The Bus Is Coming

The Bus Is Coming
Ghetto Revenge
Directed byWendell James Franklin
Written byHorace Jackson
Produced byHorace Jackson
Herbert H. Dow
Starring
  • Mike B. Simms
  • Burl Bullock
CinematographyMike Rhodes
Edited byDonald R. Rode
Music byTom McIntosh
Production
company
K-Calb Productions
Distributed byWilliam Thompson Productions Incorporated
Release date
  • 1971 (1971)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Bus Is Coming (also known as Ghetto Revenge) is a 1971 American drama film written by Horace Jackson. The film is directed by Wendell James Franklin and stars Mike B. Simms and Burl Bullock.[1]

Plot

The film is about the death of a prominent Black community member Joe Mitchell, who served on the school board.[2] "The Black Fist," a local black power political organization wants to hold a rally in response to Mitchell's death because the "town must pay it's dues".[2] Billy Mitchell, Joe's brother returns from the Vietnam War and investigates Joe's death.[2] He becomes aware of a gang of racist cops, and eventually joins The Black Fist group to seek revenge.[2]

Cast

  • Mike B. Simms as Billy Mitchell
  • Burl Bullock as Michael
  • Stephanie Faulkner as Tanya
  • Morgan Jones as Tim Naylor
  • Robert Brubaker as Chief Jackson
  • Sandra Reed as Miss Nickerson

Reception

Howard Thompson of The New York Times called the film "strong, probing and impressively balanced".[3] TV Guide wrote that the film "manages to address the racial issues while telling an interesting, albeit melodramatic story."[4]

Richard Leary of The Village Voice called the acting "amateurish", the direction "pedestrian", and the production "shoe-string".[5] John Little of The Pittsburgh Press called the film "angry" and wrote that "the anger overcomes the effort".[6] Sharon Scott of The Pittsburgh Courier wrote a negative review of the film.[2]

References

  1. ^ Walker, David; Rausch, Andrew J.; Watson, Chris (2009). Reflections on Blaxploitation: Actors and Directors Speak. Scarecrow Press. p. 199. ISBN 978-0-8108-6706-2.
  2. ^ a b c d e Scott, Sharon (4 December 1971). "'The Bus Is Coming'". The Pittsburgh Courier. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  3. ^ Thompson, Howard (20 November 1971). "The Bus Is Coming' Is Engrossing". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  4. ^ "The Bus Is Coming Reviews". TV Guide. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  5. ^ Leary, Richard (16 December 1971). "'They shall rise up like eagles'". The Village Voice. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  6. ^ Little, John (4 January 1972). "'Bus' Runs Gamut Of Town's Racism". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved 19 September 2022.