Hell Up in Harlem is a 1973 blaxploitation American neo-noir film, starring Fred Williamson and Gloria Hendry. Written and directed by Larry Cohen, it is a sequel to the film Black Caesar.
The film's soundtrack was recorded by Edwin Starr and released by Motown Records in January 1974.
Plot
Having survived the assassination attempt at the end of Black Caesar, Tommy Gibbs takes on corrupt New York District Attorney DiAngelo, who had sought to jail Gibbs and his father, Papa Gibbs, in order to monopolize the illicit drug trade. Gibbs decides to eliminate drug pushing from the streets of Harlem, while continuing to carry out his other illicit enterprises. Gibbs falls in love with Sister Jennifer (Margaret Avery), a woman who works with Reverend Rufus, a former pimp who has found a religious calling.
Gibbs and his father have a falling out after Gibbs is told by his enforcer, Zach, that his father ordered the death of Gibbs' ex-wife, Helen. Gibbs and Jennifer move to Los Angeles, leaving Papa Gibbs in charge of the Harlem territory. It is later revealed that Zach himself killed Helen as part of a move to take over the territory, with the assistance of DiAngelo. Gibbs defeats hit men sent to take him out in Los Angeles, while Papa dies from a heart attack while fighting Zach.
Knowing that DiAngelo will be having the New York airports and roads watched, Gibbs flies in to Philadelphia, and then enters New York City on foot in order to carry out a personal war against Zach and DiAngelo.
Cast
Fred Williamson as Tommy Gibbs
Julius Harris as Papa Gibbs
Gloria Hendry as Helen Bradley-Washington
Margaret Avery as Sister Jennifer
D'Urville Martin as Reverend Rufus
Tony King as Zach
Gerald Gordon as DiAngelo
Bobby Ramsen as Joe Frankfurter
James Dixon as "Irish" Bryant
Esther Sutherland as The Cook
Charles MacGuire as Charles MacGregor
Release on DVD & HD
In 2001 it was released on DVD. In 2010 it was digitized in High Definition (1080i) and broadcast on MGMHD.