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BLACK FIST
aka BOGARD
* * * (1975, 87 minutes, Rated R)
Keep your hands off my Heineken.
This film is also known as Bogard, as in “Dude! Don’t bogard all the chips, man!” For the life of
me, I don’t know why. I like the title Black Fist much better, as it conforms to the rule that
blaxploitation films must contain the word “black” in the title.
This is the story of Leroy Fisk (who is never referred to as “Black Fist”), played by Richard Lawson.
Some of you might know Richard Lawson as Lucas Barnes from “All My Children.” Not me -- I’m
more of a “Days” guy myself.
Anyway, Leroy enters a barbershop and requests an “audition” for a spot as a professional street
fighter. Yeah, that seemed random to me, too. Before you know it, Leroy is on the roof of the
building getting his ass kicked by H.B. Haggerty. You’d probably don’t know the name, but with his
classic Strong Man look, you’d know H.B. Haggerty if you saw him.
aka BOGARD
* * * (1975, 87 minutes, Rated R)
Keep your hands off my Heineken.
This film is also known as Bogard, as in “Dude! Don’t bogard all the chips, man!” For the life of
me, I don’t know why. I like the title Black Fist much better, as it conforms to the rule that
blaxploitation films must contain the word “black” in the title.
This is the story of Leroy Fisk (who is never referred to as “Black Fist”), played by Richard Lawson.
Some of you might know Richard Lawson as Lucas Barnes from “All My Children.” Not me -- I’m
more of a “Days” guy myself.
Anyway, Leroy enters a barbershop and requests an “audition” for a spot as a professional street
fighter. Yeah, that seemed random to me, too. Before you know it, Leroy is on the roof of the
building getting his ass kicked by H.B. Haggerty. You’d probably don’t know the name, but with his
classic Strong Man look, you’d know H.B. Haggerty if you saw him.
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Apparently Leroy did a really good job of getting his ass kicked, cuz the local crime boss, Logan,
opts to take him on as a street fighter. That’s good news for Leroy, because street fighting is his
way to “make it” (a classic blaxploitation theme) and support his pregnant wife. It also means it’s
time for a montage! It’s just like every montage you’ve ever seen in a Rocky movie, except without
Stallone and with a few extra shots of learning how to fight dirty. Awesome.
opts to take him on as a street fighter. That’s good news for Leroy, because street fighting is his
way to “make it” (a classic blaxploitation theme) and support his pregnant wife. It also means it’s
time for a montage! It’s just like every montage you’ve ever seen in a Rocky movie, except without
Stallone and with a few extra shots of learning how to fight dirty. Awesome.
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| This guy. |
| Sadly, none of the street fights in Black Fist look anything like this. |
So we don’t have to wait long for Leroy’s
first official street fight. While he fails to
generate electricity or throw a fireball,
Leroy does win, kicking off an impressive
string of victories.
This kicks off an extended montage
sequence, alternating between Leroy
winning fights and Leroy enjoying his
winnings with his wife and mistress. Uh,
not at the same time.
Yes, all was good in Leroy’s world until
Heineken shows up.
first official street fight. While he fails to
generate electricity or throw a fireball,
Leroy does win, kicking off an impressive
string of victories.
This kicks off an extended montage
sequence, alternating between Leroy
winning fights and Leroy enjoying his
winnings with his wife and mistress. Uh,
not at the same time.
Yes, all was good in Leroy’s world until
Heineken shows up.
No, not the beer but a crooked cop played by an actor who excels at
crooked authority figures, Dabney Coleman. Dabney Coleman!! The
man famed for starring in such films as Cloak & Dagger and War
Games and Tootsie (yeah, that’s right: I’ve seen Tootsie). I was so
excited to see him, I nearly forgot to feel bad that he’s being featured in
a Bargain Bin Review-calibre film.
Here, Dabney Coleman’s Heineken is running a cute little “protection
service” for guys like Leroy: For a fee, Heineken makes sure Leroy isn’t
crooked authority figures, Dabney Coleman. Dabney Coleman!! The
man famed for starring in such films as Cloak & Dagger and War
Games and Tootsie (yeah, that’s right: I’ve seen Tootsie). I was so
excited to see him, I nearly forgot to feel bad that he’s being featured in
a Bargain Bin Review-calibre film.
Here, Dabney Coleman’s Heineken is running a cute little “protection
service” for guys like Leroy: For a fee, Heineken makes sure Leroy isn’t
arrested for street fighting or causing a public disturbance or loitering or being black. Leroy,
unsurprisingly, takes exception to this and complains to Logan… except Logan is in on the scam.
unsurprisingly, takes exception to this and complains to Logan… except Logan is in on the scam.
| Dabney Coleman (center), enforcing a little "protection service" on a chicken and a... whatever Gonzo is. |
That really ticks Leroy off, and he decides to play hardball by stealing Heineken’s Little Book of
Incriminating Evidence. But it’s not until Leroy doesn’t lose a fight he was supposed to that things
get really serious. From here, Leroy grows a beard and the film downshifts into Standard Revenge
Tale Mode. And it’s… eh, it’s fine.
A highlight of the Revenge Tale section of the film is the trials and tribulations of Boom Boom.
Played by Tubbs from “Miami Vice,” Boom Boom is a simple street hustler who just happens to
have all the information that all the main characters want… which means Boom Boom gets his
ass kicked in several consecutive scenes. Strangely, Tubbs from “Miami Vice” also plays another
simple street hustler named Fletch in this movie -- if the two characters were identical twins, then I
missed it.
All in all, Black Fist is a pretty good movie. The fight scenes may seem ponderous by today’s
standards but that’s just because their not filmed by over-caffeinated chimps, allowing us to
actually comprehend the action. Also, both Richard Lawson and Dabney Coleman give really good
performances, and good acting is just not something I’m used to.
I almost feel bad including Black Fist here at the Bargain Bin Review. Almost.
Incriminating Evidence. But it’s not until Leroy doesn’t lose a fight he was supposed to that things
get really serious. From here, Leroy grows a beard and the film downshifts into Standard Revenge
Tale Mode. And it’s… eh, it’s fine.
A highlight of the Revenge Tale section of the film is the trials and tribulations of Boom Boom.
Played by Tubbs from “Miami Vice,” Boom Boom is a simple street hustler who just happens to
have all the information that all the main characters want… which means Boom Boom gets his
ass kicked in several consecutive scenes. Strangely, Tubbs from “Miami Vice” also plays another
simple street hustler named Fletch in this movie -- if the two characters were identical twins, then I
missed it.
All in all, Black Fist is a pretty good movie. The fight scenes may seem ponderous by today’s
standards but that’s just because their not filmed by over-caffeinated chimps, allowing us to
actually comprehend the action. Also, both Richard Lawson and Dabney Coleman give really good
performances, and good acting is just not something I’m used to.
I almost feel bad including Black Fist here at the Bargain Bin Review. Almost.
This movie was viewed on bmovies.com. You can watch it yourself for free
here, or check out bmovies.com's impressive collection of kung fu titles.
here, or check out bmovies.com's impressive collection of kung fu titles.