On A List of Movie Reviews
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Across 110th Street (1972)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
6/25
6/25:
Across 110th Street is one of the most violent movies I've seen from the early 70's.
It being placed in the Blaxploitation genre is curious but doesn't belong there for the most part. Yes, it has
a strong black cast. However, Anthony Quinn in the leading role negates the label. Had a black actor replaced him
to partner up with Yaphet Yotto, then yes...I would agree.
No matter what, Across 110th Street is a neo-noir all the way through that was mostly shot on
location in Harlem. I love the gritty realism. This is how New York City used to be back then with such
violence. Barry Shear has done an excellent job of handling two threads at the same time: the cops and the
bad guys hunting down those who ambushed seven men to steal over $300,000 from the Italian mob. There's also
some social commentary about black people not having a real opportunity to make out of the ghetto.
While the performances are strong across the board, Anthony Quinn steals the show as the ball-busting cop
whose ways are so antiquated that they have no place in today's society. Anthony Franciosa shows what kind
of animal a person can be, and others follow him without questioning his methods. His temper was like that for
real as well. Antonio Fargas shows why he was destined to play Flyguy in
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka.
All in all, it's best to think of Across 110th Street as a brutal combination of
Shaft and
The French Connection.