‘Hit Man (1972)’ Blu-ray Review
Stars: Bernie Casey, Pam Grier, Lisa Moore, Bhetty Waldron, Sam Laws, Candy All, Don Diamond, Edmund Cambridge, Bob Harris, Rudy Challenger, Tracy Ann-King, Christopher Joy, Roger E. Mosley, John Lupton | Written and Directed by George Armitage
In the early 1970s, American filmmakers started a new genre of film in ‘Blaxploitation’. These films were mostly black casts and made for black audiences. Most of these films were known for their violence and sexual content. The term ‘blaxploitation’ was coined by the president of the Beverly Hills–Hollywood branch of the NAACP, Junius Griffin, in 1972. The same year Hit Man was released. This year sees the film celebrate its 53rd anniversary. Now, for this anniversary, Warner Archive Collection have restored this film and released it on Blu-ray for the first time!
Tyrone Tackett’s brother wasn’t the kind of man to throw his life away. Somebody killed him, plain and simple. And by the time Tyrone crisscrosses L.A. and pieces together the crime, lots of folks are going to pay. With equal amounts of tough and sexy, Bernie Casey portrays Tyrone and Pam Grier plays a sultry skin-flick star in this first Americanized remake of the iconic Michael Caine action film Get Carter. From Watts to the West Side, from porno parlors to a high-rise, from motel dives to a crime kingpin’s sprawling pleasure dome, from corner hangouts to a wildlife preserve, Tyrone covers a lot of real estate, busts a lot of heads. And throughout, star Casey keeps enough cool for a half a dozen movie heroes (Roger Greenspun, The New York Times).
When you think of Blaxploitation crime films, most people would think Shaft because he was a bad… well, you know the rest. Few if any would think Tyrone Tackett. And there is a reason for that, Bernie Casey was a pretty successful football player who transitioned to acting. He had a pretty good career as a supporting actor in such classics as Brian’s Song, Guns of the Magnificent Seven and Sharky’s Machine. But he never had to carry a film. There, I believe, is where the problem lies.
The script is okay, but it drags a bit. It takes a while to get to the action. Like most Blaxploitation films, there is tons of sexual content and nudity. Many will love to see Pam Grier in this film. She made a career out of these films. For fans of this genre of film, this is going to be great entertainment. But for film fans looking for something more than a skin flick, this is going to be a pass.
Warner Archive Collection has transferred Hit Man to Blu-ray in 1080p HD and is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen. The audio track is an English DTS-HD MA 2.0. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
However, this isn’t just any transfer; this transfer comes from a brand-new 2K scan. I am literally stunned at how great this transfer looks. The detail and quality of the picture are miraculous when you think that this is a modest budget film from over 50 years ago. The colours are perfect, and the audio is clean with no hiss or pops. This restoration is so good, Warner Archive really put their best foot forward here. But as for bonus features it is extremely skimpy. All that is included here is a full-screen trailer that has not been restored. That is a shame. Fans of these films would have got a kick out of an interview with Pam Grier.
***½ 3.5/5
If you can’t get enough of blaxploitation films, this new Warner Archive Blu-ray release of Hit Man is going to be one film you will want to experience. The restoration is so good that it has to be seen to be believed!
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