Black Gunn is a 1977 neo-noir blaxploitation film, starring Jim Brown, Martin Landau, Brenda Sykes, Vida Blue, and Bernie Casey.
The black militant organization BAG (Black Action Group) robs a Mafia operation. "Black" Gunn (Brown) is a successful Los Angeles night club owner who finds himself drawn into the inevitable Mafia reprisal because his brother Scott (Herbert Jefferson Jr.) is the leader. Now Gunn must face down a team of mafia hitmen, led by the psychopathic Ray Kriley (Bruce Glover).
Black Gunn contains examples of:
- The Ace: Gunn. He's calm, suave, financially successful, respected by his community, and a total badass.
- "Angry Black Man" Stereotype: Scott is a hotheaded black militant who frequently rants about "the man", and views robbing the Mafia as a political statement. Notably, the rest of the Black Action Group are much more even tempered and less reckless, despite having the same ideals.Scott: We believe in taking it to the man - and blowin' up the fancy homes he lives in, his banks, his police stations, and makin' him get off his ass and do somethin'.
Gunn: That's pretty powerful, Scotty.
Scott: It might be.
Gunn: Might be? You ever think that the man can bring it right back to you?
Scott: He could try. But, we declare our right on this earth to be men. And we intend to bring this into existence - by any means necessary. Now are you with us?
Gunn: Well, I'm not against you. - Ax-Crazy: Ray Kriley is a twitching lunatic who is easily set off into violence.
- Badass Boast: Gunn gets a nicely understated one while talking to Scotty.Scott: Have you looked in the mirror lately?
Gunn: Get up off it, Scotty. Have you ever seen me back down from any man, black or white?
Scott: No.
Gunn: Have you ever heard me change my thing for any man, black or white?
Scott: No.
Gunn: Alright! - Beware the Nice Ones: Gunn is polite, even-tempered, and suave. He's perfectly happy to peacefully run his business and friendly to everyone. But if you use violence against him or his community in his presence, he won't hesitate to pay you back. He's handy with a shotgun and an excellent hand-to-hand fighter.
- Big Bad: Russ Capelli, the mafia capo supervising the manhunt for BAG. His Dragon Ray Kriley serves as The Heavy.
- Bittersweet Ending: Mostly on the bitter side. Gunn gets his revenge, but the BAG are all killed during the climactic battle with the Mafia and Gunn is arrested by Hopper for his crimes.
- The Casanova: Gunn is a ladykiller and every woman in town wants him. He's had so many one night stands that he forgets several of their names.
- Cop Killer: Capellin and his men gun down Cassidy in a firefight.
- Corrupt Politician: Congressman Adams is a puppet of the Mafia.
- Friendly Target: Scott is mortally wounded by the mafia, and left out on Gunn's lawn. He dies in his brother's arms, causing Gunn to go on a Roaring Rampage of Revenge.
- The Heavy: Kriley is The Dragon to Russ Capelli, but he's the one in the streets leading the manhunt for the people who made the mistake of Robbing the Mob Bank.
- Kick the Dog:
- Each member of the mafia hurls racial slurs at black people just to be cruel.
- Kriley and his henchmen torture several random civilians just because they might know who robbed the mob bank. The second time they do it, once it becomes clear the poor prostitute they're tormenting has been Interrogated for Nothing, they threaten to disfigure her with a switchblade if she doesn't get information for them.
- The Lancer: Sam Green, the leader of the Black Action Group.
- The Mafia: The main villains, portrayed as the racist embodiment of "the man."
- Man on Fire: Capelli dies when Gunn covers him in gasoline and sets it ablaze.
- Only One Name: Gunn's first name is never given, and he's always referred to as either Gunn or Mr. Gunn.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: Each member of The Mafia throws slurs around like there's no tomorrow. Kriley takes it to almost cartoonish levels.Kriley: Well, look what broke out of the paddock? A couple of real hot black studs. Let me introduce myself. I'm taking a public opinion poll on whether we should reinstate slavery.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Gunn delivers one to Jimpy, the drug dealer who sold out Scott's location to the Mafia.Gunn: No point in wastin' good horse, man. Just save it for the children. Right, Jimpy? The little ones. They're smiling, happy faces. The black ones. Playing in the schoolyards. Right, Jimpy? You want a hypo full of air in your veins, man? Any last words, Jimpy? About who chopped up my brother?
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Gunn goes on the warpath against the Mafia for killing his brother.
- Robbing the Mob Bank: The action kicks off with BAG robbing a Mafia bookkeeping operation. Because they stole books that have evidence that could bring down the whole organization, mafia capo Russ Capelli has his men go after the thieves to kill them and get the books back.
- Sacrificial Lion: Scott is tortured by the Mafia and left to bleed out on Gunn's lawn. He dies of his wounds, but not before making Gunn swear to take revenge on the Mafia.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Once he realizes his bankrollers are The Mafia, Congressman Adams decides to abandon politics while he's still got a pulse and relatively clean hands.
- Soft-Spoken Sadist: The twitching, Ax-Crazy Kriley speaks in a perpetually soft-spoken, melodic voice.
- Strawman Political: Congressman Adams is a clear Take That! to affluent white liberals. Adams poses as an ally of the black community while doing nothing to actually help beyond offering empty platitudes, and he's nothing but a pawn in the pocket of the Mafia. He's portrayed as more sympathetic, however, than the other villains and bails once he realizes he's being bankrolled by the mafia.Gunn: You say the right things; but, do you implement them?
Adams: It's not always easy; but, we're making progress.
Gunn: In what, Adams? Integration? Bussing? Penal reform? Congressman, how many blacks are in America?
Adams: About 20 million.
Gunn: 20 million. How many black senators in America?
Adams: One.
Gunn: One. How many judges, Congressman?
Adams: Well, they're a few.
Gunn: Governors? Mayors?
Adams: Look, I'm not going to be the apologist for white America, alright? Gunn, I'm not looking back. I'm looking forward. I admit to you, we got a long way to go.
Gunn: You're damn right! You have a long ways to go, Adams. - Sympathetic Inspector Antagonist: Lieutenant Hopper and Detective Cassidy are in the way of Gunn's Roaring Rampage of Revenge, but they're honest lawmen who are also trying to bring down the mafia. They end up helping Gunn and the BAG in an Enemy Mine.
- The Vietnam Vet: Scott and the rest of BAG are comprised of disgruntled African-American Vietnam veterans. Lt. Cassidy is also a veteran.