May 14th, 2012: Cleopatra Jones and the Casinos of Gold

Cast and Crew:  Run Run Shaw (Producer)

What It’s About: To save her friends Matthew (Albert Popwell) and Melvin Johnson (Caro Kenyatta), Cleopatra Jones (Tamara Dobson) must travel to Hong Kong and take on drug kingpin Bianca “Dragon Lady” Javin (Stella Stevens).

Why Watch it Today?:  Star Tamara Dobson was born today in 1947.  Dobson was a model-turned-actress that Warner Brothers attempted to start a Blaxploitation franchise with, starting Cleopatra Jones and continuing with today’s film. Both films are fun, if not groundbreaking, action/crime films, with Dobson providing striking looks and a good sense of humor, aided by able supporting players.  In many ways this film is more enjoyable than the first, with better action, a much more amusing boss for Cleopatra Jones in the form of Norman Fell, and Popwell and Kenyatta returning as Cleo’s kung fuing friends to provide continuity.  Most importantly, the Hong Kong setting frees the film from Blaxploitation clichés and allows for a freer, wilder ride.

Where to Get It:  Stream from Amazon, iTunes or Vudu

2 comments on “May 14th, 2012: Cleopatra Jones and the Casinos of Gold

  1. retrozombi says:

    Once again, I’m in disbelief that I haven’t gotten to this one. I enjoyed the first, so my only excuse is laziness.

    • professormortis says:

      Believe it or not, I saw this one first. Its the one the video store we went to in college had. Believe we double featured it with What’s Up, Tigerlilly?, of all things.

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