Boss Nigger (The Black Bounty Killer) (1974)

73% of users liked it
(469 ratings)

A black cowboy saves a frontier town from both the law and the bad guys in this western written by and starring Fred "The Hammer" Williamson. Boss (Williamson) is an African-American bounty hunter traveling though the Wild West with his best friend and sidekick Amos (D'urville Martin), gunning down… More A black cowboy saves a frontier town from both the law and the bad guys in this western written by and starring Fred "The Hammer" Williamson. Boss (Williamson) is an African-American bounty hunter traveling though the Wild West with his best friend and sidekick Amos (D'urville Martin), gunning down wanted men and claiming the rewards when they make their way into town. When Boss bests a man in a gunfight, he discovers the victim had an invitation to become sheriff of San Miguel, a town under the control of notorious outlaw Jed Clayton (William Smith). Boss and Amos head to San Miguel, hoping to claim the hefty reward for capturing Clayton, but they discover the corrupt and venal Mayor Griffin (R.G. Armstrong) has to be bullied into making a black man sheriff. When Boss shoots two of Clayton's henchman during a barroom brawl, it brings the outlaw out of hiding, but it also makes life dangerous for anyone who dares to side with Boss, including Clara Mae (Carmen Hayworth), a beautiful woman he rescued from an ambush that claimed her father. Boss also finds time for a romantic assignation with Miss Pruitt (Barbara Leigh), the town's pretty schoolmarm, and Amos's new career as deputy allows him to interpret certain laws to his own advantage. Boss Nigger was also distributed under the less controversial title The Black Bounty Hunter, and has been released on home video simply as Boss. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Jack Arnold
Genres: Western, Action & Adventure, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 18, 1975 Wide
On DVD: Oct 21, 2008

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

Blaxploitation/Western. Can't get any better than that. :D
Cassandra M

Two black cowboys ride majestically across the American plain. The music is a kind of funk-Morricone, with a singer enthusiastically explaining that "They call him Boss. BOSS N*GGER!" A black woman is being assaulted by a group of white cowboys, our black heroes intervene… More
Two black cowboys ride majestically across the American plain. The music is a kind of funk-Morricone, with a singer enthusiastically explaining that "They call him Boss. BOSS N*GGER!" A black woman is being assaulted by a group of white cowboys, our black heroes intervene and save this damsel in distress. A blaxploitation Western was bound to happen eventually, and its a good thing Fred Williamson got there first. What Boss N*gger lacks in technical proficiency and skill it makes up for in heart and soul. The music is funktacular, especially the catchy theme tune, and the acting from our heroes is wonderful. Boss N*gger also boasts some very funny lines, such as Boss kissing a white woman, before going, "that's just to satisfy your curiosity." It's slow at parts, but the idea of two black bounty hunters coming to a white town and setting their own rules is appealing, and the film pulls it off. There are also some great shootouts, especially the finale, which is really quite exhilarating, and features a remarkable, almost downbeat ending. This film is by no means a masterpiece, but it is one of the best blaxploitation films I've seen, and an admirable effort on a small budget.
Walter M

The movie opens with bounty hunters Boss(Fred Williamson, who also wrote and co-produced) and Amos(D'Urville Martin) killing a gang of outlaws. On their person, they find a lead to Jed Clayton(William Smith), a notorious criminal, and credentials for the new sheriff in San… More
The movie opens with bounty hunters Boss(Fred Williamson, who also wrote and co-produced) and Amos(D'Urville Martin) killing a gang of outlaws. On their person, they find a lead to Jed Clayton(William Smith), a notorious criminal, and credentials for the new sheriff in San Miguel, near where he is hiding out. On the way there, they take the time to rescue Clara Mae(Carmen Hayworth). However, the mayor(R.G. Armstrong) is hesitant at first to hire the men due to their skin color but later reconsiders as they are the only men in town who can handle a gun, which might prove useful when Clayton and his men go on a rampage. Yeah, first, about the title. In an introductory statement for the DVD release in 2008, Fred Williamson makes no apologies for the use of the n-word, pointing out what happens to those who use it in his films, sort of a negative reinforcement, if you will, as the scariest thing for many racists was a black man with a gun.(In any case, the word is historically accurate, as applied to westerns.) And that's not the most provocative move in this film, although one could claim it does not go far enough there. Looking back from a more enlightened age, this movie is nobody's idea of polished filmmaking, although it is an entertaining enough western with characters that are worth caring for.