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how she is being treated, he decides to confront the two for their ungentlemanly behavior. The confrontation does not bode well for
Gordone, for after a little tussling he is knocked out and falls to the ground. He wakes up to find that he has been charged for the murder of one of the bikers whom he had confronted earlier.
36:
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Martel
Gordone had been wandering aimlessly through the desert when he is finally picked up by an African-American woman driving a van dubbed the "Shaggin' Wagon". The woman, Linda, who picks him up is actually a prostitute on her way to some clients. On the way to the diner where the two parties are
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candy bars) spark an interest in each other, but Linda decides to wait until after she has finished with her clients, "You know, honey, it's got to be business before pleasure, and I'm sure you're a real pleasure". They reach the diner and Linda meets with her clients, but when
Gordone does not like
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Shortly afterward, an illegal boxing tournament is organized in the prison, led by
Lieutenant Arnsworth. The winner of the tournament will be allowed to leave the prison on early parole because Lieutenant Arnsworth can pull a few strings on the parole board, and Gordone feels as though he would be
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Gordone is then put in another cell, his new cellmate being an older man going by the nickname "Seldom Seen", who has been in this jail for 35 years (adding up to 50 years as he spent another 15 years in jail in his youth), and has developed his own personal wisdom, out of sheer survival concern,
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Gordone is sent to jail and becomes cellmates with a man who goes by the nickname of "Half Dead". While in his cell, Gordone has to defend himself from constant advances from the brute. The two battle it out in the cell until the walls are covered with sweat and blood. The wailing and begging
373:, was released in 1987. The plot centers on "Too Sweet" Gordone's time in prison, where he is sent after beating another boxer to death in a performance enhancing drug-fueled fugue state. The film was released theatrically in the United States by
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able to win it. The only thing that stands in his way is a man by the name of Jesse "The Bull" Amos, who is in charge of everything within the prison and is the leader of the prison's strongest gang. "Seldom Seen" agrees to be
Gordone's trainer.
315:
by Xenon
Entertainment in 2000. Both films contain an audio commentary by writer/director Jamaa Fanaka and are currently out of print. They were subsequently re-released by Xenon on DVD in 2006. Both films were released on DVD and
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attracts a lot of attention from other inmates, who cheer for "Half Dead" to rape the newcomer, but in fact
Gordone manages to subdue his assailant and rises triumphantly, telling everybody to "back off".
348:, was released in 1982. It was a direct sequel that followed the exploits of "Too Sweet" Gordone shortly after his release from prison. It was notable for the early casting of
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considering himself "the freest man in the world" for he learned how to control his desires and focus on his core self. Gordone and "Seldom Seen" develop a genuine friendship.
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as Martel "Too Sweet" Gordone, a man who deals with his wrongful imprisonment as a black youth. The film was released on
November 21, 1979.
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recast in the villainous role of "Half Dead". The film was released theatrically in the United States by
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to meet, Linda and
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303:"Kissy Face" – written, produced and performed by Mark Gaillard and The Slim and Trim Band.
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Dir. Jamaa Fanaka. Perf. Isaac, Kennedy, and
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Fanaka produced two sequels to the film over the ensuing decade.
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in September 1987 and grossed $ 1,392,616 at the box office.
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Both the original film and its first sequel were released on
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ArrowDrome DVD re-released the film in February 2012 in the
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American film distribution : the changing marketplace
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in April 1982 and grossed $ 3,178,542 at the box office.
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Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
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261:Floyd Chatman as Hezzikia "Seldom Seen" Jackson
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529:"Penitentiary II (1982)"
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352:as Gordone's trainer,
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174:$ 100,000 (estimated)
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793:Blaxploitation films
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798:Films set in prison
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29:Penitentiary
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219:Mr. Goodbar
182:$ 4 million
64:Produced by
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773:1979 films
767:Categories
640:2012-04-26
619:2012-04-26
615:. imdb.com
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552:. imdb.com
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393:References
307:Home media
299:Soundtrack
198:drama film
179:Box office
150:93 minutes
134:1979-11-21
56:Written by
324:in 2018.
104:Edited by
712:Emma Mae
381:See also
292:Tony Cox
163:Language
78:Starring
335:Sequels
318:Blu-ray
166:English
155:Country
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753:(1992)
747:(1987)
739:(1982)
731:(1979)
723:(1975)
715:(1974)
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171:Budget
350:Mr. T
663:IMDb
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413:ISBN
238:Cast
212:Plot
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