Rented this movie because of the three blaxploitation stars in one flick. As a fan of the genre, I can say this movie was one of the best low-ends of the genre...i.e. its no Superfly or Shaft, but it doesn't try to be....just pure, clean, racist-killing fun. We tried to keep track of how many people were killed in this movie...but at one point we just decided to count the neo-nazis that came on the screen, since we know they would get killed anyways. Our total...166 (this is a rough count). Love the Jim Kelly vs. the cops and Jim Brown's inexhaustible ammunition scenes...spoofed very well in "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka". Favorite scene hands down...color coded, motorcycle driving, multi-racial dominatrixes. Very fun flick.
39 Reviews
Missed opportunity
lotekguy-116 January 2022
Though only in the movie for one scene, three actresses established a set of exciting characters that deserved their own spinoff. The Countess, Princess and Empress (Pamela Serpe, Marie O'Henry, and Irene Tsu, respectively) light up the proceedings as a topless trio of sadists brought in to scare the crap out of a thug, softening him up for interrogation. We only hear whatever they do, and see the tattered remnants of his bravado after their ministrations. Hot and hard of body and nature they be. A lot of wasted potential with nobody ever knocking out a Blaxploitation flick for those three to headline. They couldda been more than a contedah, perhaps collectively billed as Charlie's Devils.
Who Is The Bad Ass
damianphelps1 May 2023
This is a seriously entertaining movie, mostly for the wrong reasons :)
The plot is ludicrous and somehow morphs into a James Bond style movie on a budget of 1 cent in the dollar.
Plenty of fun, its sexy and the stunts are actually pretty well done resulting in many of the best scenes in the film.
The acting is as bad as you could imagine and the clothing oozes 70's with the pimp look rocking more often than not.
Where the film wins is its determination to entertain the audience, come hell or high water. Thrills, spills and action galore.
One of the great films of the genre that fans will love :)
The plot is ludicrous and somehow morphs into a James Bond style movie on a budget of 1 cent in the dollar.
Plenty of fun, its sexy and the stunts are actually pretty well done resulting in many of the best scenes in the film.
The acting is as bad as you could imagine and the clothing oozes 70's with the pimp look rocking more often than not.
Where the film wins is its determination to entertain the audience, come hell or high water. Thrills, spills and action galore.
One of the great films of the genre that fans will love :)
Tighten Up the Edit or Fatten Up the Plot
asgbeat3 January 2009
"Three the Hard Way" earned its reputation on the presence of (and chemistry between) its three roundly diverse Black action stars - Fred Williamson, Jim Brown and Jim Kelly. They were perfectly cast for a film with an engaging premise about "The Man" poisoning the water supply in three major urban/inner cities. It featured some sweet eye-candy along the way (including the always divine Sheila Frazier as imperiled "Wendy" - fresh off of "Superfly" - a more devilish interracial trio of masochistic beauties, and Fred in the bed with yet another babe), an underrated soundtrack by a quartet edition of The Impressions (post-Curtis Mayfield but featured on-screen in a recording session as record producer Brown's rising stars) and all the tricked-out blaxploitation trimmings.
The problem is that because the script was anemic of healthy plot twists, padding is embarrassingly in full effect...including an overly long speedboat sequence that plays like a vanity piece for Williamson to pose and look pretty (with a second classy lady by his side less than 5 minutes after leaving the first one - "playa-playa," we get the point), and an equally long stretch of the aforementioned leather-clad "hench-bitches" rumbling into town on their choppers. That's too much celluloid cellulite wasted on characters styling and profiling, and not enough story intricacies to keep the tension tightly mounted.
When things do heat up, it's great to see the three stars interact. Ironically, MVP honors go not to former football giants Brown or Williamson but to Jim Kelly, whoopin' on a crooked cracker cop that makes the mistake of planting some illicit substances in his gold-plated ride. "Wanna set me up," Kelly asks with most righteous indignation, then proceeds to kick the pig's ass all over both sides of a Windy City side street! Director Gordon Parks, Jr. should have also let the soul brothers have more hang time without making them jump straight into their mission to save all brotherhood - maybe even a flashback to when they were youngbloods, foreshadowing their personalities as grown men. While the stars' talents weren't totally wasted, "Three the Hard Way" should have been much more epic.
Someday an ambitious director and a cast of wanna-be's (likely a rapper or two) will try to remake this flick. Their biggest challenge - beyond fleshing out the story - will be finding three stars as compelling as Brown, Williamson and Kelly. Let's raise a snifter of Harvey's Bristol Creme that somebody at least has the fortitude to release the original on DVD, unedited, with commentary and maybe a featurette including the participation of all three baad-asss action heroes.
The problem is that because the script was anemic of healthy plot twists, padding is embarrassingly in full effect...including an overly long speedboat sequence that plays like a vanity piece for Williamson to pose and look pretty (with a second classy lady by his side less than 5 minutes after leaving the first one - "playa-playa," we get the point), and an equally long stretch of the aforementioned leather-clad "hench-bitches" rumbling into town on their choppers. That's too much celluloid cellulite wasted on characters styling and profiling, and not enough story intricacies to keep the tension tightly mounted.
When things do heat up, it's great to see the three stars interact. Ironically, MVP honors go not to former football giants Brown or Williamson but to Jim Kelly, whoopin' on a crooked cracker cop that makes the mistake of planting some illicit substances in his gold-plated ride. "Wanna set me up," Kelly asks with most righteous indignation, then proceeds to kick the pig's ass all over both sides of a Windy City side street! Director Gordon Parks, Jr. should have also let the soul brothers have more hang time without making them jump straight into their mission to save all brotherhood - maybe even a flashback to when they were youngbloods, foreshadowing their personalities as grown men. While the stars' talents weren't totally wasted, "Three the Hard Way" should have been much more epic.
Someday an ambitious director and a cast of wanna-be's (likely a rapper or two) will try to remake this flick. Their biggest challenge - beyond fleshing out the story - will be finding three stars as compelling as Brown, Williamson and Kelly. Let's raise a snifter of Harvey's Bristol Creme that somebody at least has the fortitude to release the original on DVD, unedited, with commentary and maybe a featurette including the participation of all three baad-asss action heroes.
Quite enjoyable actually...
paul_haakonsen15 April 2021
Well, I have to admit that I haven't really watched much of the 'blaxploitation' movies. But I had the opportunity to sit down in 2021 to watch the 1974 "Three the Hard Way" movie. So of course I did that, as I wanted to see what it was.
And as it turned out, then "Three the Hard Way" was actually an entertaining movie. I certainly hadn't expected it to be something as enjoyable as it turned out to be. And I must say that despite being made in 1974, then "Three the Hard Way" is really a movie that has withstood the test of time, because it is still a very watchable movie now 47 years later.
The storyline in "Three the Hard Way", as written by writers Eric Bercovici and Jerrold L. Ludwig is a pretty straight forward storyline, sort of bordering on the simplistic actually. So this movie is one where you just grab the popcorn and lean back to enjoy the action.
"Three the Hard Way" is a movie complete with a funky soundtrack, dubious fight scenes, over-the-top gunfight scenes and generally just a very enjoyable atmosphere. And director Gordon Parks Jr. Definitely made the movie very watchable.
The acting in "Three the Hard Way" was good enough, taking into consideration that this was hardly a thespian drama at high levels. It is what it is, and with that in mind, the performances in the movie were adequate.
If you haven't already watched Gordon Parks Jr.'s 1974 movie "Three the Hard Way", then you certainly should do so, if you get the opportunity. Don't be discouraged by the age of the movie, because it is still a very enjoyable movie today.
My rating of "Three the Hard Way" lands on a six out of ten stars.
And as it turned out, then "Three the Hard Way" was actually an entertaining movie. I certainly hadn't expected it to be something as enjoyable as it turned out to be. And I must say that despite being made in 1974, then "Three the Hard Way" is really a movie that has withstood the test of time, because it is still a very watchable movie now 47 years later.
The storyline in "Three the Hard Way", as written by writers Eric Bercovici and Jerrold L. Ludwig is a pretty straight forward storyline, sort of bordering on the simplistic actually. So this movie is one where you just grab the popcorn and lean back to enjoy the action.
"Three the Hard Way" is a movie complete with a funky soundtrack, dubious fight scenes, over-the-top gunfight scenes and generally just a very enjoyable atmosphere. And director Gordon Parks Jr. Definitely made the movie very watchable.
The acting in "Three the Hard Way" was good enough, taking into consideration that this was hardly a thespian drama at high levels. It is what it is, and with that in mind, the performances in the movie were adequate.
If you haven't already watched Gordon Parks Jr.'s 1974 movie "Three the Hard Way", then you certainly should do so, if you get the opportunity. Don't be discouraged by the age of the movie, because it is still a very enjoyable movie today.
My rating of "Three the Hard Way" lands on a six out of ten stars.
Too much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ColemanDerrick16 June 2001
I really appreciate the blaxploitation flix for all their fabs and flaws. This one in particular is an inspiring but flawed film. Not so much as the story, but in the stunts. When Jim Kelly is fighting the crooked cops in the streets, he switches from boots to sneeks!!!! The three female friends look awfully macho while riding through the city. Overall, the story is scary, in the notion that some wealthy racists would ever try to do something so sinister. A fun film, with true heroes and vile villains.
Three for the price of one
Red-Barracuda3 March 2012
A group of neo-Nazis plot to poison the water supply of three major American cities with a chemical that will wipe out the black population. Enter Fred Williamson, Jim Brown and Jim Kelly. This trio of badasses get on the case and immediately start kicking Nazi butt.
Three the Hard Way is an action-packed blaxploitation flick that's main selling point seems to be the inclusion of three big stars of the genre in one movie. The trio of leads are all good value too, especially Jim Kelly and his kung fu fighting. The plot-line itself is fairly basic but it does allow for a set-up where the three inner-city black heroes can take on The Man and outwit him at every stage. There is a huge body-count as Nazi after Nazi is gunned down, blown up or kicked into oblivion. Once the three friends hook up it's basically a non-stop barrage of action. We also have a trio of inter-racial colour co-ordinated topless motorcycle dominatrixes who interrogate one Nazi with methods we can only imagine.
This is a fun film full of action and three charismatic leads. For blaxploitation fans I would think this is a must.
Three the Hard Way is an action-packed blaxploitation flick that's main selling point seems to be the inclusion of three big stars of the genre in one movie. The trio of leads are all good value too, especially Jim Kelly and his kung fu fighting. The plot-line itself is fairly basic but it does allow for a set-up where the three inner-city black heroes can take on The Man and outwit him at every stage. There is a huge body-count as Nazi after Nazi is gunned down, blown up or kicked into oblivion. Once the three friends hook up it's basically a non-stop barrage of action. We also have a trio of inter-racial colour co-ordinated topless motorcycle dominatrixes who interrogate one Nazi with methods we can only imagine.
This is a fun film full of action and three charismatic leads. For blaxploitation fans I would think this is a must.
Extremely lame black exploitation flick.
qormi19 June 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The entire film was a plot hole. No explanation was given from one scene to the next. How did they manage to intercept the poison capsules? How did they locate them? Why did Jim Brown end up hanging on to the back of a huge truck after it ran down the phone booth he was in? Why did the truck explode after he jumped off? Why did ten armed men run away from Jim Brown instead of just shooting him? Why was the shootout at the end filmed in both day and night? What happened to all the snow that covered the ground near the evil doctor's headquarters? One minute it was there, then it was gone. Why was James Brown's girlfriend so plain-looking? She looked like she could be his mother. Don't get me started on the three female red, white,and blue; black, Asian,and white; color-coordinated topless torture/interrogation crew. And the soundtrack songs featured some lame singers who were completely inappropriate for an action movie. Total garbage.
One of the best 'blaxplotation' movies of the'70s
wbhickok6 March 2001
Three the hard way is one of, if not the best blaxplotation movies to come out of the '70s. Directed by Gordon Parks Jr. (Superfly), it is about three black friends aimed at stopping a white supremisist plot of commiting genocide on the black race by poisoning the water supply. The trio consists of Fred Williamson, Jim 'The Dragon' Kelly and Jim Brown on a non-stop thrill ride, a truly fun movie.
With a crazy plot you'd only find in a Blacksploitation film...or "Black Dynamite"!
planktonrules21 November 2015
"Three the Hard Way" is one of the best Blacksploitation films of the 1970s. Interestingly, it was also clearly the inspiration for the 2009 comedy "Black Dynamite" (though there is no Fiendish Dr Wu or Tricky Dick in "Three")! Both are well worth your time and are a lot of fun.
When the film begins, an injured black man makes his way to his old friend, Jimmy (Jim Brown). He's hurt badly and is taken to the hospital. However, some guys sneak into the injured guy's room later and kill him...right there in the hospital. What is so important a secret that you'd do this? Well, to help figure all this out, Jim calls in his friends Jagger (Fred Williamson) and Mister Keyes (Jim Kelly). But when things heat up and a group of assassins tries to take all three of them out, Jagger calls in for reinforcements to fight the evil Mr. Feather (Jay Robinson) and his henchmen.
The film has one of the most insane plots I've ever seen in a Blacksploitation movie--so using it as the inspiration for the mega- goofy "Black Dynamite" wasn't a bad idea. It's paranoid and a bit weird but it's also extremely well made, exciting and stars three of the very best black action stars of the era. How could you go wrong with Jim Brown, Jim Kelly and Fred Williamson?! Despite trucks blowing up for almost no reason and the loudest .45 in film history, this picture has it all!
When the film begins, an injured black man makes his way to his old friend, Jimmy (Jim Brown). He's hurt badly and is taken to the hospital. However, some guys sneak into the injured guy's room later and kill him...right there in the hospital. What is so important a secret that you'd do this? Well, to help figure all this out, Jim calls in his friends Jagger (Fred Williamson) and Mister Keyes (Jim Kelly). But when things heat up and a group of assassins tries to take all three of them out, Jagger calls in for reinforcements to fight the evil Mr. Feather (Jay Robinson) and his henchmen.
The film has one of the most insane plots I've ever seen in a Blacksploitation movie--so using it as the inspiration for the mega- goofy "Black Dynamite" wasn't a bad idea. It's paranoid and a bit weird but it's also extremely well made, exciting and stars three of the very best black action stars of the era. How could you go wrong with Jim Brown, Jim Kelly and Fred Williamson?! Despite trucks blowing up for almost no reason and the loudest .45 in film history, this picture has it all!
Good Cast Hampered by Far-Fetched Plot
Uriah4314 March 2016
"Jimmy Lait" (Jim Brown) is a record producer in Los Angeles who finds out a good friend of his has been shot. So he takes his friend to a hospital and leaves his girlfriend, "Wendy Kane" (Sheila Frazier) there while he goes back to work. However, while he's working the people who shot his friend arrive at the hospital, kill his friend and then kidnap his girlfriend. Not only that but these same people also attempt to kill him a little later as well. Realizing he needs help he travels first to Chicago to enlist the assistance of a man named "Jagger Daniels" (Fred Williamson) and then to New York for a martial arts expert by the name of "Mister Keyes" (Jim Kelly). But what none of them realize at the time is that this is more than just a simple killing or kidnapping. Instead, the people they are now up against are white supremacists who have a plan to murder every black person in the entire world! Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that, considering the actors just mentioned, this particular film certainly had plenty of talent of draw on. Unfortunately, this movie was hampered by an incredibly far-fetched plot along with several action scenes which were equally unrealistic. Along with that, I was particularly disappointed with the fact that both Roberta Collins (as "Jimmy Lait's secretary") and Irene Tsu ("Empress") were so badly under-utilized as well. In any case, considering the the aforementioned cast, I have to say that I expected much better and for that reason I have to rate this film accordingly. Slightly below average.
The best action film I've seen.
tennischamp200120011 May 2001
When I was a kid I'd read Right On magazine, and when they said that they were going to make a picture with Jim Brown, Fred(The Hammer) Williamson, Jim(Enter the Dragon)Kelly I couldn't belive it, and then when I went to see another movie at the theater, and seen the previews of "Three the Hard Way" I knew this was a winner, and I was right; this is the best action movie of all time. The action scenes was non-stop, and the plot was not all that, but the way the big three got together was good, and Sheila Frazier is still beautiful as ever. The best part of the movie was the climaxing scenes when they finally take down the bad guys. If you get a chance to rent "Three the Hard Way" go to Blockbuster video store. I think they're the only ones that rents the movie. You wont be sorry!
Another Jim Kelly Classic
caspian19781 January 2001
Whitey has been up to no good as Jim Kelly kicks into action to stop the doomsday for his black people. This movie has got it all. From a bad 70's score, to not enough light in many of its scenes, 3 The Hard Way ends with "the 3" blowing up Whiteys car.
A cool story to say the very least, I give it an overall score of 3 out of 10 since its fits the category of being a true "black action" film.
A cool story to say the very least, I give it an overall score of 3 out of 10 since its fits the category of being a true "black action" film.
A colorful blaxploitation movie, albeit not as much fun as it could have been
Henry-1724 April 2013
Warning: Spoilers
THREE THE HARD WAY is a colorful blaxploitation movie, albeit not as much fun as it could have been. The story tells about a paramilitary organization of neo-fascists, who have developed an insidious, toxic drug that proves lethal only to Afro-Americans (!). The racial fanatics threaten to pollute the drinking water of all major American cities with this drug, thus bringing a biological victory of the superior white race over the Negros once and for all. The intellectual instigator of this plan explains the "noble goal" of his organization at one point in the film as follows: "You are here in a scientific institution. We are looking for human solutions to social chaos. A cleansing process is our only concern. The cleansing of the races on this continent is our goal, especially within our great nation, you see?" But the self-proclaimed white supremacists have not reckon with the resistance of the "three icy professionals (German title), Jim Brown and Fred Williamson, two superstars of American Football and Karate Champ Jim Kelly"(German VHS). They shoot and fight tirelessly through the "brown swamp" and are the happy winners at the end; balm for the collective ego of the black community. THREE THE HARD WAY was staged by Gordon Parks Jr. after the pattern of action films, tailored especially for a black audience, which his father Gordon Parks has successfully established in the early '70s with SHAFT. The opening of the movie shows Jim Brown driving through L.A. with a white Rolls Royce, accompanied by an extremely cheesy theme song, intoned by the "Impressions", who get the opportunity to present more second-class soul and funk music in the course of the film, sometimes lasting for seemingly endless minutes. Unfortunately, the film is a bit to epic in scale with it's 93 minutes running time, so the occasionally quite good action and martial arts sequences are not that effective, because too much space has been granted for the dialogs and romantic scenes. Thus, even the numerous pyrotechnical effects and shootings (including the three leading actors eliminating almost single-handedly an entire hundred of heavily armed paramilitaries) can not prevent the emergence of slight boredom. At least, the film is a bit more fun than the majority of the genre, especially because of some pretty slanted ingredients like the neo-fascists who are dressed up with red uniform caps and brown shirts, and the symbol of their organization is clearly reminiscent of the Nazi-SS runes. Highlight of the film, however, is the appearance of the three "lady torturers" by the name of Comtess, Princess and Empress. All clad in leather and each wrapped in a red, white and blue jacket respectively, they drive by on motorcycles, which are painted in the same color as their outfit! And this look is also taken up by the color of their bras! They seem to come from the visions of a drug-damaged masochist. What kind of torture the three girls are using remains, however, to the imagination of the viewer. Anyhow, the condition of those who have been tortured gives way to the most adventurous perspectives. All in all, the film can not hide the fact that it is a veritable B-picture, but due to the aforementioned unusual elements it offers at least a minimum of entertainment. Condensed to 80 minutes, the film could have been really good. The producer of the film, Harry Bernsen, is the father of actor Corbin Bernsen, who gives his debut here.
One of the best action-packed blaxploitation flicks of the 1970's
vaughn_cornell-125 October 2004
"Three The Hard Way" starring Jim Brown, Jim Kelly from "Enter The Dragon", and Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, is an excellent action flick about three black action heroes who go up against a racist (fascist)organization, who are out to kill the black population. Gordon Parks Jr., who is the son of "Shaft" director Gordon Parks Sr., does an excellent job in directing the memorable action sequences throughout the film, and should be remembered as one of the few African-American directors who has made history in directing action films. In addition, Jim Kelly, Jim "Slaughter" Brown, and Fred Williamson do an extraordinary job displaying their action hero skills, and should always be remembered as the action heroes who came before Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, when I had seen this movie on video, the lighting in some of the action scenes were very hard to see making it very difficult to enjoy throughout the film. Nevertheless, this movie will always be, in my opinion, one of the best blaxploitation films alongside "Shaft", "Superfly", and "Cleopatra Jones".
Good fun for fans of the genre.
Hey_Sweden1 August 2016
Blaxploitation icons Jim Brown, Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, and Jim Kelly team up for this ass kicking feature. They play old buds who discover an insidious plot being bankrolled by white supremacist Monroe Feather (Jay Robinson). The scientist (Richard Angarola) being employed by Feather has devised a chemical that will infiltrate the water supply of three major cities and affect only blacks. Fortunately, The Hammer and the two Jims are formidable opponents and take the fight to any and all henchmen standing in their way.
As directed by Gordon Parks, Jr., "Three the Hard Way" isn't perfect. Admittedly, there's some obvious padding on this thing, and the story might not be meaty enough or altogether satisfying for some viewers. But there are still undeniable pleasures to be had. The action scenes are first rate and sometimes are seen from both great height and distance; the photography is aces as well. The movie does earn its R rating, but at the same time isn't THAT graphic with its violence, so more squeamish viewers may find it agreeable. The eye candy is delectable, with three "specialist" type female characters brought in to interrogate one of many bad guys. As followers of this genre come to expect, the music is most groovy. The pace may not always be consistent, but things do eventually build to a smashing finale where our heroic trio of bad asses stage grand scale destruction. There's a whole lot of shooting and explosions going on.
Obviously, the main reason to watch is to see three charismatic men bring their style to the proceedings. They're well supported by an effectively odious Robinson, a feisty Sheila Frazier as Browns' love interest, and the ever likable Charles McGregor. Alex Rocco is utterly wasted in a non crucial role as complaining detective Lieutenant Di Nisco. Corbin Bernsen (whose father Harry produced the movie) makes his first credited appearance in a motion picture, as the young man helping "House" (Junero Jennings) make an escape. Pamela Serpe, Marie O'Henry, and Irene Tsu are amusing as the sexy torturers. Jeannie Bell of "T.N.T. Jackson" has a small role.
Definitely a must if you're a blaxploitation completist.
Seven out of 10.
As directed by Gordon Parks, Jr., "Three the Hard Way" isn't perfect. Admittedly, there's some obvious padding on this thing, and the story might not be meaty enough or altogether satisfying for some viewers. But there are still undeniable pleasures to be had. The action scenes are first rate and sometimes are seen from both great height and distance; the photography is aces as well. The movie does earn its R rating, but at the same time isn't THAT graphic with its violence, so more squeamish viewers may find it agreeable. The eye candy is delectable, with three "specialist" type female characters brought in to interrogate one of many bad guys. As followers of this genre come to expect, the music is most groovy. The pace may not always be consistent, but things do eventually build to a smashing finale where our heroic trio of bad asses stage grand scale destruction. There's a whole lot of shooting and explosions going on.
Obviously, the main reason to watch is to see three charismatic men bring their style to the proceedings. They're well supported by an effectively odious Robinson, a feisty Sheila Frazier as Browns' love interest, and the ever likable Charles McGregor. Alex Rocco is utterly wasted in a non crucial role as complaining detective Lieutenant Di Nisco. Corbin Bernsen (whose father Harry produced the movie) makes his first credited appearance in a motion picture, as the young man helping "House" (Junero Jennings) make an escape. Pamela Serpe, Marie O'Henry, and Irene Tsu are amusing as the sexy torturers. Jeannie Bell of "T.N.T. Jackson" has a small role.
Definitely a must if you're a blaxploitation completist.
Seven out of 10.
Stop the pandemic before the pandemic starts.
mark.waltz2 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
When your typical James Bond bad man (Jay Robinson) comes up with the idea of contaminating the water so it only kills black people, three of the greatest blaxploitation heroes (Jim Brown, Jim Kelly and Fred Williamson) join forces to stop him. Robinson, who gained fame for playing Caligula in the 1950's, reminds me of John Colicos who played the evil Mikkos Cassadine just a few years later on "General Hospital", is brilliantly maniacal, spouting nonsense of his desire to cleanse the world, even creating uniforms with Nazi like markings.
This is nicely plotted out and is actually quite mainstream in its themes of good vs. evil, showing a few white people involved in the fight as well or not with the extreme racism of Robinson and his ilk which includes the scientist who comes up with the method of poisoning the waters in a way that only affects the black population.
There's crooked law enforcement as well, and an evil Eva Braun like Marion Collier who is assigned to guard Sheila Frazier, girlfriend of one of the heroes. Then there's the three colorfully dressed black women assigned to rough up and get information from one of the White supremicists they capture. The action filled film is a definite crowd pleaser that I'm sure had white audiences as well as the black audiences cheering as each of the bad guys (and gal) get their comeuppance.
This is nicely plotted out and is actually quite mainstream in its themes of good vs. evil, showing a few white people involved in the fight as well or not with the extreme racism of Robinson and his ilk which includes the scientist who comes up with the method of poisoning the waters in a way that only affects the black population.
There's crooked law enforcement as well, and an evil Eva Braun like Marion Collier who is assigned to guard Sheila Frazier, girlfriend of one of the heroes. Then there's the three colorfully dressed black women assigned to rough up and get information from one of the White supremicists they capture. The action filled film is a definite crowd pleaser that I'm sure had white audiences as well as the black audiences cheering as each of the bad guys (and gal) get their comeuppance.
Six the Hard Way
SnoopyStyle27 November 2021
Jimmy Lait (Jim Brown) and Wendy find their distraught friend House. He had escaped from an unknown prison camp. He claims that he was picked up off the streets along with other black men. While in the hospital, he is killed by a hit squad and Wendy is kidnapped. A white conspiracy is trying to kill all the minorities. Jimmy is joined by Jagger Daniels (Fred Williamson) and Mister Keyes (Jim Kelly).
This is a fun blaxploitation film. It has all the elements. It has ridiculous action, ridiculous villains, and black power. Now it does give an explanation of the title but I choose a different threesome. Those who has seen the movie would know exactly what I mean. In reality, they have six the hard way. The girls are really the element which puts this over the top. It's completely ridiculous and it knows it.
This is a fun blaxploitation film. It has all the elements. It has ridiculous action, ridiculous villains, and black power. Now it does give an explanation of the title but I choose a different threesome. Those who has seen the movie would know exactly what I mean. In reality, they have six the hard way. The girls are really the element which puts this over the top. It's completely ridiculous and it knows it.
anti White Hatred and racism are the main plot
outpostflags13 April 2012
Warning: Spoilers
this is a movie with an insanely stupid plot. to suggest that by poisoning the water in Detroit, los Angeles, and New York you will kill all the black people on earth,is not only stupidity but in the day and age of terrorism a poorly thought out thing to focus a movie on, apparently no White people or anyone else for that matter would be affected by something in the water that harmed neg roes. who ever lays around dreaming up this stuff belong in a rubber room. no wonder johnny cannot intensify all 50 states in a geography class. The plot suggest White females have a low moral attitude and that all Whites are out to get Black people, its an idiotic film that portrays all police as out to get black people, That the police have nothing better to do than set up innocent black community leaders, if that was the case Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton would have been rotting in jail for years now. it shows self aggrandized dandies instead hard working people and enforces stereotypes. It encourages violence against White s and Asians
Lait, Jagger & Mister!
Mark-12920 July 2003
A very good blaxpoitation flick from the mid 70s. Much more ambitious than the usual genre fare, the movie is slickly made, starring three of the most famous stars of the time, Jim Brown, Jim Kelly and Fred Williamson. As I recall, the casting caused quite a stir at the time of release. My only complaint is the unsatisfying, rushed final act. Gordon Parks, the director failed in giving the villains a memorable send off. Well worth seeing. The soundtrack by the Impressions is great as well.
By the way, having seen the movie in a theater, the lighting problems noted in other reviews is due to the poor print used, a second generation, edited TV version. The original version included a nude scene by the three motorcycle riding women "interogators" and more closeup kung fu violence, by Jim Kelly. Hopefully, a DVD release someday will restore the original R rated cut.
By the way, having seen the movie in a theater, the lighting problems noted in other reviews is due to the poor print used, a second generation, edited TV version. The original version included a nude scene by the three motorcycle riding women "interogators" and more closeup kung fu violence, by Jim Kelly. Hopefully, a DVD release someday will restore the original R rated cut.
Blaction classic...
poe4267 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
In the documentary SHADOWS OF LIBERTY, we are reminded of the investigative journalism of the late Gary Webb (DARK ALLIANCE), who found and made known the link between the Reagan administration's drug war designed to topple another democratically-elected government and the crack epidemic that has ravaged the U.$. ever since. (For his part in telling it like it was, Webb was ostracized by the corporate media and eventually committed suicide.) In THREE THE HARD WAY, we have a Right Wing racist army preparing to dump a sickle-cell type of virus into the water supply. Gordon Parks directs some of the action with a sure eye (although there are the usual gaffes one finds in low budget action films, like Jim Kelly's boots changing to tennis shoes during one fight scene), but it's his stars who make this one worth seeing. While both Jim Brown (a much better actor than one might imagine) and Fred Williamson do their thing, it's the charismatic Jim Kelly who steals the show: he plays Mister Keyes (long before Mister T), a karateka who enlists the aid of one of his students (David Chow, who was the technical adviser on the KUNG FU teleseries) to help him infiltrate a water treatment plant and stop the bad guys. Jim Kelly was always worth seeing, even in the worst of films (movies like HOT POTATO and THE TATTOO CONNECTION come to mind, though TAKE A HARD RIDE- in which he played a "half-breed" who karate-chops the legs from under a charging horse- come to mind). NOW I remember why, as a kid, always went to see the latest Jim Kelly movie: it had little to do with subject matter- it was all about the guy with the afro. (And, yet again, another obituary: Jim Kelly has moved on. Damn it.)
Nothing can stop us now! - OOPS!
lastliberal4 August 2007
If you are going to send a bunch of rednecks after Jim Brown (Slaughter, The Dirty Dozen), Fred Williamson (Mr. mean, Black Ceasar), and Jim Kelly (Black Belt Jones, Black Samauri), you better bring one thing - a whole bunch of body bags.
The ignorant rednecks that planned to kill millions of Afroican-Americans by poisoning the water supply forgot that and suffered for their mistake.
Sure, this is another 70's Blaxploitation flick, but it was fun to watch these three in action against dozens of red beret-ed American Nazis who got their ass kicked but good.
Also features 70s beauty Jeannie Bell (T.N.T. Jackson, Sex on the Run).
The ignorant rednecks that planned to kill millions of Afroican-Americans by poisoning the water supply forgot that and suffered for their mistake.
Sure, this is another 70's Blaxploitation flick, but it was fun to watch these three in action against dozens of red beret-ed American Nazis who got their ass kicked but good.
Also features 70s beauty Jeannie Bell (T.N.T. Jackson, Sex on the Run).
Three the hard way stands the test of time
sdixon31711 February 2022
Only a millennial would rateThree the hard way lower than a seven. It probably is the best blaxploitation movie of 70's next to Shaft. I can watch this movie over and over again and get the same enjoyment from it. Jim Kelly Fred Williamson and Jim Brown made two other movies together but were never able to capture the magic of Three the Hard way a true classic!
Black Heroes
liodavix17 February 2019
Entertaining though somewhat lame action film Blaxplotation.
Starring Jim Brown, Fred Williamson and the charismatic martial artist Jim Kelly, eternally remembered for his participation in the great martial arts film, Operation Dragon, along with the legendary and ill-fated Bruce Lee, the demolition is a film of pure and simple action.
It does not live in marginal places or deal with obscure characters like many other films of its genre but it has a strong pop air, with a very good and colorful photograph.
Here is a film of shootings, persecutions and explosions, where the goal is to rescue the damsel in distress, kidnapped by evil whites, as is usual in the genre, whose goal is nothing less than eradicating the black race.
Of course, the three black heroes will try to prevent it.
There is practically no script or a deep story or anything like it, this is pure cinema of evasion, pure fun, with anthological moments and without much sense, like the three punishing girls, which are the best, the funniest and most interesting of the film by far .
The film however stands out for introducing elements of martial arts within the genre in an attempt to bring something new and novel when Blaxplotation and the martial arts genre were at the peak of their popularity.
The film then, it is entertaining and curious but not for that reason it is quite simple and without much substance.
With everything it is seen quite well.
Starring Jim Brown, Fred Williamson and the charismatic martial artist Jim Kelly, eternally remembered for his participation in the great martial arts film, Operation Dragon, along with the legendary and ill-fated Bruce Lee, the demolition is a film of pure and simple action.
It does not live in marginal places or deal with obscure characters like many other films of its genre but it has a strong pop air, with a very good and colorful photograph.
Here is a film of shootings, persecutions and explosions, where the goal is to rescue the damsel in distress, kidnapped by evil whites, as is usual in the genre, whose goal is nothing less than eradicating the black race.
Of course, the three black heroes will try to prevent it.
There is practically no script or a deep story or anything like it, this is pure cinema of evasion, pure fun, with anthological moments and without much sense, like the three punishing girls, which are the best, the funniest and most interesting of the film by far .
The film however stands out for introducing elements of martial arts within the genre in an attempt to bring something new and novel when Blaxplotation and the martial arts genre were at the peak of their popularity.
The film then, it is entertaining and curious but not for that reason it is quite simple and without much substance.
With everything it is seen quite well.
Well, at least it's (slightly) better than "One Down, Two To Go".
gridoon23 November 2002
Three of the greatest blaxploitation stars get stuck in a rather impoverished production that obviously counts on their charisma to carry it along, and it does...up to a point. The film has a lot of action (mostly cars getting blown up), but many of its action scenes are filmed in darkness and you can't see what's happening clearly, and many of its filler scenes (you know, the leads just driving around to establish "coolness") run too long. Because this film is so rare, if you manage to find it it's probably worth a look, but don't expect too much. (**)
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