TOUGH!

( aka Johnny Tough )

&

THE BUS IS COMING

(1974 / 1971)

Special Two DVD Disc set!


DIRECTOR: Tough!: Horace Jackson (Deliver Us From Evil) / The Bus is Coming: Wendell Franklin (written by Horace Jackson)

STARS: Tough!: Dion Gossett, Christopher Townes, Renny Roker, Rich Holmes / The Bus is Coming: Mike B Sims, Stephanie Faulkner, Burl Bullock

SYNOPSIS: Two extremely rare 70's black cast dramas

Tough!: Often compared to Francois Truffaut's 400 Blows this slice of African American life in 70's California is one for the time capsule. The film follows the average Johnny who's neither a model student nor a full blown street thug. He has problems at home, in school and on the street. He's a struggling, puzzled, kid trying to find himself. Shoplifting, causing trouble at school, lying to his teacher, annoying his well-meaning father, starting a fire, etc. Dion Gossett is natural and likable as the troubled Johnny. Christopher Townes as his street smart, class clown, pal almost steals the movie! The success of this film is the fact that director/writer Horace Jackson was able to capture some real genuine moments of black teens on the West Coast circa 1974. Not too many (if any) films come to mind which can make that claim. It also has a pretty damn funky score. Never released in any home format in the U.S. - this is real rarity!

The Bus is Coming: In the heart of 1970's Compton (California) a black civic leader is killed by racist cops. His brother returns home from a tour in Viet Nam and starts investigating the murder. A no-nonsense "Black Fist" militant group (they even have a nursery school!) is also looking into the events. After getting beaten by the crooked cops our hero starts to see the violent Black Fist point of view. Some surprising chase scenes, shootings and beatings (but no nudity) for this PG-rated rarity. The film's title comes from two supporting characters, a blind man and young boy, who hold out hope for a (symbolic) bus to arrive. Not Blaxploitation but serious low budget drama.

*For more see: Honky / Miss Melody Jones, Speeding Up Time, Blackjack, The Wild Pack and Darktown Strutters

Fullscreen / Color

Region Free NTSC dvd-R

BLACK dvd case (above image is the front cover art)



Buy "Tough / Bus is Coming" : $30.00




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