Five on the Black Hand Side

1973
PG
1h 36m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

In contrast to most of the violence-laden "blaxploitation" films of the period, this low-budget effort eschews exploitation for humanity and domestic drama. Leonard Jackson plays a barber wh... Read allIn contrast to most of the violence-laden "blaxploitation" films of the period, this low-budget effort eschews exploitation for humanity and domestic drama. Leonard Jackson plays a barber who is also the domineering head of a middle-class African American family. Jackson is force... Read allIn contrast to most of the violence-laden "blaxploitation" films of the period, this low-budget effort eschews exploitation for humanity and domestic drama. Leonard Jackson plays a barber who is also the domineering head of a middle-class African American family. Jackson is forced to rethink his values when his previously docile wife joins their three children in rebe... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

531

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations total

Photos54

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The poster art is by MAD magazine artist Jack Davis.

Crazy credits
"Five on the Black Hand Side" Written by H.B. Barnum

Connections
Featured in Adam & Yves (1974)

Soundtracks
Five on the Black Hand Side
Music by H.B. Barnum (uncredited)
Lyrics by H.B. Barnum (uncredited), James D. Cobbin (uncredited), Mexie Marlowe (uncredited), Ronald L. Murray (uncredited) and Jay Wilson (uncredited)
Performed by Keisa Brown and Prime Cut

User reviews6

Featured review

10/10

all in the other kind of family

The blaxploitation genre continued with Oscar Williams's "Five on the Black Hand Side", based on a play by the recently deceased Charlie L. Russell. Watching it I was reminded of "All in the Family": the old-school patriarch, the mousy mom, and the rebellious offspring. While the plot centers on the mom's finally standing up to her domineering husband, there's more. A truly outstanding scene takes place in the dad's barbershop. One of the patrons recites some poetry that sounds like comedic rap! The overall point is that this is one enjoyable movie. Every blaxploitation movie that I've seen has been fun, but this one manages to be so without a bunch of high action. It's all about the humor, and it's a flick that you just gotta love.

PS: producer Brock Peters did background vocals on Harry Belafonte's "Day-O" and most notably played Gregory Peck's client in "To Kill a Mockingbird".