"What happened? Somebody close the back door?"
Added 11/19/2009
In 1972, thick in an era of blaxploitation films, with BUCK AND THE PREACHER, Sidney Poitier went another route and did another western (some six years after Duel at Diablo). This film marks Poitier's debut as director and also features cool Harry Belafonte in probably his best role. It's certainly his juiciest.
Is BUCK AND THE PREACHER a more relevant picture than, say, Glory? I don't know about that, but BUCK AND THE PREACHER does have things to say. It explores a point in time, right after the Civil War, in which freed slaves were making their way west to homestead. Buck (Poitier) is a no-nonsense wagon master (and an ex-Union Army sergeant) who escorts black settlers to new frontiers and attempts to protect them from night riders, vicious raiders seeking to reclaim the ex-slaves for the South. Along the way, Buck reluctantly teams up with a con-man preacher (Belafonte), and, really, the movie is at its most intriguing when the dynamics between these two characters are playing out. Belafonte and Poitier suspiciously sizing each other up makes for several terrific and taut scenes.
The leads are African-Americans, with the white guys relegated mostly to villainous roles. Sidney Poitier is his usual elegant self and he looks very much at home playing a cowboy in the Old West. Poitier's stern, stately demeanor is balanced by Belafonte's audacious performance, and I seriously need to check out the few films on his resume. By the way, Rudy Dee is also very good. There's that slice of social commentary, but I didn't feel like I was being bludgeoned over the head with it. There's some action and gun play, but also a share of contemplative moments and, okay, a slow, leisurely pace. There's a pretty cool and unconventional score and a peppering of humor, thanks mostly to Belafonte. For me, the three things which stand out the most about BUCK AND THE PREACHER: Preacher's hilarious "fornication" sermon to the night riders; that nice twist in which the Indians, not the cavalry, ride to the rescue; and Preacher's frightening disregard of dental hygiene.
Here's a neat trivia to end on: The actress who plays the Indian chief's wife? That's Harry Belafonte's wife, Julie Robinson.
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Buck and the Preacher
Added 11/3/2009
Sydney at his best! Harry was never as great as he was in this role! love it! love it! love It!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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My second western in 25 years
Added 8/15/2009
I just finished this. It went out with a total shooting ending. I took a vow forty years ago to not watch shooting on screen, so here I am ....50, seeing the second western in several weeks. I've broken the vow anyway sometimes with some Bond films, a few mythy ones, even the occasional phaser and longbow scene, but I'm not happy about it. My kids were kept as far from it as I could manage. One day however you just realize it's a pervasive cultural experience. But this was on tonight and I was sitting watching Poitier and Belafonte kind of drawn into their relating on screen in a fairly traditional western as far as I can tell. I don't know what they did to Belafonte's teeth either, but yuck. Anyway it's pretty much like the movie I saw the other day just kind of changing the character's affiliations around, that one was called The Undefeated. Good reviews here. I've got a little stomach ache now and feel a bit shaky so I suppose that's what people are looking for...all the right reasons to shoot down 20 men cold are there.
It was interesting to watch two actors I generally admired.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Buck & the Preacher
Added 5/1/2009
Quick fast delivery. product arrived in excellent condition.
Movie is excellent, have seen it numerous times, just wanted for my collection.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Loved It More Now than when I was a Kid
Added 3/10/2009
I don't have a lot to say about this movie other than it was a perfect way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon. If you're a fan of Poitier and/or Belefonte do yourself a favor and check out this classic.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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"What happened? Somebody close the back door?"
Added 11/19/2009
In 1972, thick in an era of blaxploitation films, with BUCK AND THE PREACHER, Sidney Poitier went another route and did another western (some six years after Duel at Diablo). This film marks Poitier's debut as director and also features cool Harry Belafonte in probably his best role. It's certainly his juiciest.
Is BUCK AND THE PREACHER a more relevant picture than, say, Glory? I don't know about that, but BUCK AND THE PREACHER does have things to say. It explores a point in time, right after the Civil War, in which freed slaves were making their way west to homestead. Buck (Poitier) is a no-nonsense wagon master (and an ex-Union Army sergeant) who escorts black settlers to new frontiers and attempts to protect them from night riders, vicious raiders seeking to reclaim the ex-slaves for the South. Along the way, Buck reluctantly teams up with a con-man preacher (Belafonte), and, really, the movie is at its most intriguing when the dynamics between these two characters are playing out. Belafonte and Poitier suspiciously sizing each other up makes for several terrific and taut scenes.
The leads are African-Americans, with the white guys relegated mostly to villainous roles. Sidney Poitier is his usual elegant self and he looks very much at home playing a cowboy in the Old West. Poitier's stern, stately demeanor is balanced by Belafonte's audacious performance, and I seriously need to check out the few films on his resume. By the way, Rudy Dee is also very good. There's that slice of social commentary, but I didn't feel like I was being bludgeoned over the head with it. There's some action and gun play, but also a share of contemplative moments and, okay, a slow, leisurely pace. There's a pretty cool and unconventional score and a peppering of humor, thanks mostly to Belafonte. For me, the three things which stand out the most about BUCK AND THE PREACHER: Preacher's hilarious "fornication" sermon to the night riders; that nice twist in which the Indians, not the cavalry, ride to the rescue; and Preacher's frightening disregard of dental hygiene.
Here's a neat trivia to end on: The actress who plays the Indian chief's wife? That's Harry Belafonte's wife, Julie Robinson.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Buck and the Preacher
Added 11/3/2009
Sydney at his best! Harry was never as great as he was in this role! love it! love it! love It!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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My second western in 25 years
Added 8/15/2009
I just finished this. It went out with a total shooting ending. I took a vow forty years ago to not watch shooting on screen, so here I am ....50, seeing the second western in several weeks. I've broken the vow anyway sometimes with some Bond films, a few mythy ones, even the occasional phaser and longbow scene, but I'm not happy about it. My kids were kept as far from it as I could manage. One day however you just realize it's a pervasive cultural experience. But this was on tonight and I was sitting watching Poitier and Belafonte kind of drawn into their relating on screen in a fairly traditional western as far as I can tell. I don't know what they did to Belafonte's teeth either, but yuck. Anyway it's pretty much like the movie I saw the other day just kind of changing the character's affiliations around, that one was called The Undefeated. Good reviews here. I've got a little stomach ache now and feel a bit shaky so I suppose that's what people are looking for...all the right reasons to shoot down 20 men cold are there.
It was interesting to watch two actors I generally admired.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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