Hot Potato (film)
Encyclopedia
Hot Potato is a 1976 action film
written and directed by Oscar Williams
. The film was a Weintraub and Heller production starring Jim Kelly
. Jim Kelly also arranged his own fight scenes. Hot Potato was filmed on location in Chiang Mai, Thailand
. It is a follow-up to Black Belt Jones
. The film was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
This film came along toward the end of one genre in film and helped mark the beginning of a new genre. It provides a bridge from what is commonly known as blaxploitation
film to the kung fu genre made popular by Bruce Lee
. Hot Potato and films like it entertained the same audience as the popular black films of the early seventies i.e. Super Fly, Shaft
, and Black Caesar
which were opposed by the activist organizations NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
) and CORE (Congress of Racial Equality
). However, such films also provided an international audience. This phenomenon meant the same amount of money could be invested to make a film with less political hassle and more profits.
) described as their best man, Black Belt Jones (Jim Kelly).
Jones assembled a small force of mercenaries to assist in the task at hand. Johnny Chicago(Geoffrey Benney,) whose primary motivation in life was money, was the first the mercenaries introduced in the film. The duo of Jones and Chicago were joined by Pamala (Irene Tsu
), a Chang Lan operative who was to act as the group's interpreter and guide. She quickly proved her usefulness as a skilled fighter as she took on several goons refusing assistance from Jones and Chicago. Finally the group joins up with Rhino (George Mommelli) at a brothel. Rhino is a grotesque Italian from Texas with a passion for women and food.
Rangoon's scheme was more diabolical than kidnapping and extortion. He also arranged for a prostitute named Leslie (also played by Judith Brown) to pose as the senator's daughter for the rescue party to free her. Leslie was concerned for her safety if she were discovered. So, to insure her safety she stole some letters from Rangoon's office. If the material in the letters were to get out it could spell the end of Rangoon.
Jones and his team invade Rangoon's jungle fortress, symbolic of Hannabal Barba on the backs of elephants.
After the rescue Rangoon discovers his letters are missing and dispatches his minions to follow them through the jungle.
As the group make their way through the jungle they engage several groups of henchmen, all of whom fail. The plot begins to thicken as well. Romantic involvement begins to form as Chicago falls in love with Leslie. The group is also joined by a native woman and her son whom Rhino won in a wrestling match.
Jones becomes suspicious of the impostor and at the opportune moment went looking in the purse she seemed to cherish more than life itself. He found the letters. The group attacked and Leslie was taken. Jones proposed a trade: the letters for the girl. Things did not go as planned and Leslie was killed.
Jones then plans a covert attack on Rangoon's primary estate ending in a one-on-one fight scene between Rangoon and Jones as the senator's daughter hung over a pit of tigers.
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
written and directed by Oscar Williams
Oscar Williams (filmmaker)
- Filmography :Director:*Death Drug *Hot Potato *Five on the Black Hand Side *The Final Comedown Writer:*Truck Turner...
. The film was a Weintraub and Heller production starring Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly (martial artist)
James M. "Jim" "the Dragon" Kelly is an American athlete, actor, and martial artist who came to prominence in the early 1970s. He is best known from his performance as Williams in the 1973 Bruce Lee film Enter the Dragon.-Early life:...
. Jim Kelly also arranged his own fight scenes. Hot Potato was filmed on location in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
. It is a follow-up to Black Belt Jones
Black Belt Jones
Black Belt Jones is a 1974 American Blaxploitation action film. The main musical theme was performed by the funk guitarist Dennis Coffey. The film was featured as number 38 on the documentary The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made.-Plot:...
. The film was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
This film came along toward the end of one genre in film and helped mark the beginning of a new genre. It provides a bridge from what is commonly known as blaxploitation
Blaxploitation
Blaxploitation or blacksploitation is a film genre which emerged in the United States circa 1970. It is considered an ethnic sub-genre of the general category of exploitation films. Blaxploitation films were originally made specifically for an urban black audience, although the genre's audience...
film to the kung fu genre made popular by Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
. Hot Potato and films like it entertained the same audience as the popular black films of the early seventies i.e. Super Fly, Shaft
Shaft (1971 film)
Shaft is a 1971 American blaxploitation film directed by Gordon Parks, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. An action film with elements of film noir, Shaft tells the story of a black private detective, John Shaft, who travels through Harlem and to the Italian mob neighborhoods in order to find the...
, and Black Caesar
Black Caesar (film)
Black Caesar is a 1973 American blaxploitation film, starring Fred Williamson and Gloria Hendry. The film was written and directed by Larry Cohen. It is a remake of the 1931 film Little Caesar. It features a notable musical score by James Brown , his first experience with writing music for film...
which were opposed by the activist organizations NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
) and CORE (Congress of Racial Equality
Congress of Racial Equality
The Congress of Racial Equality or CORE was a U.S. civil rights organization that originally played a pivotal role for African-Americans in the Civil Rights Movement...
). However, such films also provided an international audience. This phenomenon meant the same amount of money could be invested to make a film with less political hassle and more profits.
Plot
Hot Potato begins in Chang Lan, a fictional country somewhere in east Asia. The villain Carter Rangoon (Sam Hiona) orchestrated the kidnapping of a U.S. senator's daughter a Ms. June Dunbar(Judith Brown). Rangoon's demands were to see aid to Chang Lan or Ms. Dunbar would be executed. The U.S. was in a difficult situation. They were not welcome in that area of the world and had little influence in the region. They sent in whom the general (Ron PrinceRon Prince
Ron Prince is an American football coach who currently is the assistant offensive line coach with the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. From 2006 through 2008, Prince was the head football coach at Kansas State University. He was one of six African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I-Bowl...
) described as their best man, Black Belt Jones (Jim Kelly).
Jones assembled a small force of mercenaries to assist in the task at hand. Johnny Chicago(Geoffrey Benney,) whose primary motivation in life was money, was the first the mercenaries introduced in the film. The duo of Jones and Chicago were joined by Pamala (Irene Tsu
Irene Tsu
Irene Tsu is a Chinese American actress who started in the film adaptation Flower Drum Song in 1961 and has had many subsequent roles in TV and films...
), a Chang Lan operative who was to act as the group's interpreter and guide. She quickly proved her usefulness as a skilled fighter as she took on several goons refusing assistance from Jones and Chicago. Finally the group joins up with Rhino (George Mommelli) at a brothel. Rhino is a grotesque Italian from Texas with a passion for women and food.
Rangoon's scheme was more diabolical than kidnapping and extortion. He also arranged for a prostitute named Leslie (also played by Judith Brown) to pose as the senator's daughter for the rescue party to free her. Leslie was concerned for her safety if she were discovered. So, to insure her safety she stole some letters from Rangoon's office. If the material in the letters were to get out it could spell the end of Rangoon.
Jones and his team invade Rangoon's jungle fortress, symbolic of Hannabal Barba on the backs of elephants.
After the rescue Rangoon discovers his letters are missing and dispatches his minions to follow them through the jungle.
As the group make their way through the jungle they engage several groups of henchmen, all of whom fail. The plot begins to thicken as well. Romantic involvement begins to form as Chicago falls in love with Leslie. The group is also joined by a native woman and her son whom Rhino won in a wrestling match.
Jones becomes suspicious of the impostor and at the opportune moment went looking in the purse she seemed to cherish more than life itself. He found the letters. The group attacked and Leslie was taken. Jones proposed a trade: the letters for the girl. Things did not go as planned and Leslie was killed.
Jones then plans a covert attack on Rangoon's primary estate ending in a one-on-one fight scene between Rangoon and Jones as the senator's daughter hung over a pit of tigers.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Jim Kelly Jim Kelly (martial artist) James M. "Jim" "the Dragon" Kelly is an American athlete, actor, and martial artist who came to prominence in the early 1970s. He is best known from his performance as Williams in the 1973 Bruce Lee film Enter the Dragon.-Early life:... |
Jones |
| George Memmolli | Rhino |
| Geoffrey Benney | Chicago |
| Irene Tsu Irene Tsu Irene Tsu is a Chinese American actress who started in the film adaptation Flower Drum Song in 1961 and has had many subsequent roles in TV and films... |
Pam |
| Judith Brown | Leslie/June Dunbar |
| Sam Hiona | Rangoon |
| Ron Prince Ron Prince Ron Prince is an American football coach who currently is the assistant offensive line coach with the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. From 2006 through 2008, Prince was the head football coach at Kansas State University. He was one of six African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I-Bowl... |
General |
| Hardy Stockmann | Krugman |
| Metta Rungrat | Rhino's Lady |
| Supakorn Songssermvorakul | the boy |
| Somchai Meekunsut | Pujo |
| Veerapol Pitavan | Longkat |
| Puchong Makaraj | Hoss |
| Yuen Biao Yuen Biao Yuen Biao is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist. He specialises in acrobatics and Chinese martial arts and has worked on over 80 films as actor, stuntman and action choreographer... |
supporting role |