Slaughter's Big Rip-Off
{{Short description|1973 film by Gordon Douglas}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Slaughter's Big Rip-Off
| image = Slaughter's Big Rip-Off.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Gordon Douglas
| producer = Monroe Sachson
| writer = Charles Eric Johnson
| starring = Jim Brown
Ed McMahon
Don Stroud
Gloria Hendry
Dick Anthony Williams
Brock Peters
| music = James Brown
Fred Wesley
| cinematography = Charles F. Wheeler
| editing = Kenneth G. Crane
Christopher Holmes
| studio = American International Pictures
| distributor = American International Pictures
| released = {{Film date|1973|8|31}}
| runtime = 94 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
| gross = $1 million (US/ Canada rentals)"Big Rental Films of 1973", Variety, 9 January 1974 p 60{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/americanfilmdist0000dona/page/301/mode/1up|title= American film distribution : the changing marketplace|last=Donahue|first= Suzanne Mary|year=1987 |publisher=UMI Research Press |page=301|isbn= 978-0-8357-1776-2}} Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
}}
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off is a 1973 blaxploitation film directed by Gordon Douglas and written by Charles Eric Johnson. The film stars Jim Brown, Ed McMahon, Don Stroud, Brock Peters, Gloria Hendry and Dick Anthony Williams. The film was released on August 31, 1973, by American International Pictures.{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/90454/slaughters-big-rip-off |title=Slaughter's Big Rip-Off (1973) - Overview |publisher=Turner Classic Movies |access-date=2015-05-31}}{{cite web|last=Van |first=Lawrence |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9804EFDC113DE63ABC4953DFBF668388669EDE |title=Movie Review - Slaughter s Big Rip Off - Another in the 'Slaughter' Series:The Cast |work=The New York Times |date=1973-09-01 |access-date=2015-05-31}} It is the sequel to the 1972 film Slaughter.
Plot
Slaughter (Jim Brown), a fierce Vietnam veteran and ex-Green Beret, had avenged the death of his parents by killing in Mexico the gangster responsible. He is now relocated in Los Angeles, California, where Slaughter sought to escape the past and try to have a tranquil life.
Slaughter goes to a friend's house for a lavish outdoor picnic and celebration. Meanwhile, a new crime boss, Duncan (Ed McMahon), is now after Slaughter, for having killed ex-Mafia boss Dominic Hoffo earlier. An old World War I biplane is seen flying by the outdoor celebration and then opening fire on the guests at the picnic. It results in the graphic death by headshot of Slaughter's friend, which reignites the old spark of fury and rage that Slaughter had when told of the death of his parents.
Duncan's first assassination attempt in essence is a failure and only succeeds in waking a sleeping beast. Duncan hires a new hit-man named Kirk (Don Stroud) to bring Slaughter to his demise. Rather than being in protective custody under the supervision of Duncan's crooked cops, Slaughter remains on the streets.
Slaughter's new friend is a police official, Det. Reynolds, who warns that his life is in peril. Slaughter also has a girlfriend, Marcia (Gloria Hendry), who is also being targeted by the mob, under Duncan's orders, to further provoke Slaughter.
Slaughter makes an agreement with Reynolds to obtain confidential documents of the Mafia's operations. He coaxes a drug-addicted pimp to assist him in breaking into Duncan's safe house and successfully escape with the documents. After gun fights, Slaughter and his pimp sidekick kill several of Duncan's guards and associates. In response, Duncan sends Kirk to kidnap Slaughter's girlfriend, a fatal mistake on Duncan's part.
Cast
{{castlist|
- Jim Brown as Slaughter
- Ed McMahon as Duncan
- Don Stroud as Kirk
- Brock Peters as Reynolds
- Gloria Hendry as Marcia
- Dick Anthony Williams as Joe Creole
- Art Metrano as Mario Burtoli
- Judith Brown as Norja
- Jacquliene Giroux as Mrs. Duncan
- Eddie Lo Russo as Arnie
- Russ McGinn as Harvey Parker
- Hoke Howell as Jimmy Parker
- Chuck Hicks as Lyle Parker
- Russ Marin as Crowder
- Nick Benedict as Gains
}}
Soundtrack
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Elias|first=Jason|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/slaughters-big-rip-off-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0000468784|title=Slaughter's Big Rip-Off [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]- James Brown|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=July 15, 2022}}
| rev2 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev2score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite book|last=Cross|first=Charles R.|author-link=Charles R. Cross|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=Simon & Schuster|edition=4th|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|chapter=James Brown|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/109 109]}}
}}
The album for Slaughter's Big Rip-Off and the songs associated with it were composed by James Brown.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Slaughters-Big-Rip-Off-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B000001DZT |title=James Brown, James Brown, Fred Wesley: Slaughter's Big Rip-Off: Original Soundtrack: Music |website=Amazon |access-date=2015-05-31}} On all media versions of the film however, the James Brown score has been replaced by new, generic funk sounds and versions of songs from the Coffy soundtrack.
- "Slaughter's Theme Song" (4:01)
- "Tryin' to Get Over" (2:28)
- "Transmorgrapfication" (2:00)
- "Happy for the Poor" (2:45)
- "Brother Rapp" (3:04)
- "Big Strong" (3:19)
- "Really, Really, Really" (1:51)
- "Sexy, Sexy, Sexy" (3:11)
- "To My Brother" (2:12)
- "How Long Can I Keep Up" (5:31)
- "People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul" (3:43)
- "King Slaughter" (2:46)
- "Straight Ahead" (2:45)
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|70706|Slaughter's Big Rip-Off}}
{{Gordon Douglas}}
Category:American International Pictures films