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Lookin' Pretty Sharp At The End of The World: Anna Kanakis and Fred Williamson sporting the hottest Spaghetti Apocalypse fashions in 1983's "Warriors of The Apocalypse."

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BLACK CAESAR (Cohen, 1973)

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Artist's Blog #215 - Three the Hard Way (1974)

3 Big Names on the Same Exploitation Ticket

If there’s one thing I love about digging into classic genre cinema it’s discovering how filmmakers in the 1970s blended cultural commentary with pure escapist action. That’s exactly what Three the Hard Way delivers — a 1974 blaxploitation action thriller directed by Gordon Parks Jr., with a cast lineup that reads like a dream for anyone who loves genre cinema: Jim Brown, Fred Williamson, and martial arts icon Jim Kelly. So, you can read more about Jim Kelly in my blogs on, mainly, Enter the Dragon and last week's Death Dimension. As for Fred Williamson, you can read my thoughts on Black Cobra, Black Cobra III, and From Dusk till Dawn. I have talked about Running Man too which has Jim Brown in it but, I don't know that he was a real focus. I've written so many of these blogs at this point that it's hard to keep up. Grab you gun or karate suit - your choice - and let's jump into my thoughts on Three the Hard Way.

A Government Conspiracy? No, These Can Never Be True.

From the very first moments, Three the Hard Way grabs your attention with a stark and chilling premise that feels as if it was pulled from the darkest pages of a lurid comic book: a white supremacist organization led by the sinister Monroe Feather schemes to poison major U.S. water supplies with a toxin engineered to be lethal only to Black citizens. This premise may sound sensational — and it is — but it’s exactly this blend of audacious plotting and social urgency that made 1970s blaxploitation films resonate then and continue to intrigue viewers today. If you dig into government conspiracies, you'll even find that people believe that the government was behind the crack epidemic and even HIV. I have not done any research into any truth into either of these ideas but, let's face it, regardless of your political opinions, would you really put anything past the government today? I certainly wouldn't.

Kidnapping the Wrong Chick - Because Her BF Has Friends

The narrative kicks into high gear when Jimmy Lait (Jim Brown) learns his girlfriend Wendy has been kidnapped by the same fringe group that killed his friend House after he escaped their lab and brought news of the genocidal plot. Lait’s search for Wendy sets the stage for the alliance that gives Three the Hard Way its title: he enlists old friends Jagger Daniels (Fred Williamson), a sharp and stylish Chicago businessman, and Mister Keyes (Jim Kelly), a disciplined martial artist whose fierce presence brings a dynamic physicality to the film. Together, things get taken care of three the hard way.

Gunplay, Car Chases, & Explosions - Three the Hard Way Has Them All

Watching the trio assemble has a kinetic energy that reflects the era’s hunger for heroes who were confident, capable, and defiant. Director Gordon Parks Jr. — fresh off the success of Super Fly — stages the action with a committed sense of style that keeps the plot moving briskly across cities like Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Detroit as the heroes split up to thwart the deadly plot. In true 1970s fashion there’s a blend of martial arts moves, gunplay, car chases, and explosive set pieces. The genre’s fingerprints are all over the film, including memorable wardrobe and iconic vehicles that feel straight out of the era’s vibrant cinematic culture. Speaking of Super Fly, I need to watch that one. I'm certain I would enjoy it.

Jim Kelly is Not Bruce Lee but Fun to Watch

One of the pleasures of Three the Hard Way is how it showcases Jim Kelly’s martial arts prowess alongside the commanding screen presence of Brown and Williamson, creating a trio that feels balanced yet distinct. There’s a sort of joyous exuberance in seeing action heroes take the lead in a story that tackles such a bold conspiracy. It’s pulpy, it’s stylized, and it confidently straddles the line between meaningful and wildly entertaining without ever losing its footing.

Three the Hard Way is Somewhat of a Cultural Artifact

While the script doesn’t dwell on elaborate character backstories — we never get deep into how these men came to be as skilled as they are — that simplicity also serves the film’s relentless pace. Instead, what we get are vibrant performances, memorable set pieces, and a sense of unity and purpose that carries even the most outlandish parts of the narrative. Throw in a vintage soundtrack by The Impressions, and the whole experience feels not just like a movie, but like a moment — a cultural artifact that celebrates Black resilience, solidarity, and cinematic flair. Ultimately, Three the Hard Way is not only enjoyable to revisit — it’s the kind of film that rewards repeated watches. Its blend of action, martial arts, and socio-political overtones makes it a classic of its time and a fascinating time capsule of 1970s genre cinema. Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or returning as a fan of Brown, Williamson, or Kelly, this is a film that continues to kick, punch, and drive straight into the heart of action cinema.

Invisible Katana Artwork - No reproductions. No prints. No NFTs. Just one-of-a-kind mixed media art from a guy who still thinks that whipping someone while wearing clothes out of the '70s is guaranteed to make that beating much more memorable for everyone involved. Oh yeah, a shout out to Sublime here too. I'm sure that one of their songs references this movie too - that's probably why the movie title stood out to me. Sorry, random thought. Buy my art here. Peace.