subdue them, and they are subsequently arrested. Cast Jim Kelly as "Black Belt" Jones Gloria Hendry as Sydney Byrd Scatman Crothers as "Pop" Byrd Eric Laneuville as Quincy Alan Weeks as "Toppy" Andre Philippe as Don Steffano Vincent Barbi as "Big Tuna" Mel Novak as "Blue Eyes" Malik Carter as "Pinky" Eddie Smith as Oscar Earl Jolly Brown as "Jelly" Jac Emil as Marvin "Marv The Butcher" Earl Maynard as Bogart Marla Gibbs as Betty Ted Lange as Militant Clarence Barnes as "Tango" Esther Sutherland as Lucy Nate Esformes as Roberts Production The Shaw Brothers, a major Hong Kong movie studio, initiated the U.S. Kung Fu film invasion with 1972's Five Fingers of Death and other films depicting realistic and brutal action. In 1973, Cleopatra Jones connected martial arts in Blaxploitation, with a strong Black female lead, skillfully trained in karate. As a teenager born in Millersburg, Kentucky and raised in Paris, Kentucky Jim Kelly grew up as an all-around athlete, and had a chance to become a professional football player. He gained his fame in the martial arts community through the 1971 Ed Parkers Internationals. After completing Enter the Dragon, he immediately signed a three-film deal with Warner Bros. Black Belt Jones was filmed soon after. Kelly is still arguably most known for his role in Enter the Dragon. Reception The film had a mixed reception. Some reviewers critiqued Kelly for trying to be too much like Bruce Lee, and thought the acting was only fair. Yet it still gained a cult film status later on. Soundtrack Funk guitarist Dennis Coffey is credited for the film's soundtrack. Sequel The film was followed by a sequel, Hot Potato. See also List of American films of 1974 References External links 1974 films 1974 martial arts films American martial arts films Blaxploitation films Karate films Kung fu films Jones, Black Belt Warner Bros. films American action films 1970s action films American films about revenge American vigilante films American action adventure films American exploitation films 1970s English-language films 1970s American films