Cinema, Stick It In Your Queue

Special Agent Sistah: Cleopatra Jones

Posted by: detourmag on February 14, 2008 at 1:00 pm

cleopatrajones.jpg
Cleopatra Jones (Jack Starrett, 1973)

As Cleopatra Jones, model-turned-actress Tamara Dobson is a cool drink of water. Standing over six feet tall — that’s before the heels — Cleopatra Jones grew up in the hood and made good. Now she’s an incredibly dressed (new outfits for every scene), and a US Special Agent who carries an arsenal in her souped-up Corvette Stingray. She can also throw karate kicks with the best of them.

The film opens with Cleo overseeing the destruction of a Turkish poppy field valued at over 30 million dollars. This sets off a chain reaction back in her native California , where leering lesbian baddie Mommy (Shelly Winters!) declares war on the “bitch” who dared to cross her. Mommy has the white racist cops of the LAPD plant some drugs at the BNS House, threatening to close down Cleo’s pet charity and bringing Jones stateside, where she’s set up for one assassination attempt after another.

But taking out Cleopatra Jones isn’t that easy. Not only is she a walking stick of dynamite, but she’s got Reuben (Bernie Casey) and the Johnson Brothers (Albert Popwell and Caro Kenyatta) on her side. And then there’s Doodlebug (Antonio Fargas), the gangsta with a posse of sycophants and a white manservant. He sits on his gilded chair somewhere between Mommy and Cleo, and no matter the title of the film, the real star of this show is Doodlebug. Check out his monologue on hair. “Hair’s like a woman,” he muses. “You treat it good and it treats you good. You got to hold it, caress it, and love it. And if your hair gets out of line, you take a scissor and say, ‘Hair, I’m going to cut you.’”

Cleopatra Jones was written by a star in the Blaxploitation pantheon, Max Julien of The Mack fame. He penned it for girlfriend Vonetta McGee, who lost the title role to Tamara Dobson. Made in the genre’s halcyon days, Jones was also a Warner Brothers entry, and the big studio’s backing provided big name stars, Panavision cameras, and a higher quality production than most Blaxploitation flicks could boast. Unfortunately, Dobson’s further adventures in Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold couldn’t live up to her first turn as the titular ass-kicking hottie — the sequel is a limp chop-sockey outing that lives up to neither the production values nor the plot of the original. — Mike White

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[tags]Cleopatra Jones, Max Julien, Tamara Dobson, Vonetta McGee, Shelly Winters[/tags]

Comments

One Response to “Special Agent Sistah: Cleopatra Jones”

  1. perez dane on April 7th, 2009 2:01 am

    I am one that is so greatful that i grew up during the free loving hey days of the 70’s and had the experience and pleasure of witnessing and seeing both ‘Cleopatra Jones,’ film. Critics failed to understand the depth of both movies.The first, Cleopatra Jones was just an introduction of what Cleo was all about. The follow up, Cleopatra Jones and the casino of gold was the lighter, glitzy, but dangerous side of Cleo’s persona, but with the same, if not mose action as the first.
    Over the years, i’ve introduced youth that has come behind me to both Cleo films- most enjoying the sequel better than the original- thought the only female of that genre was, Pam Grier, and they seemed unimpressed by her acting ability, asking, “why wasn’t she as tough as Cleo?”
    It’s sad when the industry suits- the powers that be, who sign the checks- would rather go for the ‘tits, ass and poor acting,
    rather than class and talent, taking the Cleo into far existance with follow up Cleo movies, leaving the public wanting for more- even though the great Anthony Quien had signed up for the third instalment of ‘Cleo,’ but the plug was pulled. Boo, for hollywood.
    Maybe now, 36 years after Miss Dobson brought Cleo to life on the silver screen hollywood might try and get it right this time (though i doubt it with the cast of clows that’s running studios these days)with a remake, a cast of top notch stars, and introducing a new comer to the scene playing the title role- using the same marketing scheme they used in 1973 with the original, the film can’t dare fail. As long as it’s production and script is not as horrible as the remak ‘Shaft,’ with Samuel L. Jackson, it will have a chance of winning a brand new generation.

SHWFLYR

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