- Detroit 9000
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Detroit 9000 
Film posterDirected by Arthur Marks Produced by Arthur Marks
Chuck StroudWritten by Orville H. Hampton Starring Rudy Challenger
Scatman Crothers
Ella EdwardsMusic by Luchi de Jesus Cinematography Harry May Distributed by Rolling Thunder Pictures Release date(s) 1973 Running time 106 min Country USA Language English Detroit 9000 is a 1973 American cult film directed by Arthur Marks from a screenplay by Orville Hampton. Originally marketed as a blaxploitation film, it had a resurgence on video 25 years later.
Contents
Plot
Street-smart white detective Danny Bassett (Alex Rocco) teams with educated black detective Sgt. Jesse Williams (Hari Rhodes) to investigate a theft of $400,000 at a fund-raiser for Representative Aubrey Hale Clayton (Rudy Challenger).[1]
Filming
The movie was shot on location in downtown Detroit and close-in neighborhoods. A number of now demolished landmark buildings can be seen including the J.L. Hudson Company, and the Fort Street Terminal train station. Fort Street Station was already closed when filming was taking place and the approach tracks to the station were used for a chase scene. The now restored Book Cadillac Hotel was used in the reception scenes, including the hotel's famed crystal ballroom. Although the hotel closed in 1983 and sat dormant for over 20 years, it was restored and reopened by the Westin Hotel group in 2009. Although Detroit suffered from race rioting in July of 1967, and the riots are referred to in the movie, the film avoided showing areas that still showed signs of heavy damage from the rioting.
Championed by Quentin Tarantino it was released on video by Miramax in April 1999.[2]
Cast
- Hari Rhodes as Sergeant Jesse Williams
- Alex Rocco as Lieutenant Danny Bassett
- Vonetta McGee as Ruby Harris
- Ella Edwards as Helen Durbin
- Scatman Crothers as Reverend Markham
- Herb Jefferson, Jr. as Ferdy
- Robert Phillips as Captain Chalmers
- Rudy Challenger as Aubrey Hale Clayton
- James Gates as Detective in the background of one of the police station scenes
- (Council Cargle as Drew Sheppard
References
- ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (October 9, 1998). FILM REVIEW; Detective Buddies and Racial Boundaries. New York Times
- ^ Staff report (April 9, 1999). New Video Releases. New York Times
External links
- Detroit 9000 at the Internet Movie Database
- Detroit 9000 at AllRovi
Categories:- 1973 films
- American films
- Action thriller films
- Blaxploitation films
- Films set in Michigan
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