Cleopatra Jones

source: Cleopatra Jones

Cleopatra Jones

Needless to say, my favourite Quentin Tarantino film is 'Jackie Brown'. I enjoyed the action, and Tamara Dobson was gorgeous (I can't believe she was 6'2"! Wow!). I wish she had done more movies, and hadn't died so young (at age 59, of pneumonia and multiple sclerosis). Though director Starrett (who died even younger, of kidney failure) mainly did TV work, I loved his 'Race with the Devil', which was from around this time. He was very good at these kind of films, at both presenting action set-pieces and building suspense. I would like to see ALL of these 'urban action' films. Though from my movie-watching experience, I find that I tend to prefer films from before 1970, these films from the 70's are great too, and are a lot more enjoyable to me than most films I see today. I sincerely hope that, like in 'Cleopatra Jones', the filmmakers of today could concentrate on actors' presence and stunts, rather than simply go with CGI. I for one would be a lot happier as a cinephile.

I've seen a number of blaxploitation films over the years but this one must be the best looking and most technically proficient. The photography is beautiful throughout, the editing very slick. The story moves along nicely and is very engaging. The characters are great, all very appealing, even if not all the acting is Oscar-worthy. There are enough good fight and car chase scenes to keep action fans entertained. Tamara Dobson has wonderful screen presence, looks great, and wears fantastic costumes throughout. The villains are mostly funny and camp. Bill McKinney turns in an excellent performance as the racist white cop you can't wait to see brought down. Shelley Winters and her henchmen are all wonderfully offbeat.

Cleopatra Jones features Tamara Dobson, whole 6 feet 2 inches of her as a sassy government Special Agent burning down poppy fields in Turkey and going after drug traffickers like Mommy (Shelley Winters.) When her boyfriend's (Bernie Casey) halfway house for recovering drug addicts is under threat from crooked cops, Cleopatra suspects Mommy is behind it all and decides to kick ass with her kung fu moves and driving her fast Corvette Stingray. Tamara Dobson is certainly statuesque and glamorous as a blaxploitation female version of James Bond but Dobson lacks the screen sensuality and charisma of Pam Grier. However Shelley Winters more than compensates with a scenery chewing performance as the lesbian Mommy appearing with several different types of wigs and in one point clad in leather. The plot is rather so-so but Warner Brothers certainly put some money in this movie as it benefits from better production values and has good pacing.

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

A really witty film starring the striking Tamara Dobson in the title role. Cleopatra is a DEA officer bent on putting crime queen Shelly Winters out of business. Winters puts up quite a fight. Director Jack Starrett keeps things moving at a fast clip with a lot of great set pieces: Dobson taking out would-be assassins at a baggage carousel; a really great car chase sequence through LA; an out-of-left field car crash involving two tow trucks & a Rolls. Dobson is not only beautiful but a terrific actress, very believable despite the high fashion wardrobe (must be seen to be believed). Winters is fun with Technicolor red hair and the dependable Bernie Casey is in it too. Best of all is kooky Antonio Fargas as one of Winters' less cooperative soldiers. A classic.

Tamara Dobson plays the title character, the best dressed United States Agent in the history of cinema. She's on a quest for justice and for burning down poppy fields. Her rival is Mommy, played by Shelley Winters, who gives a subtle, restrained perf...naw, I'm fooling ya, she's re-defining over-the-top as she GNAWS on every single piece of scenery, all in a variety of Eva Gabor wigs. Seeing her rub the bottom of her young girlfriend, and then get her feet rubbed by the same girl...I wasn't sure if I was going to vomit or thank the movie gods that created this. Plot is virtually unimportant as Cleo battles the fuzz, Antonio Fargas and anyone who gets in her way. Movie is vintage fun and it was nice to see Esther Rolle in a small part. 6/10.