SYNOPSIS

The Black Six (1973) is an American action drama and biker film directed by Matt Cimber and written by George Theakos, with an original story by Cimber. The film stars Gene Washington, Carl Eller, Lem Barney, Mercury Morris, Willie Lanier, and Joe Greene, six professional football players who portray the members of an African American motorcycle gang. It combines elements of blaxploitation, biker cinema, and a story of racial conflict and revenge.

The story follows Bubba Daniels and his five Vietnam War veteran friends, collectively known as the Black Six. The men have chosen a peaceful life on the road, avoiding the violence and racial tensions they encountered before and during their military service. Their outlook changes when Bubba learns that his younger brother Eddie, a high school football player, has been murdered by a white motorcycle gang after being discovered with Jenny King, a white girl whose brother leads the gang.

Bubba returns home with his friends to comfort his family and investigate Eddie's death. Although the Black Six initially intend to avoid violence, they encounter intimidation, racism, and resistance from the local authorities as they seek justice. Their journey ultimately forces them to confront the very conflict they had spent years trying to escape.

PLOT (Spoiler Alert)

Eddie Daniels, a Black high school football player, is secretly dating Jenny King, a white girl from his small town. The couple hopes to leave the area and begin a new life after Eddie receives a college football scholarship. When Jenny's brother Moose discovers their relationship, he and his motorcycle gang attack Eddie at the local football field and beat him to death.

Meanwhile, Eddie's older brother Bubba and five fellow Vietnam veterans—Jr. Brother Williams, Frenchy LaBoise, Bookie Garrett, Tommy Bunka, and Kevin Washington—travel through the countryside on motorcycles while working as farmhands. The men have deliberately rejected violence after their experiences in Vietnam, but a confrontation at a racist truck stop demonstrates that avoiding conflict will not always be possible. Bubba subsequently receives word that Eddie has been murdered and returns home with the other five members of the group.

Bubba discovers that the local community knows who killed Eddie but is reluctant to challenge Moose and his gang. After facing further racial hostility and realizing that the authorities are unwilling or unable to provide justice, the Black Six decide that they must confront Moose's gang themselves. The two groups eventually meet in a violent confrontation that culminates in an opposing biker apparently detonating his own motorcycle, killing himself and others. The film ends with a title promising that the Black Six will return if they are challenged again.

PRODUCTION

The Black Six was directed by Matt Cimber and produced through Moonstone Productions. George Theakos wrote the screenplay, with Cimber credited with the original story. William Swenning served as director of photography and film editor, while David Moscoe composed the music. Rafer Johnson and Michael Blowitz were associate producers.

The film is notable for casting six then-current NFL players in its principal roles: Gene Washington, Carl Eller, Lem Barney, Mercury Morris, Willie Lanier, and Joe Greene. It was one of the earliest films to combine the emerging blaxploitation and biker-film genres with an ensemble of professional football stars.

RELEASE

The film was released in the United States in October 1973, with some sources recording a November 2, 1973, release date. AFI records a running time of either 90 or 94 minutes and an MPAA rating of R. It initially played in smaller venues before expanding to larger markets, including Los Angeles and New York, in early 1974.

The film has subsequently become a cult title associated with the blaxploitation and biker genres. Its unusual casting of six NFL stars, particularly Joe Greene and Gene Washington, remains one of its most distinctive features.

CAST

• Mikel Angel as Snake

• Robert Howard as Eddie Daniels

• Cindy Daly as Jenny King

• Gene Washington as Bubba Daniels

• Carl Eller as Jr. Brother Williams

• Lem Barney as Frenchy LaBoise

• Mercury Morris as Bookie Garrett

• Willie Lanier as Tommy Bunka

• Joe Greene as Kevin Washington

• John Isenbarger as Moose King

• Maury Wills as Coach Edwards

• Ben Davidson as Thor

• Hannah Dean as Mrs. Daniels

• Lydia Dean as Sissy

• Garnett Higgens as Mrs. Perkins

CREW

• Director: Matt Cimber

• Original Story: Matt Cimber

• Screenplay: George Theakos

• Producer: Matt Cimber

• Associate Producers: Rafer Johnson, Michael Blowitz

• Cinematography: William Swenning

• Editing: William Swenning / Robert Carlson

• Music: David Moscoe

• Sound: Dick Damon

• Production Company: Moonstone Productions

• Distributor: Cinemation Industries, Inc.

IMDb Rating

4.3/10 — based on approximately 700 user ratings at the time of research.

TRIVIA

The film is also known as The Black 6, the title used in AFI's catalog.

Six professional NFL players portray the members of the Black Six motorcycle gang.

Gene Washington of the San Francisco 49ers received his first starring film role as Bubba Daniels.

The film marked the acting debuts of Carl Eller, Lem Barney, Mercury Morris, Willie Lanier, and Joe Greene.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers baseball star Maury Wills also appears in the film as Coach Edwards.

Ben Davidson, an NFL player for the Oakland Raiders, appears as the biker Thor.

The film was produced by Moonstone Productions and distributed by Cinemation Industries.

Principal photography began on June 11, 1973, according to production records.

The film combines the blaxploitation and biker-film genres, with its protagonists portrayed as Vietnam veterans.

The six main characters deliberately attempt to avoid violence after returning from Vietnam, making their eventual confrontation with Moose's gang central to the story.

The film's closing title promises that the Black Six will return, although no sequel was produced.

The film has subsequently been included in collections devoted to exploitation and blaxploitation cinema.