FORMAT: VHS
Racial gang violence is escalating on the streets. The police’s solution is to send a half black/half Mexican cop (Mark Damon in black/brownface) and a white cop (Douglas Hume) to high school to infiltrate the gangs. Damon starts studying Rita Moreno a little too much and her hotheaded brother, the leader of the Chicano gang takes offense. Soon, the fuzz learns that outside forces maybe be instigating the racially motivated gang war for their own interests. Problems arise when Rita gets pregnant.
The set-up, which plays sort of like a forerunner to 21 Jump Street is sound, but things bog down soon after. Originally released as This Rebel Breed, producer William Rowland added new spicy scenes and rereleased it under various titles including this one. It’s interesting in that it makes an earnest stab to tackle sensitive subject matter in an understanding way. However, the messaging is sort of undermined by the T & A that’s been crudely shoehorned into the narrative. Ironically, it’s these nudie scenes that are the most memorable parts.
The Black Rebels is flawed and sometimes dull, but it’s worth a look for the cast. This was made just before Rita Moreno hit it big with West Side Story, and it’s obvious she was destined for better things. Damon is a bit bland, but he does his best with what he was given. I also enjoyed Kenny (the “Eeny Meeny Miney Mo” guy from I Was a Teenage Werewolf) Miller as a wimpy gang member. Also be on the lookout for Dyan Cannon in an early role as a party girl appropriately named “Wiggles”. I wonder if either actress were aware of the version with all the nudie inserts. I’m sure they would’ve been mortified if they saw it.
Co-director Richard L. Bare went on to make the Duo-Vision wonder, Wicked Wicked.
AKA: This Rebel Breed. AKA: Lola’s Mistake. AKA: Three Shades of Love.
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