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Fight for Your Life

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Wikipedia article




'Fight for Your Life' is a 1977 American grindhouse blaxploitation thriller film directed by Robert A. Endelson and starring William Sanderson and Robert Judd. It was presented at the Quentin Tarantino Film Festival in the QT Six Lineup showing held in October 2005. The story revolves around three criminals (a White, Mexican, and Asian male) who hold a Black family hostage and forces them to fight for their lives.

Plot



Sanderson plays Kane, a hate-fuelled racist redneck who absconds from jail with his sidekicks (an Asian and a Mexican). They hole up in the secluded house of Ted Turner, a black minister, and his family, where harsh epithets are exchanged and the minister is forced to take action to defend his family.

Cast



* William Sanderson as Jessie Lee Kane

* Robert Judd as Ted Turner

* Cathrine Peppers as Mrs. Turner

* Lela Small as Grandma Turner

* Yvonne Ross as Corrie Turner

* Reggie Rock Bythewood as Floyd Turner (as Reginald Bythewood)

* Ramon Saunders as Val Turner

* Queenie Endelson as Dog

* Daniel Faraldo Chino

* Peter Yoshida Ling

* Bonnie Martin Karen

* David Cargill Lt. Reilly

* Richard A. Rubin Captain Hamilton

* David Dewlow Joey

* Pepe Hern Navarro

*Nick Hardin- Tony

Reception



'Fight for Your Life' has received a negative response from critics. 'TV Guide' called it "a vile low-budget film that couldn't have found a receptive audience even during the height of tough blaxploitation pictures." Allmovie called it an "outrageous sleazefest" and "amazingly racist". Others have defended the film, finding it an objective look at racism at its worst; the film enjoys a cult following among fans of extreme cinema and grindhouse.

Censorship



'Fight For Your Life' was denied a British theatrical release in 1981, but a video release the following year allowed the public brief access to the film before it wound up on the video nasties list and was outlawed. It is notable for being the only 'video nasty' to appear on the list due to language, specifically the racism displayed by Sanderson's character.

Availability



Briefly available in the United Kingdom on the independent video label Vision On, released circa 1982, but outlawed with the advent of the Video Recordings Act (1984), 'Fight For Your Life' was denied a British cinema release when it was rejected by the BBFC in October 1981. 'Fight For Your Life' was issued in the U.S. by Blue Underground as a remastered DVD. The director passed on providing a commentary track for the DVD reissue, but did grant an interview for the book 'Nightmare USA' in which he re-watched the film with his maid, Dorothy, and both provided retrospective insights on the film.

The original film negative, having been stored by the film rights holder in a New Jersey basement, was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

See also



* List of films featuring home invasions

References



*


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