CLEOPATRA JONES
US, 1973, 89 minutes, Colour.
Tamara Dobson, Shelley Winters, Bernie Casey, Brenda Sykes, Antonio Fargas, Bill McKinney?.
Directed by Jack Starrett.
Cleopatra Jones/Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold: Box-office today (the mid-70s) suggests Women's lib., Black Power, tough cops, anti-drugs, cars and bikes, karate, sleazy crooks, big boss etc. Here they all are, dressed up quite efficiently and slickly too to make this effort one of the best and most enjoyable of its kind. Model 6'2" tall, Tamara Dobson has style and the makings of a black super-heroine (and of TV series). Villainesses are the epitome of American Momism (called 'Mommy') with Shelley Winters underacting and overscreeching to effect, or sultry Stella Stevens. Clearly made for U.S. black audiences to cheer to (and with in-black jokes and style) it is popular enough entertainment and classy matinee cops and robbers.
1. Why was this film enjoyable? What did it have in its favour? what hindered? How successful was the film as: a police drama: Cleopatra as a policewoman, the picture of the police, corruption amongst the police, police techniques and tactics? As a crime drama: Cleopatra as a heroine; as the villainess and the style of villainess she was? The deeds that she did, the corruption of the police, the assassination attempts; her henchmen and their ugliness?
2. As an example of Women's Lib: the feminine heroine, her power over others, her success and skill, confronting a feminine villain? As a Black Power film: as made for black audiences; the issues of black life in America, prejudices, e.g. of the police; typical black characters e.g. the children; the style of language and the jokes? As a film against drugs? The picture of the rehabilitation house, black roles in drug-pushing; the involvement of criminals in drugs? The possibilities of corruption? As a karate, kung-fu style exercise in violence?
3. Was it overdone or was it appropriate? As tongue-in-cheek, comedy style adventure? How seriously did it take itself? How seriously did it want its audience to take it? Why? As a comic strip: were the people characters or caricatures?
4. Which characters were roundly portrayed?
5. Comment on the situations and adventures in the film. Were they typical comic strip and matinee material? Was there an originality in them? Where?
6. Comment on the ending in the junk-car yard. How was the film superior in its visual style and its presentation of environment? The opening burning of the poppy field, the presentation of Los Angeles, sequences in the growth settings, in Saint Cecilia's Church, the final fight between Mommy and Cleopatra etc.? Where did the film stand on right and wrong, good and bad? What values did it presuppose in its audience? Did it reinforce these values?
