SUPER FLY REVIEWED
“Super Fly” was one of the earliest Blaxploitation films. Shakespearean actor Ron O’ Neal played the drug dealer Priest, who dreamed of one last million dollar score. The film was lensed by James Signorelli and directed by Gordon Parks. Parks was coming of the surprise hit of Shaft in 1971, while Signorelli was working his way to his eventual role of directing most of the early film segments on Saturday Night Live. Still, I feel that a lot of people overlook this movie. Well, the ones that still aren’t dumping praise on Mayfield’s score.
Warner Brothers caught a lot of hell back in the day for the film’s frank depiction of drug use. Cocaine is everywhere and this was the first time in a mainstream movie where cocaine abuse was properly shown. Everything from the tiny spoons to the resulting delirium were being shown across all 50 states. But, it was being attributed to the Inner City. Modern audiences might find that problematic, but it must’ve been revolutionary for 1972.
I love it when the Warner Archive releases are loaded with special features. Superfly is still an important film where most of the original talent is now dead. Yet, there comes a time where once was exploitation becomes history. Given Vinegar Syndrome’s recent Blu release of Sweet Sweetback, we’re due to revisit these early era Blaxploitation films. Fine work all around.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- One Last Deal: A Retrospective Documentary
- Audio Commentary by Dr. Todd Boyd, USC Professor of Cinema and Television and author of “Am I Black Enough For You: Popular Culure From the ‘Hood and Beyond”
- Curtis Mayfield on Super Fly
- “Behind the Hog” with Les Dunham
- Ron O’Neal on the Making of Super Fly
- Costume Designer Nate Adams Goes “Behind The Threads”
A/V STATS
- 1.78:1 1080p transfer
- DTS-HD 2.0 MONO
