''Tough'', also known as ''Johnny Tough'', is a 1974 blaxploitation film about a young teenager who rebels against authority. The film is a homage to ''

The 400 Blows ''The 400 Blows'' (french: Les Quatre Cents Coups) is a 1959 French coming-of-age drama film, and the directorial debut of François Truffaut. The film, shot in DyaliScope, stars Jean-Pierre Léaud, Albert Rémy, and Claire Maurier. One of ...

'' (1959).

Cast

Dion Gossett ''Tough'', also known as ''Johnny Tough'', is a 1974 blaxploitation film about a young teenager who rebels against authority. The film is a homage to ''The 400 Blows'' (1959). Cast * Dion Gossett as Johnny Banes * Christopher Townes as Chris * R ...

as Johnny Banes * Christopher Townes as Chris *

Renny Roker Renny Roker is a promoter and actor. As a promoter, he has been involved in both music and sport. He also ran various record labels with his brother Wally Roker in the 1970s. As an actor his career which really started in the 1960s has carried on ...

as Phil Banes * Rich Holmes as Mr. Bishop *

Sandy Reed Sandy Reed ( – February 7, 2004) was a track announcer with Ascot Park in Gardena, California, and the Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California. He was in several movies, including Richard Rush's 1967 film '' Thunder Alley'', th ...

as Denise Banes * Philip Hadler as David * Detra Piernas as Bonnie * Mary Bailey * Shawn Bailey

Reception

A. H. Weiler Abraham H. Weiler (December 10, 1908 – January 22, 2002) was an American writer and critic best known for being a film critic and motion picture editor for ''The New York Times''. He also served a term as chairman of the New York Film Critics ...

of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' called the performances from the young actors "natural and convincing," but found that the film "states its intentions honestly but superficially. The emotion generated is rarely equal to the drama's good intentions."

Gene Siskel Eugene Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 – February 20, 1999) was an American film critic and journalist for the ''Chicago Tribune''. Along with colleague Roger Ebert, he hosted a series of movie review programs on television from 1975 until his d ...

of the ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...

'' gave the film zero stars out of four, calling it a "shameful mess" that blended "a simplistic plea for adults to understand that their behavior influences children" with "a nasty collection of juvenile thrill scenes." Kevin Thomas of the ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

'' was positive and called the film "very poignant. As infuriating as its people can be, they are always recognizably human. Above all, the film goes right to the heart of the matter.

orace Flip the Frog is an Animation, animated Fictional character, cartoon character created by American animator Ub Iwerks. He starred in a series of cartoons produced by Pat Powers (businessman), Celebrity Pictures and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Ma ...

Jackson gets splendid performances all around and demonstrates a special gift for handling kids." Thomas, Kevin (October 10, 1974). "Why Johnny Can't Relate". ''

''. Part IV, p. 17.

References

External links

*
''Tough''
at TCMDB 1974 films Blaxploitation films 1974 drama films American drama films 1970s English-language films 1970s American films {{exploitation-film-stub

Cast

Reception

See also

References

External links