305:
his partner and Lulu as his head prostitute, he organizes a team of women and quickly rises to prominence. His success catches the attention of Fat Man, the heroin kingpin that Goldie worked for before heading to prison, and Hank and Jed, two corrupt and racist white detectives. Goldie refuses to work for Fat Man again, and dismisses the detectives' requests to stop his brother from ridding the streets of drugs. As a result, his mother is assaulted which eventually leads to her death. Even though Olinga is disappointed in Goldie because he "brought death to their house," he agrees to help him get revenge. They develop a plan with Slim to seek revenge, but their plans fall apart when Hank and Jed kill Slim at their rendezvous point. They reveal that they are responsible for Goldie's mother's death, causing Goldie and Olinga to kill them both. Realizing that one of his hookers, "Chico", snitched him out to Hank and Jed, he attempts to shoot her but then holds back and leaves. Oakland is now too dangerous and Goldie hugs his brother goodbye and heads out of town on a charter bus.
426:. While staying in Oakland for two months, Campus met Frank Ward, a real pimp and drug dealer from Oakland. Max Julien's character of Goldie is based upon him. In order to shoot the movie, Campus needed Ward's permission, because many scenes were filmed in his territory. In exchange for his guidance and protection, Campus put Ward in the film. All of the homeless people, junkies, pimps and women in the film were supplied by Frank Ward.
434:
production of the film, Frank Ward was shot and killed while in his Rolls-Royce. There was speculation that the Black
Panthers were responsible for Ward's death, and the filmmakers and cast relocated to safer areas for filming. Despite the tension, the film's opening was shot in Oakland with all of the proceeds going to the Black Panthers'
304:
After returning home from a five-year prison sentence, John "Goldie" Mickens has a plan to achieve money and power in
Oakland, California by becoming a pimp. Goldie's criminal ways contrast with his brother Olinga's Black Nationalist efforts to save the community from drugs and violence. With Slim as
433:
territory. During filming, Black
Panther party members would throw bottles and trash cans from rooftops. In order for filming to run smoothly, an additional deal had to be made with Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, who were then put in charge of providing extras for the film. About halfway through the
511:, but the album was released on the ALA Enterprises label; it is now out of print and highly collectible. To differentiate it from the original score, fans have referred to it as "The Mack and His Pack," based on a catch phrase used on the reissue poster. When the film was initially licensed to
446:
The film was screened in theaters in only about 20 mostly black communities. Distributors avoided theaters in predominantly white neighborhoods due to a belief the film would do better in black areas. Despite its low distribution, director
Michael Campus has noted that the film outgrossed
44:
421:
Production for the film started from early
September to late December 1972. According to director Michael Campus, the original script for the film was written on prison toilet paper by Bobby Poole, an inmate at
682:
Vincent L. Barnett (2020) Super Fly (1972), Coffy (1973) and The Mack (1973): Under- and Over-Estimating
Blaxploitation Box Office, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, 40:2, 373-388, DOI:
940:
556:
740:
756:
1112:
550:
1127:
904:
623:
1107:
1102:
258:
the movie follows the rise and fall of Goldie, who returns from a five-year prison sentence to find that his brother is involved in
1005:
616:
also sampled "Brother's Gonna Work It Out" in "Put That On My Set", from their collaborative album Cozy Tapes: Vol. 1: Friends.
1117:
811:
719:
1092:
482:
848:
1087:
462:
145:
1122:
1097:
1043:
466:
998:
838:
709:
435:
784:
586:
1051:
281:, and others involved in its production have argued that the genre label oversimplifies the film.
269:
is considered by many critics to be the best entry in its genre. The film is often categorized as
991:
649:
363:
357:
108:
345:
285:
251:
28:
262:. Goldie decides to take an alternative path, striving to become the city's biggest pimp.
8:
1082:
430:
369:
255:
694:
351:
20:
1059:
967:
879:
844:
789:
761:
715:
637:
632:
593:
259:
983:
581:
539:
512:
508:
231:
19:
This article is about the 1973 film. For the song covered by various artists, see
978:
597:
378:
339:
103:
75:
584:
sampled "Mack's Stroll/The
Getaway (Chase Scene)" in "Superstar" from the album
1015:
941:"Listen to the Willie Hutch song both Chief Keef and Chance the Rapper sampled"
504:
500:
478:
408:
274:
270:
235:
228:
57:
1076:
662:
606:
also sampled "Brother's Gonna Work It Out" in "Nobody", a collaboration with
486:
449:
327:
321:
247:
243:
93:
812:"The Mack remains one of blaxploitation's most artistically ambitious films"
538:
is playing on a TV screen in the background when
Clarence Worley (played by
530:
490:
474:
293:
121:
572:
sampled “Brother's Gonna Work It Out” in “Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat” from the album
644:
574:
543:
495:
423:
333:
98:
24:
972:
961:
607:
603:
387:
315:
278:
239:
88:
905:"See Why Black Panthers Got Violent With Crew On "The Mack" Movie Set"
653:. Both "Choose U" and "International Players Anthem" were produced by
613:
516:
519:
DVD release restored the original Willie Hutch score to the film.
658:
654:
627:
569:
1027:
485:
reissued the film to capitalize on the resurgent popularity of
289:
265:
Though reviews were less than favorable upon initial release,
429:
Although Campus had Ward's protection, the film was also in
43:
711:
American film distribution : the changing marketplace
924:
840:
619:
837:
Walker, David; Rausch, Andrew J.; Watson, Chris (2009).
507:. The reissue poster advertised a soundtrack release on
23:. For the professional wrestler known as The Mack, see
922:
Walker, David; Rausch, Andrew; Watson, Chris (2009).
515:
for home video, it included the Silvestri score. The
1013:
726:
Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
596:
sampled "Brother's Gonna Work It Out" in "Lost (ft.
622:
heavily sampled "I Choose You" in their 2007 song "
921:
836:
1074:
522:
549:The film's theatrical poster is spoofed in the
999:
647:for his 2002 song "Choose U", from the album
16:1973 US blaxploitation film by Michael Campus
624:International Players Anthem (I Choose You)
563:
493:, who was co-starring on the hit TV series
1006:
992:
935:
933:
42:
947:. Sun-Times Media, LLC. 18 December 2014.
643:. Prior to this, the song was sampled by
636:. The song peaked at number 70 on the US
751:
749:
930:
739:was invoked but never defined (see the
707:
1075:
809:
384:Junero Jennings as Bob "Baltimore Bob"
987:
782:
746:
405:David Mauro as David "Laughing David"
1113:Cinerama Releasing Corporation films
926:. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow. p. 19.
676:
542:) confronts Drexl Spivey (played by
246:. The film also stars Oscar-nominee
757:"'The Mack' is back after 40 years"
734:
729:
714:. UMI Research Press. p. 293.
13:
1128:English-language crime drama films
483:Producers Distributing Corporation
456:
453:in the cities in which it played.
396:Christopher Brooks as Jesus Christ
14:
1139:
955:
48:1977 theatrical re-release poster
1108:Films set in Oakland, California
1103:Films directed by Michael Campus
735:Cite error: The named reference
499:PDC commissioned a new score by
461:In its original 1973 release by
915:
897:
872:
216:or $ 4.3 million or $ 9,590,000
864:Nix, Laura (Director) (2002).
857:
830:
810:McLevy, Alex (June 23, 2018).
803:
776:
708:Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987).
701:
686:
559:"The Curse of Savanti Romero".
234:directed by California native
146:Cinerama Releasing Corporation
1:
1044:The Education of Sonny Carson
683:10.1080/01439685.2019.1697036
669:
523:References in popular culture
477:, an artist and producer for
416:
1118:1970s English-language films
783:Dutka, Elaine (1997-06-30).
692:"Big Rental Films of 1973",
553:Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
528:In a scene in the 1993 film
441:
7:
399:Fritz Ford as Desk Sergeant
10:
1144:
1093:American crime drama films
402:Norma McClure as Big Woman
18:
1022:
250:and Tony-nominated actor
208:
200:
192:
184:
174:
151:
141:
127:
117:
81:
71:
63:
53:
41:
36:
698:, 9 January 1974, p. 19.
564:References to soundtrack
465:and its 1978 reissue by
318:as John "Goldie" Mickens
909:I Love Old School Music
308:
299:
160:April 4, 1973
1088:1973 crime drama films
375:Kai Hernandez as Chico
27:. For other uses, see
785:"ReDiggin' the Scene"
393:Sandra Brown as Diane
348:as Tony "Pretty Tony"
346:Dick Anthony Williams
252:Dick Anthony Williams
29:Mack (disambiguation)
1123:1970s American films
1098:Blaxploitation films
650:Layin' da Smack Down
557:fifth-season episode
503:featuring vocals by
473:featured a score by
843:. Scarecrow Press.
256:Oakland, California
227:is a 1973 American
1014:Films directed by
880:"AFI|Catalog"
866:Mackin' Ain't Easy
463:Cinerama Releasing
390:as Sergeant Duncan
136:Harbor Productions
21:Return of the Mack
1070:
1069:
1060:Christmas Cottage
1052:The Passover Plot
868:(Motion picture).
790:Los Angeles Times
762:Los Angeles Times
721:978-0-8357-1776-2
633:Underground Kingz
630:, from the album
594:Chance the Rapper
436:breakfast program
342:as Olinga Mickens
260:Black nationalism
220:
219:
215:
1135:
1008:
1001:
994:
985:
984:
949:
948:
937:
928:
927:
919:
913:
912:
911:. 23 March 2015.
901:
895:
894:
892:
890:
876:
870:
869:
861:
855:
854:
834:
828:
827:
825:
823:
807:
801:
800:
798:
797:
780:
774:
773:
771:
769:
753:
744:
738:
733:
727:
725:
705:
699:
690:
684:
680:
540:Christian Slater
513:Embassy Pictures
509:Posh Boy Records
288:was recorded by
232:crime drama film
213:
167:
165:
46:
34:
33:
1143:
1142:
1138:
1137:
1136:
1134:
1133:
1132:
1073:
1072:
1071:
1066:
1018:
1012:
979:Rotten Tomatoes
958:
953:
952:
939:
938:
931:
920:
916:
903:
902:
898:
888:
886:
884:Catalog.afi.com
878:
877:
873:
863:
862:
858:
851:
835:
831:
821:
819:
808:
804:
795:
793:
781:
777:
767:
765:
755:
754:
747:
736:
730:
722:
706:
702:
691:
687:
681:
677:
672:
566:
525:
459:
457:Alternate score
444:
419:
414:
411:as (uncredited)
381:as "China Doll"
379:Annazette Chase
340:Roger E. Mosley
330:as Mrs. Mickens
311:
302:
177:
170:
163:
161:
154:
137:
132:
130:
113:
104:Roger E. Mosley
76:Harvey Bernhard
67:Robert J. Poole
49:
32:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1141:
1131:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1068:
1067:
1065:
1064:
1056:
1048:
1040:
1032:
1023:
1020:
1019:
1016:Michael Campus
1011:
1010:
1003:
996:
988:
982:
981:
970:
957:
956:External links
954:
951:
950:
945:Chicago Reader
929:
914:
896:
871:
856:
849:
829:
802:
775:
745:
728:
720:
700:
685:
674:
673:
671:
668:
667:
666:
617:
611:
601:
591:
579:
565:
562:
561:
560:
547:
524:
521:
505:Gene McDaniels
501:Alan Silvestri
479:Motown Records
458:
455:
443:
440:
418:
415:
413:
412:
409:June Wilkinson
406:
403:
400:
397:
394:
391:
385:
382:
376:
373:
367:
364:George Murdock
361:
358:William Watson
355:
349:
343:
337:
331:
325:
319:
312:
310:
307:
301:
298:
275:Michael Campus
271:blaxploitation
236:Michael Campus
229:blaxploitation
218:
217:
210:
206:
205:
202:
198:
197:
194:
190:
189:
186:
182:
181:
178:
175:
172:
171:
169:
168:
157:
155:
152:
149:
148:
143:
142:Distributed by
139:
138:
135:
133:
128:
125:
124:
119:
115:
114:
112:
111:
109:George Murdock
106:
101:
96:
91:
85:
83:
79:
78:
73:
69:
68:
65:
61:
60:
58:Michael Campus
55:
51:
50:
47:
39:
38:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1140:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1080:
1078:
1062:
1061:
1057:
1054:
1053:
1049:
1046:
1045:
1041:
1038:
1037:
1033:
1030:
1029:
1025:
1024:
1021:
1017:
1009:
1004:
1002:
997:
995:
990:
989:
986:
980:
976:
975:
971:
969:
965:
964:
960:
959:
946:
942:
936:
934:
925:
918:
910:
906:
900:
885:
881:
875:
867:
860:
852:
850:9780810867062
846:
842:
841:
833:
817:
816:The A.V. Club
813:
806:
792:
791:
786:
779:
764:
763:
758:
752:
750:
742:
732:
723:
717:
713:
712:
704:
697:
696:
689:
679:
675:
664:
663:Three 6 Mafia
660:
656:
652:
651:
646:
642:
640:
635:
634:
629:
625:
621:
618:
615:
612:
609:
605:
602:
599:
595:
592:
589:
588:
583:
580:
577:
576:
571:
568:
567:
558:
555:
554:
548:
545:
541:
537:
533:
532:
527:
526:
520:
518:
514:
510:
506:
502:
498:
497:
492:
488:
487:Richard Pryor
484:
480:
476:
472:
468:
464:
454:
452:
451:
450:The Godfather
439:
437:
432:
431:Black Panther
427:
425:
410:
407:
404:
401:
398:
395:
392:
389:
386:
383:
380:
377:
374:
371:
368:
365:
362:
359:
356:
353:
350:
347:
344:
341:
338:
335:
332:
329:
328:Juanita Moore
326:
323:
322:Richard Pryor
320:
317:
314:
313:
306:
297:
295:
291:
287:
282:
280:
276:
272:
268:
263:
261:
257:
253:
249:
248:Juanita Moore
245:
244:Richard Pryor
241:
237:
233:
230:
226:
225:
211:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
188:United States
187:
183:
179:
173:
159:
158:
156:
150:
147:
144:
140:
134:
126:
123:
120:
116:
110:
107:
105:
102:
100:
97:
95:
94:Richard Pryor
92:
90:
87:
86:
84:
80:
77:
74:
70:
66:
62:
59:
56:
52:
45:
40:
35:
30:
26:
22:
1058:
1050:
1042:
1035:
1034:
1026:
973:
962:
944:
923:
917:
908:
899:
887:. Retrieved
883:
874:
865:
859:
839:
832:
820:. Retrieved
818:. Onion, Inc
815:
805:
794:. Retrieved
788:
778:
766:. Retrieved
760:
731:
710:
703:
693:
688:
678:
648:
638:
631:
626:" featuring
598:Noname Gypsy
585:
573:
552:
535:
531:True Romance
529:
494:
491:Roger Mosley
475:Willie Hutch
470:
460:
448:
445:
428:
420:
372:as Blind Man
303:
294:Willie Hutch
283:
266:
264:
254:. Filmed in
223:
222:
221:
212:$ 3 million
176:Running time
153:Release date
122:Willie Hutch
768:27 February
645:Project Pat
587:Confessions
575:The Chronic
544:Gary Oldman
496:Magnum P.I.
481:. In 1983,
424:San Quentin
370:Paul Harris
366:as "Fatman"
334:Carol Speed
284:The film's
238:, starring
180:110 minutes
99:Carol Speed
72:Produced by
54:Directed by
25:Willie Mack
1083:1973 films
1077:Categories
822:August 24,
796:2011-01-30
670:References
608:Kanye West
604:Chief Keef
417:Production
388:Lee Duncan
352:Don Gordon
316:Max Julien
286:soundtrack
279:Max Julien
240:Max Julien
209:Box office
164:1973-04-04
129:Production
89:Max Julien
64:Written by
741:help page
639:Billboard
614:A$ AP Mob
442:Reception
336:as "Lulu"
324:as "Slim"
214:(rentals)
204:$ 250,000
1036:The Mack
974:The Mack
963:The Mack
536:The Mack
517:New Line
471:The Mack
267:The Mack
224:The Mack
193:Language
118:Music by
82:Starring
37:The Mack
695:Variety
659:Juicy J
655:DJ Paul
641:Hot 100
628:Outkast
570:Dr. Dre
354:as Hank
292:artist
196:English
185:Country
162: (
131:company
1063:(2008)
1055:(1976)
1047:(1974)
1039:(1973)
1031:(1972)
1028:Z.P.G.
847:
718:
360:as Jed
290:Motown
273:, but
201:Budget
889:3 May
661:from
582:Usher
551:2012
968:IMDb
891:2022
845:ISBN
824:2019
770:2015
737:mack
716:ISBN
657:and
489:and
309:Cast
300:Plot
242:and
977:at
966:at
620:UGK
600:)."
467:AIP
1079::
943:.
932:^
907:.
882:.
814:.
787:.
759:.
748:^
743:).
546:).
534:,
469:,
438:.
296:.
277:,
1007:e
1000:t
993:v
893:.
853:.
826:.
799:.
772:.
724:.
665:.
610:.
590:.
578:.
166:)
31:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
