SOLOMON KING (1974) Review of blaxploitation movie

What do you think of this movie? Click on a star to rate it
  

Solomon-King-movie-film-blaxploitation-1974-Sal-Watts-poster

‘His friends call him ‘King- – His enemies call him tough!!!’
Solomon King is a 1974 American independent blaxploitation action crime film that has been remastered and is being re-released in 2022.

Directed by Jack Bomay and Sal Watts from a screenplay written by Jim Alston and Sal Watts. The latter stars alongside James Watts, Samaki Bennett, Claudia Russo, Felice Kinchelow, Louis Zito, Bernard B. Burton, Richard Scarso, Tito Fuentes and C.B. Lyars.

Blurb:
“The long-lost, independently financed Black urban crime/action film Solomon King from director/actor/producer/writer Sal Watts is set for restoration and re-release in 2022 from distributor Deaf Crocodile Films.

Solomon King was shot in Oakland, CA in 1973 with a cast of mostly non-professional actors, a stunning soul-funk soundtrack, and incredible clothes from Watts’s own Mr Sal’s Fashion stores.

Solomon-King-movie-film-blaxploitation-1974-Sal-Watts

Restored with the cooperation of the filmmaker’s widow, Belinda Burton-Watts (who appears in the film), and utilizing one of the only surviving complete prints of the film from the UCLA Film and TV Archive alongside the original soundtrack elements (which had been stored in Burton-Watts’s closet for several decades), Solomon King will be re-released theatrically and on Blu-ray and Digital following its festival run later in 2022.”

Plot synopsis:
CIA-trained detective Solomon King has to use all of his dirty tricks and experiences to get revenge on the person responsible for the murder of his girlfriend. A trail leads him to a desert in the Middle East…

Reviews:
“The film itself looks wonderful […] And music fans should take note of Solomon King’s soundtrack which, apart from a great funk score that’s as good as any studio film of the era, features a pair of performances at a club he owns […] Fans of 70s action films in general as well as the blaxploitation genre and vintage independent cinema should all enjoy Solomon King.” 4/5, Voices from the Balcony

There is a Kickstarter campaign for the Blu-ray release

Trailer:

MOVIES and MANIA provides previews, our own film reviews and ratings, plus links to other online reviews from a wide variety of trusted sources in one handy web location. This is a genuinely independent website and I rely solely on the minor income generated by internet ads to pay for web costs and cover yet more movies. Please support us by not blocking ads. Thank you. Oh and as an Amazon Associate, I earn a tiny amount from any qualifying purchases.