Movie review – “Coffy” (1973) ***

Jack Hill discovered Pam Grier and launched her in The Big Doll House and the Big Bird Cage in the Philippines, then devised an actual vehicle for her. It’s a fondly-remembered blaxploitation classic – 70s TNA feminism par excellance - with Grier as the title character, a nurse who spends her spare time blowing away drug dealers. It’s a shame Grier didn’t manage to keep going in the late 70s as a star. She’s magnificent, with that massive Affro (she puts razors in it), huge chest, imposing physique. Not the best actor in the world, maybe, but she’s a genuine action star, and if you think that’s easy – well, who else could you imagine playing this sort of role? If you remade it today, who could do it – out of not just black actors (Halle Berry?) but of any race (maybe Angelina Jolie).

There are some flat scenes, like dialogue with her bland cop friend, and a mostly inadequate supporting cast, but the film is terrific fun. There’s magnificent cat fight – women ripping each others tops off at a party (Hill enjoyed filming cat fights, he did several throughout his career) - plus some top-notch action scenes: Grier blowing people away (often in cold blood), driving a car into a house, smacking prostitutes around, etc. Grier learns she has to rely on herself – her sister’s a druggie, the cops are useless, even her black politician boyfriend is a crook. (NB I wonder if Hill was inspired by The Naked Kiss.)

(NB The film came about because Larry Gordon, AIP’s head of production, had wanted to make Cleopatra Jones but the producer of that film went to Warner Bros, so Gordon wanted to get revenge. Hill agreed, partly because of his relationship with Pam Grier. Foxy Brown was originally meant to be a sequel but then AIP decided originals made more money that sequels and had Hill change it.)