Theo Robertson An army officer is given a dangerous mission to go behind German front lines . What makes this WW2 different ? Well it involves some funky black dudes kick some Nazi ass and we are talking right on funky bro , so much so it's almost like the black anti-thesis to THE ETERNAL JEW but that would be a compliment and the first ten minutes are patronising as to be insulting not only to black people but anyone watching THE BLACK BRIGADE . Try and imagine Richard Pryor in a relatively semi serious role and you can see where the film's flaws lieThis is a pity because despite being far from a classic WW2 actioner or even a classic TVM THE BLACK BRIGADE is a much better film than I thought possible once I got past the dreadful first ten minutes . Okay it's not great , it's made on a very limited budget in some woodland in California somewhere and it has that seen it all before usually done better . That said it does make some important points about soldiering . Soldiering isn't all about charging machine gun nests and wiping out the enemy single handed , soldiering you see often involves long period of boredom and mundane tasks like digging latrines . A jobs a job and a soldier is a soldier and someone wearing an army uniform is worthy of respect regardless of what regiment he belongs to and what his tasks are . THE BLACK BRIGADE occasionally touches upon these points and one wishes it had concentrated on these points more rather than being a bit too funky for its own good

jed-estes I bought this for a dollar at a local chain store and was a little surprised by the good storytelling in this. The reasons I happened upon buying this was because A, I'm trying to own 1000 movies, and B it had great actors on the cover. When i saw that Billy Dee Williams was in this all I could think was how cool it was going to be to see a young Lando Calersion type fighting in the second world war. But he really had no vigor in him in this film. He was serious and to the point which is probably more real life as what this film needs to be showcased proper. Richard Pryor was the second actor who influenced me into buying this because I thought his comedy would shine through the move. Again it did not. He is the cut up of the unit but he is still serious in this which I believe is one of first roles. Robert Hooks who is an actor I had never heard of and have still yet to see any follow ups to this is very good in his performance of a red neck put in charge of an all black squad only to realize that they fight just as hard as any white man for what the believe in. The film does a good job of showcasing racial tensions during a 1940's setting. It is hard to take that we actual segregated that little back in our history. If your on the look out for a film that will grow your mind this is it. I recommend it for war buffs.

drtturner I thought I knew it all when it came to Blaxploitation films and for that matter tv shows such as White Shadow and What's Happening. I came across this film in a chain video store and had to make a command decision. It was necessary to determine whether to buy and risk losing the few dollars or more arguably having an eyesore of an item that second hand stores would not even give money for. That would mean throwing it away if it were truly dreadful. I decided to pass at first b-lining home to read online reviews to see the scoop. Fortunately, the critics were kind enough, prompting me to return to the store with renewed vigor and confidence that I was not buying a total turkey. I played the first half of the tape on several occasions only halfway paying attention to ensure that it worked at least functionally. Well finally I had an audience and played it from beginning to end, and was not just impressed but very impressed. I grade on a curve considering the time period and budget put into the project. I really liked the character development in which the subtle differences of personalities remains consistent. The best friend twosome of Pryor and Grier is formable and yet handled in a subtle manner. The other allstars of Moses Gunn, Glynn Thurman, and Billy Dee Williams make this a film that a film expert of black cinema should not miss.

marrimac I purchased "Black Brigade" (apparently a re-issue of the original) this week for $3.33 from the previously-viewed bin. Expecting to view a comedy, prepared to laugh, I discovered with mixed feelings, ten minutes into the film, that this is no comedy; it is not "hilarious". Rather, this film sends a realistic message about war. "Black Brigade" ranks well with "The Red Badge of Courage" and "Johnny Got His Gun" in depicting innocence and ignorance under fire. Moreover, "Black Brigade" educates the viewer as to what it must have been like for most black men serving our country in WWII, assigned individually and collectively to menial service slots because of the color of their skin. A classic. Just wish the quality of my copy of the film were better.