'Sheba, Baby'

This is the first of three Pam Grier releases from 1975 I'm reviewing for this site. In this one, she's Sheba Shayne who's back in Louisville, Ky., in order to look over her father Andy (Rudy Challenger) after he got roughed up from some hoods at his loan collection business. Also there is his partner Brick Williams (Austin Stoker) who rekindles his past romance with Sheba. The person who ordered the job is one called Pilot (D'Urville Martin) but the real muscle comes from another one called Shark (Dick Merrifield). I'll stop there and just say that this wasn't as exciting as Ms. Grier's previous movies Coffy and Foxy Brown and since this was rated PG, there's no * scenes of Pam and the violence is tame in comparison. Still, those action scenes were still pretty exciting especially one involving another villain named Walker (Christopher Joy) who she forces during a car wash to stick his head out the window unless he gives pertinent info. The result with the way his hair looks was the most hilarious scene to me. In summation, if you're a Pam Grier completist, 'Sheba, Baby' is at the least worth a look. Oh, and I recognized the Chicago scenes since I lived there during the first 6 years of my life with occasional visitings since then.

Pam Grier, bad white guy begins the scenes that needs to be taken down, and actually pleasant surprise no nudity in this film. That's a nice change up where so many of the films in this genre are soft *. Funny movie as well.

Pam Grier in 'Jackie Brown' spends much of the film in a distinctive blue air stewardess's uniform, which may have been Tarantino's tribute to the blue flairs she wears for much of 'Sheba, Baby', which she swaps for a wicked blue wetsuit and machine gun in the movie's final quarter. Thus dressed to kill she actually proves disappointingly easy to overpower and disarm; and dishes out considerably less than in the earlier scene at a funfair which is probably the film's highlight (most of the killing at the climax is done by the cops). The sexual content is also confined to just one rather chaste (if the word can be used in such a context) bed scene; and although the production values are good there's far too high a ratio of talk to action.

If anything, William Girdler was an opportunist who wanted a piece of the action in regards to whatever was popular during the time. I mean, a blaxploitation flick in Louisville, Kentucky..who would of thunk it?!?! I can just imagine the enthusiasm he must've had getting Pam Grier, quite a hot item, to star in his picture. If you are pretty familiar with the genre, Girdler's Sheba, Baby doesn't necessarily stray too far from formula. Despite a change of venue, the film still deals with a ruthless businessman nicknamed Shark who muscles in on loan companies, using stooges to threaten them in order to get their signatures. Grier is Sheba Shayne, a former Louisville cop working in Chicago who returns home at the request of her father's partner, Brick(Austin Stoker, Assault on Precinct 13). Sheba's father, despite Shark's bullying tactics(..his man in town is Pilot, a wannabe gangster, equipped with stooges who aren't that menacing, rather buffoonish in nature, so thin-skinned they hire hit men outside of town to shoot up the Shayne Loan building), won't give up his company, and this eventually costs him his life when a warning through the use of brute force, leads to his being killed. Sheba will get her revenge on all those responsible for his father's death. In other words, Shark's ass is grass..can you dig it? Seeing Grier with a magnum is enough to sell this particular film, the novelty of the setting being in Louisville is part of the package. You even get to see a speedboat chase, Grier in shootouts with gangsters(..not necessarily the most polished kind one might be accustomed to seeing in a Chicago or New York during this period in blaxploitation), lots of blood spurting from bullet-riddled bodies torn apart by gun-fire, and colorful characters(..such as a wimpy loan shark in pimp-dress named Walker and Pilot who is one of the least scary mobsters you are likely to see)who show up during the film, most having the misfortune of coming in contact with a very angry Sheba. The plot itself is nothing special, but Grier is always worth watching, and Girdler orchestrates plenty of action sequences to keep his target audience entertained. A modest success for Girdler, and one of his more accomplished films.

Pam Grier is as lean, cool and tough as ever in this film (in fact, she's arguably tougher here than in "Foxy Brown"), but the plot is overly familiar ("Return of the Dragon", anyone?) and the flick is poorly edited in just about all the crucial spots (fight and action sequences). This one is mostly for Grier fans, who'll have an OK time. The "PG" rating is questionable, considering a few quite graphic and bloody scenes. (**)

Lesser Pam Grier blaxploitation movie has Pam as Sheba, a tough private investigator who returns to her hometown of Louisville, KY to fight mobsters who are pushing her father around. While there she finds time to romance Austin 'Assault on Precinct 13' Stoker. Less gritty and sexy than Grier's blaxploitation classics Foxy Brown and Coffy. The acting is wooden, the direction amateurish, the action slow, and the dialogue lacks punch. None of this is uncommon with blaxploitation films, but this one is lacking the sex, violence, and colorful language that usually spackles over the cracks in these things. The film being shot on location in Louisville does add some authenticity and local flavor, which helps. The movie is propped up mostly just by Grier's screen presence. So completists will want to see it for sure. Those expecting something with a little more spice to it are likely to be disappointed.

'Sheba, Baby' (1975) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Blaxploitation Girdler style has Pam Grier leaving Chicago and heading to Louisville when she hears a bunch of thugs are trying to push her father out of his business. Soon dad is shot dead and it's up to Grier to track down the killers and put an end to them. Once again, this isn't the greatest film in the world and it's certainly not an Oscar-winner but if you enjoy the genre and what it has to offer then you're going to be able to enjoy what's here. I was a little hesitant going into a PG-rated blaxploiation film but the screenplay offers up enough action to keep things moving even though I'm sure fans of Grier want the R-rated action that comes with the nudity. Grier is as tough as ever here and she really turns in another winning performance. What always amazes me about her is how much fire and energy you can see her burning even if she's just standing around not doing a thing. Then, when it's time to fight, that energy just erupts like a volcano and one can't help but respect that energy she brings to a film. The supporting players include Rudy Challenger, Austin Stoker and Dick Merrifield but there's no doubt that the film belongs to Grier. Having lived in Louisville for many years, the film gave me even more entertainment than it probably will from someone who has never visited the city. There were several locations that I recognized and that's always going to add a little bit more charm to a film for someone. The movie does go over the top in its violence and I was a little surprised to see more of the red stuff than I was expecting. Of course, being a blaxploitation picture we've got to end the film with a wild chase and shoot out and that doesn't disappoint here either. Seeing Grier in a wetsuit never hurts either.

This lesser film from Pam Griers' days as a blaxploitation queen is nonetheless mildly pleasing. Because it's rated PG, it has less punch than Pams' best stuff. Some viewers will really miss the elements of sex and graphic violence. The script, by producer David Sheldon and cult director William Girdler, is somewhat less than inspired, with only one sequence - the pursuit through the carnival - that could be considered memorable. The cast is also more colourless than usual. But Pam, in her inimitable fashion, could make just about anything watchable. Hell, this is worth watching just to see her in a wetsuit. Pam plays our title character, Sheba Shayne, a Chicago-based private eye who returns to her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. It seems that aggressive gangsters are constantly threatening her father Andy (Rudy Challenger) and his loan business, which Andy runs with Shebas' good friend Brick (Austin Stoker). Inevitably, the bad guys will have a full scale war on their hands once Sheba steps into the fray. The ever engaging Stoker of "Assault on Precinct 13" fame is a good leading man for Pam, and D'Urville Martin is lively as "Pilot", a lowlife criminal. Christopher Joy is a hoot as a peddler who for whatever reason dresses more like a stereotypical pimp. Dick Merrifield is amusing enough as smiling, smarmy white guy villain "Shark". And it's nice to see Girdler regular Charles Kissinger as a mostly ineffectual white detective. Pam is great entertainment and eye candy as always, even if her role here isn't really on a level with her most famous ones. The action scenes are passable (one comeuppance offers a spin on something we'd previously seen in "Coffy"), and the music score by Alex Brown and Monk Higgins (with vocals by Barbara Mason) is good, even if, like so much else here, it's also unmemorable. Completists of the filmographies of Pam and Girdler will definitely want to check it out, no matter if it's not their best work. Six out of 10.

"Andy Shayne" (Rudy Challenger) owns a small loan company in Louisville, Kentucky. When he refuses to sell it to some local gangsters he is beaten up. This causes his daughter, "Sheba" to temporarily leave her private investigation office in Chicago to be with him. Things escalate and Sheba decides to get directly involved and find those responsible. So much for the plot. As far as everything else was concerned this film had its good points and its bad points. Overall the acting wasn't that good. But I liked Pam Grier and Austin Stoker (as "Brick Williams"). I also got a kick out of the performance of Christopher Joy (as "Walker"). Likewise, I thought the choice of Louisville was a refreshing change from the usual film locations of New York, Chicago or Los Angeles. On the other hand, both the fight scenes and the dialogue left much to be desired and I believe it lowers the overall effect. The bottom line is that both "Coffy" and "Foxy Brown" were better and I have rated this film accordingly. Barely average.

Sheba Baby is a somewhat lesser film when compared to Coffy and Foxy Brown. But, I digress even though this is toned down with regards to sex and violence, Sheba Baby is a pretty solid action movie with good camerawork, some cool action sequences and a good cast. Pam Grier is beautiful and tough here and with her unique presence and good looks carries the film pretty easily. Austin Stoker(from Assault On Precinct 13) is good as support and love interest for Pam and D'Urville Martin is a cool villain. This was rated PG and comes off a little lighter, but is far from lame. I found Sheba Baby to be pretty entertaining overall, but is no means the best blaxsploitation movie and miles away from the worst.

In comparison to classics like "Foxy Brown" or "Coffy" this one obviously looses, but the film itself is not that bad as some people claim! Okay, it maybe looks more like the episode of a 1970s TV serial than a movie for the big screen, but it has got some decent entertainment values, although the above mentioned films were more violent and sexy. Once more Pam Grier plays a revenging lady which does away with some corrupt guys who killed her father. This amazing main actress it definitely the coolest Afro American actress on our planet and it´s a shame that she´s nowadays wasted in quite meaningless stuff like John Carpenter´s "Ghosts of Mars"! Another memorable part is given by Austin Stroker, a forgotten 1970s actor, who was great in films like "Assault on Precinct 13" (Made in the times when Carpenter still shot good movies...) or "Battle for the Planet of the Apes". Better watch "Foxy Brown" or "Coffy" first to see some real Pam Grier Blaxploitation classics, but you can easily check out "Sheba, Baby" without that feeling to have your time wasted!