''If He Hollers, Let Him Go!'' is a 1968 American

neo noir Neo-noir is a film genre that adapts the visual style and themes of 1940s and 1950s American film noir for contemporary audiences, often with more graphic depictions of violence and sexuality. During the late 1970s and the early 1980s, the term ...

crime film Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine with many other genres, such as Drama (film and television), dr ...

written and directed by Charles Martin (1910–1983), based on the 1945 novel of the same title by

Chester Himes Chester Bomar Himes (July 29, 1909 – November 12, 1984) was an American writer. His works, some of which have been filmed, include '' If He Hollers Let Him Go'', published in 1945, and the '' Harlem Detective'' series of novels for which he i ...

. It follows an escaped black convict, James Lake, accused of murder. He tries to prove his innocence. The movie is rated R.

Plot

The plot follows an escaped black convict, James Lake, who was falsely imprisoned for murder. He avoids a police search and is picked up by Leslie Whitlock. Leslie takes James to a mansion owned by his wife, Ellen. Leslie offers James $10,000 and a means of escape if he murders Ellen. James tries to warn Ellen of her husband's plans, but is unsuccessful. He flees the mansion and goes back into hiding from the police. During this, he is reminded of a past relationship with a nightclub singer, Lily. Also, he concludes that it is impossible for him to hide from the police by his lonesome. After he goes back to their mansion, James coerces the Whitlocks to get him through police checks and to take them to their mountain cabin. It is there where Mr. Whitlock reveals his murderous plan, after being deceived by James. Together, Ellen and James flee the cottage. They decide to go to the home of James's brother. He finds out that his brother married Lily, as she thought James would be imprisoned for life. Lily still agrees to help James prove his innocence. Lake, with help from his friends, finds the stepfather of the murdered girl. Carl Blair, the stepfather, is confronted in a warehouse and is intimidated into confessing that he killed his own daughter. Soon, Mr. Whitlock arrives with an escort of police officers. A firefight ensues, resulting in the death of Mr. Whitlock. Blair is arrested. Grateful, Ellen promises to use her wealth and power to clear Mr. Lake's name. During this quest, he faces discrimination.

Music

The movie features three songs: A Man Has To Love, sung by

Barbara McNair Barbara Jean McNair (March 4, 1934 – February 4, 2007) was an American singer and theater, television, and film actress. McNair's career spanned over five decades in television, film, and stage. McNair's professional career began in music dur ...

, written by Charles Martin and music by

Sammy Fain Sammy Fain (born Samuel E. Feinberg; June 17, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was an American composer of popular music. In the 1920s and early 1930s, he contributed numerous songs that form part of The Great American Songbook, and to Broadway theatr ...

; Can't Make It With the Same Man Twice, sung by

, written by Charles Martin and music by

; as well as So Tired, sung by

, written and composed by

Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson (June 14, 1932, Manhattan, New York or possibly (unconfirmed) Winston-Salem, North Carolina – March 9, 2004, Chicago) was an American composer whose interests spanned the worlds of jazz, dance, pop, film, televisi ...

. A soundtrack was released on April 30, 2012.

Cast

Dana Wynter Dana Wynter (born Dagmar Winter; 8 June 19315 May 2011) was a German-born British actress, who was raised in the United Kingdom and southern Africa. She appeared in film and television for more than 40 years, beginning in the 1950s. Her best-kn ...

as Ellen Whitlock *

Raymond St. Jacques Raymond St. Jacques (born James Arthur Johnson; March 1, 1930 – August 27, 1990) was an American actor, director and producer whose career spanned over thirty years on stage, film and television. St. Jacques is noted as the first Black actor ...

as James Lake *

Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthy (born January 26, 1965) is an American politician who served as the List of speakers of the United States House of Representatives, 55th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from January until he was Remova ...

as Leslie Whitlock *

as Lily *

Arthur O'Connell Arthur Joseph O'Connell (March 29, 1908 – May 18, 1981) was an American stage, film and television actor, who achieved prominence in character roles in the 1950s. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for both ''Picn ...

as Prosecutor * John Russell as Sheriff * Ann Prentiss as Thelma Wilson *

Royal Dano Royal Edward Dano Sr. (November 16, 1922 – May 15, 1994) was an American actor. In a career spanning 46 years, he was perhaps best known for playing cowboys, villains, and Abraham Lincoln. Dano also provided the voice of the Audio-Animatronic ...

as Carl Blair

Production

The movie was produced and distributeded by Cinerama Releasing Corporation.

Reception

Box office

There is no published information about the box office earnings for this film.

Critical response

Although it might be regarded as "reputable first-run theater", Roger Ebert disagrees. He criticizes the movie for exploiting "nudity and racism." He thinks that no decency is afforded to its black actors. The plot itself is called "exploitative and absolutely garbage". Mr. Ebert ends his review calling the If He Hollers, Let Him Go! "an evil film, a dishonest film, an ugly film."

Accolades

References

External links

* * *{{Rotten Tomatoes, if_he_hollers_let_him_go_1968 1968 films 1968 crime drama films American crime drama films Films about miscarriage of justice Films based on American novels Films scored by Harry Sukman 1960s English-language films Films directed by Charles Martin 1960s American films English-language crime drama films