Black Caesar: Difference between revisions

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...however, the wild popularity of the original film resulted in a sequel, ''Hell Up In Harlem'', being filmed and released the same year. [[Retcon|Rewriting]] the ending of the first film, ''Harlem'' replays events from a slightly different perspective. Tommy is rescued and brought to a hospital by his remaining loyal allies after his beating at the abandoned apartment complex. Incapacitated (but still holding onto a key piece of evidence that implicates the Mafia heads in New York), Tommy transfers control of his empire to his father, who attempts to negotiate for his son's safety with the evil New York District Attorney Diangelo. After Diangelo's thugs try to kill him, Mr. Gibbs takes on the role of "Big Papa" while his son recuperates in Los Angeles. When {{spoiler|Big Papa and Tommy's ex-girlfriend (and mother of his children) Helen}} are murdered, he must come back to reclaim his empire (and his son, who was born in the previous film) and kill his turncoat lieutenant, Zach, and Diangelo.

''Black Caesar'' was a hit with audiences when it was released in 1973, and was lauded for its gritty portrayal of the city and [[Anti Hero|morally grey protagonist]]. The film also jumpstarted lead actor Fred Williamson's career, which resulted in his having to shoot ''Harlem'' on weekends while filming another movie during weekdays. The original film also benefitted from having [[James Brown]] compose the hit soundtrack. In an infamous case, Brown wrote the soundtrack for ''Harlem'' entirely on spec (without pay), but it was rejected by American International Pictures. Brown later released his rejected soundtrack as ''The Payback'', which proved to be a critical and commercial hit.

''Black Caesar'' was a hit with audiences when it was released in 1973, and was lauded for its gritty portrayal of the city and [[Anti-Hero|morally grey protagonist]]. The film also jumpstarted lead actor Fred Williamson's career, which resulted in his having to shoot ''Harlem'' on weekends while filming another movie during weekdays. The original film also benefitted from having [[James Brown]] compose the hit soundtrack. In an infamous case, Brown wrote the soundtrack for ''Harlem'' entirely on spec (without pay), but it was rejected by American International Pictures. Brown later released his rejected soundtrack as ''The Payback'', which proved to be a critical and commercial hit.

Not to be confused with "[[LA Noire|The Black Caesar]]".

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=== The films contain examples of: ===

* [[Anti Hero]]

* [[Anti-Hero]]

* [[Anyone Can Die]]: {{spoiler|Mr. Gibbs, Helen and Tommy's childhood friend Rufus}} in ''Harlem''.

* [[Badass Longcoat]]: Big Papa's fur coat.

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* [[Never Trust a Trailer]]: Despite the title, there really isn't any "Hell up in Harlem". The first half of the film mostly revolves around Tommy recuperating in Los Angeles while his father, a peripheral character in the first movie, becomes a main character in his own right (largely by taking control without much bloodshed). More than half of the action scenes take place outside New York.

* [[New York City Cops]]

* [[N Word Privileges]]: The Mafia leaders are openly racist, and casually say the term several times to Tommy's face.

* [[N-Word Privileges]]: The Mafia leaders are openly racist, and casually say the term several times to Tommy's face.

* [[Oh Crap]]: In the sequel, the Mafia leaders on the Caribbean island once they realize that Tommy and his gang of assault troops (and several of the maids who were apparently trusted staff members) are massacring everyone on the island.

* [[Only Known By Their Nickname]]: Tommy's father becomes known as "Big Papa", who rules the Harlem crime scene with an iron fist.

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* [[Victim Falls For Rapist]]

* [[We Have to Get The Bullet Out]]

* [[What Happened to The Mouse]]: Tommy's daughter, who was brought to the Gibbs household by Big Papa. Tommy disappears with his son at the end of ''Harlem'', and never mentions her again.

* [[What Happened to The Mouse?]]: Tommy's daughter, who was brought to the Gibbs household by Big Papa. Tommy disappears with his son at the end of ''Harlem'', and never mentions her again.