
Best price: $3.97
Price in other shops:
Harlem NightsMURPHY,EDDIE; Release date: 2002-01-29; DVD
Best price: $4.09
Price in other shops:
DolemiteRelease date: 2002-03-19; DVD
Best price: $6.25
Price in other shops:
The Mack (New Line Platinum Series)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2002-09-03; DVD
Best price: $6.59
Price in other shops:
Uptown Saturday NightWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-01-13; DVD
Best price: $4.87
Price in other shops:
Let's Do It AgainWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-01-13; DVD
Best price: $5.39
Price in other shops:
Which Way Is Up?PRYOR,RICHARD; Release date: 2002-05-21; DVD
Best price: $6.35
Price in other shops:
Similar DVD Movies
MahoganyParamount; Release date: 2007-05-01; DVD
Best price: $8.56
Price in other shops:
SparkleCARA,IRENE; Release date: 2007-01-02; DVD
Best price: $3.80
Price in other shops:
The Monkey HustleTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2004-01-20; DVD
Best price: $6.38
Price in other shops:
Amazing GraceTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2001-12-26; DVD
Best price: $7.59
Price in other shops:
Cooley HighTURMAN,GLYNN; Release date: 2000-01-18; DVD
Best price: $5.76
Price in other shops:
Cornbread, Earl & MeTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2001-10-16; DVD
Best price: $29.95
Cleopatra JonesWarner Brothers; Release date: 1999-03-30; DVD
Best price: $3.10
Price in other shops:
Let's Do It AgainWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-01-13; DVD
Best price: $5.39
Price in other shops:
Claudine (1974)TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2003-01-14; DVD
Best price: $4.49
Price in other shops:
A Piece of the Action / Uptown Saturday NightWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-01-31; DVD
Best price: $6.33
Price in other shops: