A PIECE OF THE ACTION

US, 1977, 135 minutes, Colour.
Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby, James Earl Jones, Denise Nicholas.
Directed by Sidney Poitier.

A Piece of the Action has Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby teaming for their third comedy, Poitier again directing. Predominantly light humour (with robberies thrown in for some action), these are comedies for US black audiences, but which have a universal appeal. Longer and more complex than Uptown Saturday Night and Let's Do It Again, this film runs happily to formula until the plot has Poitier (who has by no means lost or forgotten his social conscience) doing a To Sir With Love on Chicago slum kids 70s style. Sentiment and special pleading for the underprivileged and the exploited then pervade the laughs and gangster confrontations. Very pleasing social and sentimental comedy.

1. Sidney Poitier's reputation, the three films that he has made as comedies for Negro audiences? This film combining his comedies with his social message films?

2. How enjoyable? Length, Chicago situations, thriller aspects, comedy aspects, human sentiment, romance, social issues? How well did the film blend all of these? Successfully? For what purpose was the film made?

3. Colour photography, atmosphere of Chicago, music and styles, the world of the wealthy, of the poor? The two leads and their comic styles?

4. The introduction with the dates and the presentation of Cosby's robbery in great detail and the final leap? Setting a tone for what was to follow and his character?

5. The follow-on with the elaborate confidence trick? The presentation of the syndicate, the police link, the mid and the getting away with so much money? Introduction to the various characters and setting a tone for what was to follow?

6. The character sketch of the policeman, his retirement? His visit to the cemetery and its significance for what he was to do? His decision about the two? The phone calls, the visit to the apartment and getting them to pay, the meal and the hold that he got over them? Did he have the right?

7. The importance of their wanting to detect his identity throughout the film? Their worry, listening to voices, their interview with the Board, the burgling of the files etc.? (And the incidental sequences such as bashing up the muggers?) The indication of the photo and the test with the phone call and the recognition of the voice?

8. Poitier and his style? His relationship with his girlfriend, her family's visit, the tipsy aunt? The comments about marriage and living together? The involvement of the girl in the dangers at the end?

9. Bill Cosby and his type, the romance with the social worker, the outings?

10. How did the film make a transition from comedy robbery to social awareness film? The institute and the two men working there? Cosby and his working getting the jobs? Poitier and his going in front of the class? The atmosphere of the class with the kids and their background, the attention to individuals and their behaviour? Their rehearsing to get jobs and their unwillingness? The goodwill of the teacher and the humiliation of her by the girl in saying that she was getting self satisfaction out of her work? Poitier's reaction?

11. The transition to To Sir With Love techniques? His payment of half the money for the kids to do their work? The human element entering in, especially the boy interviewed and his explanation about his retarded brother and his home life? The girl not ready to go through the process? The experiments in the streets and their being courteous? The building of the jobs? The final play towards the end? The long finale with the presentation of the awards?

12. The weaving in of the syndicate part of the story? The drug running? The kidnapping of the woman coming back from Copenhagen and her indicating the warning? The build-up to the showdown?

13. The importance of their getting the policeman's help? The kidnapping of the girl? The irony of their robbing the safe to get incriminating documents and copying them? Poitier having the final hand in the showdown?

14. His comments to the syndicate men about social ills and drug trafficking? How appropriate was all the preaching on the social ills of America?

15. How pleasant the ending? Sentiment? What was the audience left with? Sidney Poitier and his effect on people?