Slaughter's Big Ripoff (1973)

Slaughter's backand the mob's out to get him! Big Jim Brown (The Dirty Dozen, Ice Station Zebra) returns in the role of the ex-Green Beret who takes on the job of scorching the mob in this spectacular actioner! Co-starring Ed McMahon ('the Tonight Show ), Gloria Hendry (Live AndLet Die) and Scatman Crothers (The Shining), Slaughter's Big Rip-Off is one fast-paced massacre [that] puts it all out front (LA Herald-Examiner)!When a gunman in aplane tries to pull a fly-by on Slaughter, he knows his battle with the moband corrupt copsis far from over. Helped by an honest detective and a good-hearted pimp, Slaughter goes on a missionto expose a list that names every politician and policeman on the mob dole. But it won't be easy. The list is in the home safe of the big man himself (McMahon) and he'll do anythingincluding kidnapping Slaughter's babeto keep it!

Decent sequel to the dynamite first film--

Army veteran Slaughter's latest adventure doesn't take him to South America (incongruously referenced as Mexico here), but there's still plenty of trouble to be found in the U.S.

The plot here follows a bungled Mob hit on Slaughter that ends up killing a good friend of his, and Slaughter's efforts to get revenge. Black Action Movie genre veterans abound in this film: Gloria Hendry ("Black Belt Jones", "Live & Let Die") is the leading lady here, Marcia. Brock Peters is Reynolds, a cop who thinks some of his superiors are on the take. They are, and the Mob boss behind them is Ed McMahon, aka Duncan. Don Stroud is Kirk, the lead henchman, and Slaughter's main foil here.

Again, a list of kickback recipients figures into the plot: Dick Anthony Williams (billed here as Richard) is Joe Creole, a pimp and professional burglar for hire(!), who becomes Slaughter's temporary partner in heisting Duncan's ledgers listing the politicians and other public officials receiving payoffs. This leads to a game of cat-and-mouse between Slaughter and Kirk, and the violent climax in one of Duncan's nightclubs.

There are almost as many fight scenes here as in the first film; the opening sequence somehow combines a horse race and a "fly-by" shooting by crop-duster. In keeping with genre standards, the women here are gorgeous and (mostly) of loose virtue. Here, Slaughter gets twice the love action, as he beds a palm-reader early on, in addition to Marcia later. There is also a hilarious Scatman Crothers cameo as a numbers man. McMahon as Duncan gets less to do than you would think-- also, unlike many Blaxploitation villains, he's not portrayed as a racist (that's Kirk's department): but seeing the Tonight Show sidekick as a crime lord is still amusing unto itself. We still don't get much of a glimpse into Slaughter's background (besides being ex-Army with a private arsenal, just what does he do for a living?); alas, such intellectual concerns are perhaps unnecessary to enjoy the fisticuffs and gunplay... September 18, 2006

Much Better Than "Slaughter"

A lot of people feel that the original "Slaughter" is the best one, but "Rip Off" is a much superior sequel. This is still a "revenge flick", but the characters are far more intersting. Jim Brown gets to have alot more fun and alot more sex. The added bonus is Dick Anthony Williams portrayal as a Pimp/Burgular who helps Slaughter bring down the Mob. The only downside to this one is that most of the songs from James Brown's classic soundtrack are missing from the movie. June 11, 2002

Not So Exciting: See the First "Slaughter" & Stella Instead

"Slaughter" may not be exactly a first-rate action film, but it still can be proud of its own energy and Stella Stevens. Its quickly-made sequel has none of them; instead, you got Ed McMahon as a villain. Oh no....

This time again some crime syndicate tries to kill Jim Brown aka. Slaughter by shooting from a flying airplane. Instead, his friend got killed, so again Slaughter begins his own vendetta to get the man behind the killing. As usual, FBI got involved, and as usual, he has a girlfriend (Gloria Hendry) to protect.

Though action scenes themselves are not bad, McMahon of "Tonight Show" as baddie is as incredible casting as Demi Moore in "Scarlet Letter." Well, Jim Brown is as cool as ever, but there's nothing exciting about he film. The actions come too few and far between to raise the film's tension too the level of other blaxploitation films. Too ordinary.

Try to spot Valda Hansen (credited as Hanson), remembered by some movie fans as one of the friendly circle surrounding Edward Wood Jr. -- fondly called "the worst movie director" -- and herself star of his unbelievable "Night of the Ghouls."

I bought a VHS tape, but it MAY contain a different soundtrack from CD's or DVD's. As I have not listened to or seen either CD or DVD of "Slaghter's Rip-Off," I'm not quite sure, but the IMDB site shows the existence of the alternate take of the film, which uses a different soundtrack. Some part of the soundtrack of VHS tape, interestingly, clearly uses the same songs you can hear in "Coffy," including the instrumental version of that famous theme song. Very curious. March 11, 2002

Not Bad Brainless AIP Jim Brown Vehicle

Though the original is preferred if only for some stunning Stella Stevens nude scenes, this is pretty entertaining on its own terms. Unfortunately, Ed McMahon (!) plays it straight in the bad guy role, when I was really hoping for some of the ol' "John P. Ryan As the Fake Nathan White" scenery chewing. March 6, 2001

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