Directed by Jules Dassin
104 minutes
In English

A largely unseen masterpiece by the great director Jules Dassin (Rififi).  Set in the turbulent days directly following the assassination of Martin Luther King, this film reflects the reactions of the black communities... along with the rise of the armed black power movement. Certainly an unusual feature film to come out of the normally uptight Hollywood movie industry, but on the other hand it's not surprising that the film has hardly ever been shown! 

This flick depicts the days when Cleveland broke out in riots, and follows a group of black militants who break into a warehouse and steal guns and ammunition to fight the man. The movie centers around one guy who informs on his friend for a 1000 dollar reward. The film has an incredibly realistic feel, with lots of real discussions between characters about how black people should respond to the racism in the states. It captures an atmosphere thick with despair and rage, and contains a driving musical score by the legendary Booker T. & the M.G.'s.

Director Jules Dassin was hunted down in the 1950s during the McCarthy era, when a right-wing, paranoid anti-communist committee cleaned up the Hollywood system.... and forced people to become informers against their friends, destroying the lives of a lot of innocent people in the process. Dassin refused to give names, and therefore was blacklisted and run out of America. He came to Europe for refuge. Uptight was a movie he made years later, when he returned to the States for the first time. You can see two things in this tremendous film: 1) director Dassin was totally open to the times and that's why he made a film about the black power movement, and 2) he also chose the theme of using informants as a reflection of his own experience that led him into exile.

One reaction about this rare film:

"The movie follows through on its no-holds-barred depiction of African American life in the USA at the time. It also depicts accurately how the 'black power' movement was resonating very powerfully in the country's urban ghettos. It is a terrific movie with a fabulous cast. A few years after seeing the movie I became very friendly with one of its stars, Raymond St. Jacques, he told me that "nobody could find a copy of the movie, not even Jules Dassin", its director. Many people felt that the movie industry and "gov't" had moved to squelch the showing of this film. Finally the soundtrack is amazing. Booker T of the MGs created just the right propulsive tension to capture the story's essence."

and another:

"This is a real classic...it was made during a tumultuous time in urban black America and it reflected the conflict... outstanding performances from max julien...  this was a real blood and soul performance..raymond st. Jacques, ruby dee, dick williams, frank silvera, roscoe lee brown...this was a tremendous movie with a heart and soul you just don't see...if you ever, EVER, get a chance to see this....do it. There would not be many movies that combined intelligence and substance for numerous black actors and actresses in the same setting. Way ahead of its time. These folks were truly inspired, hats off to the director (Jules Dassin) for creating a lasting work.."

This will be a high-definition screening.