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Original Gangstas

  • 19961996
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Pam Grier, Jim Brown, and Fred Williamson in Original Gangstas (1996)
Home Video Trailer from MGM
Play trailer0:27
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Drama

When a gang shoots his father, Bookman (Fred Williamson) returns to his hometown, rounds up some of his own people and begins an all-out war to restore the neighborhood to its rightful sense... Read allWhen a gang shoots his father, Bookman (Fred Williamson) returns to his hometown, rounds up some of his own people and begins an all-out war to restore the neighborhood to its rightful sense of justice.When a gang shoots his father, Bookman (Fred Williamson) returns to his hometown, rounds up some of his own people and begins an all-out war to restore the neighborhood to its rightful sense of justice.

IMDb RATING
5.6/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Larry Cohen
    • Fred Williamson(uncredited)
  • Writer
    • Aubrey K. Rattan
  • Stars
    • Fred Williamson
    • Jim Brown
    • Pam Grier
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Larry Cohen
    • Fred Williamson(uncredited)
  • Writer
    • Aubrey K. Rattan
  • Stars
    • Fred Williamson
    • Jim Brown
    • Pam Grier
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 27User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
    Trailer 0:16
    Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
    Original Gangstas
    Trailer 0:27
    Original Gangstas

    Photos173

    Original Gangstas (1996)
    Original Gangstas (1996)
    Original Gangstas (1996)
    Original Gangstas (1996)
    Original Gangstas (1996)
    David Hernandez in Original Gangstas (1996)
    Original Gangstas (1996)
    Original Gangstas (1996)
    Fred Williamson in Original Gangstas (1996)
    Original Gangstas (1996)
    Original Gangstas (1996)
    Original Gangstas (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Fred Williamson
    Fred Williamson
    • John Bookmanas John Bookman
    Jim Brown
    Jim Brown
    • Jake Trevoras Jake Trevor
    Pam Grier
    Pam Grier
    • Laurie Thompsonas Laurie Thompson
    Paul Winfield
    Paul Winfield
    • Reverend Dorseyas Reverend Dorsey
    Isabel Sanford
    Isabel Sanford
    • Gracie Bookmanas Gracie Bookman
    Oscar Brown Jr.
    Oscar Brown Jr.
    • Marvin Bookmanas Marvin Bookman
    Richard Roundtree
    Richard Roundtree
    • Slickas Slick
    Ron O'Neal
    Ron O'Neal
    • Bubbaas Bubba
    Christopher B. Duncan
    Christopher B. Duncan
    • Spyroas Spyro
    Eddie Bo Smith Jr.
    • Damienas Damien
    Dru Down
    • Kayoas Kayo
    Shyheim Franklin
    Shyheim Franklin
    • Dinkas Dink
    Robert Forster
    Robert Forster
    • Detective Slattenas Detective Slatten
    Charles Napier
    Charles Napier
    • Mayoras Mayor
    Wings Hauser
    Wings Hauser
    • Michael Caseyas Michael Casey
    Frank Pesce
    Frank Pesce
    • Detective Waitsas Detective Waits
    Godfrey
    Godfrey
    • Marcusas Marcus
    • (as Godfrey C. Danchimah)
    Tim Rhoze
    Tim Rhoze
    • Bloodas Blood
    • Directors
      • Larry Cohen
      • Fred Williamson(uncredited)
    • Writer
      • Aubrey K. Rattan
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Marvin Bookman is a small shop owner in Gary, Indiana, USA. After he sees a drive-by shooting of Laurie Thompson's son by a local gang, he gives up the license number of the car to the police. The gang doesn't like this so they go to the store and rough him up. Soon, John Bookman comes to town to set the wrong things right. With the help of Laurie and his old friend Jake, they attempt to take back the streets and show the new breed of gang members what the true originals can do. —Josh Pasnak <chainsaw@intouch.bc.ca>
    • two word title
    • 1990s
    • electronic music score
    • psychotronic film
    • social decay
    • 260 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The original bad boys are stepping up in '96!
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for non-stop violence and pervasive strong language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Larry Cohen stated how he enjoyed filming and how cooperative the real gang members in the film were "who came every day to work. They were always on time. They did everything they were asked to do. You know, if you wanted to shoot them and have them fall down, they did falls. They did anything you asked, and they were very friendly to me. They used to come to my trailer and bring me Famous Amos cookies, things like that. They did their best to ingratiate themselves. I was not concerned with the ones we hired, but with the ones that didn't get hired. I thought, "Well, now one of the ones that didn't get hired might just drive by one day with a machine gun or something, and polish us all off in one afternoon." But it never happened. Everything was fine there for the entire shoot of the picture, and they were all very cooperative and pleasant. And then it was all over, and we left. And it was kind of sad, because while we were there they all had jobs, and they had some place to go every day, and they had some focus and some reason for being. Then when we left, we kind of just abandoned everybody. And there's nothing we could do about it. We couldn't take them back to Hollywood. That's where they lived, so there's nothing we could do".
    • Goofs
      When John and Jake do a drive-by at the steel mill in an attempt to start the gang war, several fires in barrels are burning. When they make their second pass, the smoke and fire can be seen going backwards, back into the barrels.
    • Quotes

      John Bookman: Big talk coming from a faggot who don't even know what sex his mother is.

    • Connections
      Featured in Baadasssss Cinema (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Hit the Gas
      Performed by 3X Krazy

      Produced by Tone Capone for Dollars & Spenc Productions

      Co-Produced by One Drop Scott

      Written by Tone Capone (as Anthony Gilmour), Lamore Jacks, Charles Williams, Ramone Curtis, One Drop Scott (as Scott Roberts)

      Publishing: True Science Publishing (ASCAP)

      Courtesy of Str8 Game Records

    User reviews27

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Blaxploitation stars kick ass
    It's like old home wee when stars like Jim Brown (Slaughter, Black Gunn), Fred Williamson (Starsky & Hutch), Pam Grier, Ron O'Neal (Superfly), Richard Roundtree (Shaft), and Paul Winfield (Sounder) get together to teach some young punks a lesson. Heavys of the 70's blaxploitation genre are called home to get some revenge and clean up the town. Lots of talking and shooting and good old fashioned fisticuffs.

    Pam Grier (Coffy, Foxy Brown) is back in the form we like. She was one of the first female action stars in Hollywood. Looking forward to a retrospective this weekend when they replay two of her best.
    helpful•6
    0
    • lastliberal
    • Apr 10, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 10, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hot City
    • Filming locations
      • East Chicago, Indiana, USA
    • Production company
      • Po' Boy Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,800,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,718,087
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,157,721
      • May 12, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,718,087
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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