A black soldier returns from fighting for the Union in the Civil War only to find out that his mother has been murdered by a gang of white thugs. He becomes a bounty hunter, determined to track down and kill the men who killed his mother.
1976 American Drama Western Film
At the end of the American Civil War, African-American soldier Joshua is on his way back home. Unfortunately, one day before his arrival, a gang of five thugs kills his mother, severely wounds her neighbor Sam, and kidnaps Sam's new bride. When Joshua finally arrives home, he is given the sad news about his mother's murder. The Sheriff and his posse return empty-handed from their attempt to catch the murderers who vanished into the nearby hills. Driven by revenge, Joshua decides to track down the killers himself and eliminate them, one by one. Along the way, Joshua learns about the importance of community and cooperation. He also learns about the dangers of violence and hatred. In the end, they are all looking forward to creating a new society that is based on peace and understanding.
For the social context of the time the movie was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $20 Million. The film was praised for its strong performances, its thought-provoking storyline, and its beautiful cinematography. It was also nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Cinematography and Best Original Score. Joshua is a classic film that remains relevant today. It is a story about hope, resilience, and the power of community.
Starring former Oakland Raiders/Kansas City Chiefs football star who rose to prominence as one of the first African-American male action stars of the "blaxploitation" genre of the early 1970s, who has since gone on to a long and illustrious career as an actor, director, writer, and producer! Burly, yet handsome 6' 3" Williamson first came to attention in the TV series Julia (1968) playing love interest, Steve Bruce. However, his rugged, athletic physique made him a natural for energetic roles and he quickly established himself as a street wise, tough guy in films including That Man Bolt (1973), Black Caesar (1973), and Mean Johnny Barrows (1975). More recently, indie director Robert Rodriguez cast him alongside FX guru Tom Savini as two vampire-killing bikers, in his bloody action film From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), and he has most recently appeared on screen playing grumpy Captain Dobey in Starsky & Hutch (2004).
