Buck and the Preacher (1972)

Directed by Sidney Poitier. Starring Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Cameron Mitchell, Denny Miller, Ruby Dee, James McEachin, Nita Talbot, Clarence Muse. [PG]

Western story set shortly after the end of the Civil War: ex-soldier Poitier and false-preacher Belafonte join forces to fight off white raiders who are attacking wagon trains of black settlers heading west to escape the plantation regions that once enslaved them. Unconventional blend of serious themes and rough action with blaxploitation tropes, disarming punches of humor, and offbeat blues music. Takes a while to get going, and “Preacher”’s characterization almost seems to belong in a different movie, but there are some rousing vignettes down the stretch; some may complain that stereotyping is used too wantonly, but credit is due to the filmmakers for making the villains so irredeemably hateful—no revisionism in that department. Original director Joseph Sargent was sacked early in the shoot, giving Poitier the opportunity to take over and make his directing debut.

67/100