Directed by Gilbert Moses
Willie Dynamite is a pimp who operates in New York City. Willie was a big success as a pimp, but now, just as fast as he rose to the top, he has hit bottom. A former prostitute who has become a social worker tries to get Willie to clean up his life while it is still possible.
Roscoe Orman Diana Sands Thalmus Rasulala Joyce Walker Roger Robinson George Murdock Albert Hall Norma Donaldson Juanita Brown Royce Wallace Judith Brown Marilyn Coleman Mary Charlotte Wilcox Marcia McBroom Jack Bernardi Al Bain Calvin Brown Leslie McRay Alan Weeks George Wyner Bob Templeton Clarice Taylor Norman Stevans Olan Soule Jeffrey Sayre Clark Ross Tony Regan Murray Pollack Kathryn Janssen Show All…
Вилли Динамит, Willie Dinamita, 威利·迪纳米特
USAR USA USA USA 
Once again, we stumbled upon with a blaxploitation film that wants to do more than just entertain; it also aims to educate. Similar to The Mack, our main character is essentially a villain for the most of the film, only hinting at his guilt in the final act. This makes the atonement he seeks in the end hard to believe, at least for me.
Overall, Oman does a fantastic job embodying our protagonist, nabbing key aspects of his swagger, mischief, and eventual remorse in the process. Although one could argue that he does the second to perfection, making him difficult to empathise with. Sands excels in her role as the sex worker-turned-social worker trying to steer our hero back on…
Policeman: "You fit the description."
Willie: "I fit the description?"
Policeman: "A man in a brown coat."
Willie: "A brown coat? This is lamb! I paid over a grand for it!"
Another of my favorite movies of all time. I've seen dozens of Blaxploitation movies over the years and thought I had seen it all but, fuck me, Willie Dynamite takes the cake.
Yes, that IS Gordon from Sesame Street (Roscoe Orman) so be prepared to have your childhood molested when you watch this.
Basically, Willie is #2 pimp and wants to be #1. He goes to hell and back trying to get there. It has all the stereotypical Blaxploitation 'pimp, bitches, hoes' that other films do but taken up…
I have seen a lot of Blaxploitation films in my time and quite a few of those have involved pimps as characters, and none of those had as many amazing pimp wear as Willie Dynamite! That mink outfit with the ridiculous hat is a sight to behold. Then later on he turns up in a costume that wouldn’t look out of place on the damn pope! Willie has STYLE. None of the other pimps can compete with his bitches let alone his threads, and you better DIG that!
They try. There is a scene in the opening 30 minutes where all the pimps are hanging out bragging about their bitches, operation and quality of coke, which reminded me a bit…
'Member that hilarious pimp meeting scene in 'Black Dynamite'? It's kinda, like, a feature length version of that — but takes itself seriously, as the filmmakers here had "vision". Mostly, I need to get me a watch that doubles as a coke container.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'll never be able to walk down a flight of stairs the same way — after watching the way Willie does.
And so then he dropped his old alias of “Willie Dynamite” to resume life as Gordon Robinson, moved on down to Sesame Street and lived a long, happy life.
Brechtian
If you ever wanted to see Gordon from Sesame Street dressed in the wildest pimp outfits…
Yes, this legit stars Roscoe Orman, who played Gordon on Sesame Street for a few decades. The clothing he wore was outrageous even by blaxploitation standards. Despite that, this was more serious than a typical genre effort and actually was about the downfall of the title character as he had to deal with rivals in New York City (yes, the crappy NYC of old was shown), unjust police practices-insert your own comments if you wish-and a social worker who is trying to save all the women in his harem. Lest you think he’s portrayed in a sympathetic light, he lies and otherwise doesn’t treat…
my journey through black art/cinema
well this is my first entry for this adventure i’m taking through the history of black art on screen! it was initially going to be black orpheus (1959) until i heard some very disheartening things about it and the guidance of that picture. i said fuck that, and decided to catch a ride down to the plaza to see WILLIE DYNAMITE! shoutout to the plaza theatre btw. this was my first time going there (idk how), and it was very sick. i was trying so hard not to nerd out in front of those cashiers. anyway i will preface that this is probably one of the first blaxploitation joints ive seen besides examples in my…
Free Willie
Whoever curated the soundtrack cooked 🔥🔥
The fight between Willie and the other pimps was funny af, almost like theatre choreography with the way none of the strikes looked like they landed 😆
Willie Dynamite is a great film. A satire of the Blaxploitation genre, that is no laughing matter. It takes the slightly comic genre that we all love, twists it, till you end up with a Job-like morality tale.
Willie Dynamite is a serious satire, where the violence against women is taken seriously, where the clothes may be outrageous but the film is downbeat on Willie Dynamite and his actions. He isn't an anti-hero like Superfly, rather he is just a guy who loses constantly throughout the film. Every scene is another disaster for the man. His swagger cannot hide how badly it goes for him. Roscoe Orman gives one of the great Blaxploitation performances.
The film is brilliantly shot in-and-around…
The color palette alone in this makes it the blaxploitation equivalent of Dick Tracy. It's criminal that this isn't mentioned in the same breath as canon genre fare like Shaft or The Mack, but it's proof that a major studio (this is from Universal) was just as capable at making their mark alongside - and at times at the expense of - their scrappier contemporaries. Everyone discover this ASAP, so I'm not the only one trying to copy Willie's style in 2018.
