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Black Lolita
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Wikipedia article
'Black Lolita' is a 3D blaxploitation film directed by Stephen Gibson. It was released in 1975 under that title. Some time later, new footage was added to create another film, which was released under the title of 'Wildcat Women'. It is about a singer who returns to her home town to fight the gangsters who have taken it over. It stars Yolanda Love, Ed Cheatwood, Susan Ayers and Joey Ginza.
Premise
A beautiful singer whose career is on the rise finds out that her relatives are being harassed by criminals. She returns to her hometown to take revenge on them.'The Paris News', June 8, 1975 - [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/9743131/ Page 37]Letterboxd - [https://letterboxd.com/film/black-lolita/ Black Lolita 1975 Directed by Stephen Gibson] She puts together a team to take them on, and Buddha, the criminal boss who murdered her uncle, from whom he was trying to extort money.Turner Classic Movies - [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/489321/Black-Lolita/ Black Lolita(1975) Brief Synopsis]Nostalgia Central - [http://nostalgiacentral.com/movies/movies-by-decade/movies-1970s/black-lolita-1975/ Black Lolita (1975)]
Background
The film is also called 'Bad Lolita', and was released in 1975. The original was released in 3D.'Ashley Marcelline's Black Film & Video Guide', Ashley Marcelline, Black Cinema Network, 1994 - [https://books.google.com.au/books?id=4o0YAAAAIAAJ&dq=%22Black+Lolita%22&q=%22Black+Lolita%22&redir_esc=y Page 23 Black Lolita/Bad Lolita]'Blaxploitation cinema:
the essential reference guide', Josiah Howard - [https://books.google.com/books?id=uKMbAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Black+Lolita%22&dq=%22Black+Lolita%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjZ37rDlp7cAhUJKpQKHeLvCu04FBDoAQhYMAk Page 100] It was announced in the January 20, 1975 issue of 'Box' that the film was possibly the first black action movie to be filmed in 3D and that it was scheduled to open in Chicago in the near future.American Film Institute - [https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/61954 Wildcat Women (1976)]
At the time when the film was made, Blaxploitation films were still very popular. Producer / director Stephen Gibson thought that some other films of that genre, like the Rudy Ray Moore films, weren't that good, and he thought he could work in that area as long as he delivered. He didn't do enough market research, and the film sank.'3-D Filmmakers: Conversations with Creators of Stereoscopic Motion Pictures', By Ray Zone - [https://books.google.com/books?id=L_aWx3hHiD0C&pg=PA31&dq=%22Black+Lolita%22&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22Black%20Lolita%22&f=false Steve Gibson Page 31 - 33] The film played at Detroit's Grand Circus theater where popcorn was thrown at the screen and seats were damaged.'3D Revolution: The History of Modern Stereoscopic Cinema', By Ray Zone - [https://books.google.com/books?id=k2Ajw-EEOEkC&pg=PA105&dq=%22Black+Lolita%22&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22Black%20Lolita%22&f=false Page 105] Because he owned the picture, Gibson only had to worry about getting back his own money. He decided to change the title and shoot extra footage and other footage to add the story. The finished product was a different film altogether. It was called 'Wildcat Women'. 'Black Lolita' and 'Wildcat Women' are actually two different films.'3-D Filmmakers: Conversations with Creators of Stereoscopic Motion Pictures', By Ray Zone - [https://books.google.com/books?id=L_aWx3hHiD0C&pg=PA31&dq=%22Black+Lolita%22&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22Black%20Lolita%22&f=false Steve Gibson Page 31 - 33]
Music
The music for the film was composed by Joe Greene, Marva Farmer and Steve Dexter.RingosTrack - [https://ringostrack.com/en/movie/black-lolita/11945 Black Lolita Soundtrack (1975) OST] Additional music was provided by The Charades. The two songs they contributed were the title song and the love theme 'Tulare Advance-Register', Friday, February 13, 1987 - [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/515512048/ Page 6 Accent on entertainment, 30 years of The Charades]Screenings
The film was screened at the Plaza in Detroit in June 1975, and was doubled with 'Quadroon', which explored the status of mixed-race women in early 1800s New Orleans.'The Paris News', June 8, 1975 - [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/9743131/ Page 37] Also in Detroit, it screened at the Grand Circus where it didn't do well.'3D Revolution: The History of Modern Stereoscopic Cinema', By Ray Zone - [https://books.google.com/books?id=k2Ajw-EEOEkC&pg=PA105&dq=%22Black+Lolita%22&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22Black%20Lolita%22&f=false Page 105]
Cast and crew
Cast
* Lolita ... Yolanda Love* Ed Cheatwood ... Cleon
* Joey Ginza ... Buddha
* Susan Ayres ... Robbie
* Judy Williams ... Shirley
* Zenobia Wittacre ... Pearl
* Larry Ellis ... Tinker
Crew
* Richard Albain Sr ... Special effects* Mike Brown ... Story and screenplay
* Steve Dexter ... Muisic
* Thomas L. Fisher ... Special effects
* Stephen Gibson ... Director, producer, story and screenplay
* Arnold Herr ... Camera assistant
* Parker Johnson ... Executive producer
* Jef Richard ... Production manager
* Bruce Scott ... Sound
British Film Institute - [https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8d226f35 Black Lolita (1975), Cast & Credits]
References
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