Across 110th Street

Watched this on Netflix streaming last night. I went into thinking it was probably going to be a bit on the cheesy side, but was very surprised. This movie kicks ass in that 1970's style New York gritty way that we just don't get anymore.

Movies like this filmed in New York in the 70's are some of my favorites, like Marathon Man for example, because the city has so much flavor! Across 110th Street has flavor, big time.

It's about three Harlem hoods who steal a whole lotta dough from the Mob, and in the process, off a couple mob guys. The mob, led by Anthony Franciosa, go after the thiefs with no-holds barred.

Anthony Quinn plays a grizzled veteran police Captain named Matelli, who believes that fists and intimidation are the best tools to get answers when dealing with criminals and street hoods. He's forced to play second fiddle to new cop on the block Detective Pope, played terrifically by Yaphet Kotto. Pope is in charge and Matelli is resentful, as well as more than a little racially bigoted.


The movie surprises though, because when I was starting to think that Quinn's character was going to be only a two-dimensional racist, we get glimpses of a softer side, of a cop that has relationships with some of the people in his precinct and that shows some humanity and sympathy. Still, he prefers to brutalize his way through questioning and will beat the shit out of someone he doesn't like without a second thought.


Pope is the foil to this and is strictly by the book. He's educated, intelligent, and ethical. The movie spends only a little time exploring the racial dynamics between the two men, and I thought it was a good balance - it never gets caught up in trying to preach about the issue, but deals with it in a way that felt natural. 


It's important to bear in mind while watching this that the movie was made in the early 1970's and that the days of the civil rights movement were still recent. This sense of looming violence bubbling just under the surface is prominent throughout the film.

Violence doesn't stay under the surface much though. This is a very violent movie, again surprisingly so in it's graphic depictions. Antonio Fargas, who would go on to fame as 'Huggy Bear' in Starsky & Hutch, plays a flamboyant thug who enjoys drugs and women in equal measure. The mob goons catch up to him at one point and it gets ugly. This movie pulls no punches with its portrayal of attitudes between blacks and whites, in particular the Italian mob guys and the black criminals. They hate each other and the movie spares neither side from disturbing deeds. We get burnings, castration, crucifixion, defenestration and of course shootings aplenty.


Another huge selling point in this movie is the soundtrack. Bobby Womack did the theme song and music for it, and it's a superb example of 70's soul. The overall look of the movie is excellent, with a lot of great wardrobe choices. There are pimps and prostitutes, flashy mob guys and smartly dressed criminals. It's not overdone in any way though, and again, the overall result is that it feels natural. The language too, is a strong point. I don't remember too many movies in the early 70's that weren't afraid to throw in a liberal amount of "motherfucker" and "nigger". It's 'R' rated for good reason. 


I've seen some use of the term "Blaxploitation" in regard to this movie, but I don't feel that it's the case. There isn't anything that comes across as exploitative. It may take minor artistic liberties here and there, in particular in the depictions of the mob, but nothing ridiculous. 


I liked the way it built up this race between the mob and the black crime boss, played menacingly by Richard Ward, as they're trying to get the perpetrators before the other guys and cops do. With the cops, mob, and Harlem thugs all bearing down, the thieves are in deep shit, and the tension builds throughout the movie.


If you like gritty crime movies, especially from the 70's, you will love Across 110th Street. This is a vastly unrecognized gem in the rough.