Black Dynamite is a 2009 spoof/homage/pastiche of the blaxploitation films of the 1970's directed by Scott Sanders and written by Sanders, lead actor Michael Jai White, and co-star Byron Minns. The film stars Michael Jai White and Salli Richardson, and co-stars Mykelti Williamson, Tommy Davidson and Phil Morris, with appearances by notable names like Arsenio Hall, Tucker Smallwood, Bokeem Woodbine and John Salley. The film was very low budget, for both practical reasons and as part of a tribute to classic blaxploitation movies which were also very low budget. While other "retro" productions might have reproduced the look of a 1970's film digitally, the producers of Black Dynamite chose to use 16mm film and sound equipment from the era instead. The movie is filled with stock footage from the era, and many errors are either left in (a henchmen forgetting to put a car into park before getting out) or deliberately written into the script (an actor reading out stage instructions.) The film had a very limited release in 2009, followed by a release on both DVD and Blu-Ray. It was followed by the graphic novel Black Dynamite: Slave Island and an animated series on Adult Swim. Plans for a sequel are in motion.
What most people miss is the fact that many of the actors aren't just playing the characters in the movie, they're playing actors who are playing characters in the movie. For example, Michael Jai White stars as "All-Star running back Ferrante Jones" who plays Black Dynamite, which is a tribute to popular blaxploitation star such as Jim Brown and Fred "the Hammer" Williamson, who started their careers on the grid-iron.
The following firearms were seen in the film Black Dynamite:
Black Dynamite (Michael Jai White) uses a Smith & Wesson Model 629 Classic as his primary weapon. The 629 is chambered in .44 Magnum, is the stainless steel version of the S&W Model 29, and was introduced in 1978. The 629 Classic has a full-length underlug, which differentiates it from the standard 629. Black Dynamite fires it one handed regularly, showing pretty much no recoil or flinching, which is fitting to his badass persona. (The real reason for this is the fact that almost all the muzzle flashes were added in post production.) Black Dynamite also has the amazing ability to fire ten to twenty shots from the revolver without reloading as is fitting to the spoof nature of the film
One of Chicago Wind's (Mykelti Williamson) thugs holds a Colt MK IV Series 70 on Black Dynamite in the Hip Pocket, before it is "kicked" out of his hand by Bullhorn. Also seen in the hands of one of O'Leary's partners while infiltrating Black Dynamite's home. Black Dynamite likely uses the same prop later on in the montage.
Richard Nixon (James McManus) tries to use the Philadelphia Derringer used by John Wilkes Booth to kill President Lincoln (which is not only in the White House, but also loaded) on Black Dynamite after their nunchuck fight. He is foiled by the ghost of Abraham Lincoln. (Yes, that's what actually happened in the movie.)
Error creating thumbnail: File missingActual Philadelphia Derringer pistol used by John Wilkes-Booth to assassinate Abraham Lincoln - .41. These percussion cap single shot pistols were manufactured between 1860-1869 by Slotter & Co to compete with Henry Deringer's pistols. (Note spelling. Deringer fought illegal copies of his pistols throughout his life, and the deliberate misspelling "Derringer" eventually caught on.)Error creating thumbnail: File missingInexplicably, it's in the White House...Error creating thumbnail: File missing...and even more inexplicably, it's kept loaded. More inexplicably still, the previous pictures shows the nipple has no percussion cap and it would be incapable of firing even if loaded with lead and powder.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSaved by the ghost of kung-fu Lincoln! (Note to self: name future band or fantasy football team "Ghost of Kung-Fu Lincoln.")
While Don Rafelli (Mike Starr) is on the phone, a henchman with a Thompson M1928 submachine gun can be seen in the background. Another henchmen at the warehouse is armed with one.
Most of Rafelli's thugs use Madsen M50s as their primary automatic weapon.
"Donut Man" (Lee Whittaker) is seen with a Madsen M50 after Black Dynamite shoots him. (IMDb refers to the character as such.)
Error creating thumbnail: File missingM3 "Grease Gun" .45 ACP. The later model M3A1 would eliminate the crank lever for cocking the bolt, and instead used a simple hole in the bolt for the shooter to use their finger.Error creating thumbnail: File missingCream Corn fires his M3. The shot is reversed. Also note that the dust cover is closed, which means it can't fire. (All the gunfire in the film was CGI.)Error creating thumbnail: File missingA shot of Cream Corn from Dr. Wu's monitor. Since this shot is not reversed, Cream Corn is using his right hand to fire and the crank lever is seen on the right.
Smith & Wesson M76
Rafelli's goons use Smith & Wesson M76s. Black Dynamite also uses one later assaulting the warehouse.
The Secret Service uses an M72 LAW to shoot down Black Dynamite's helicopter and to destroy his parachute. As with most of the other muzzle flashes in the movie, the rocket and smoke appear to be effects added in post-production.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingLate model Cobray CM203 37mm Flare launcher underslung on an AR-15 (A1 style receiver) with an early SP1 Three prong flash hider. Visible is the cocking lever on the side. Later models increased the size of the mounting block so that the launcher hung lower, farther away from the rifle barrel.Error creating thumbnail: File missingNote the cocking lever.
Mk 2 hand grenade
Black Dynamite throws a Mk 2 hand grenade during the assault on Kung Fu Island.
Black Dynamite is given a cartridge case that was supposedly found at the scene of his brother Jimmy's murder. According to Saheed, it's from an "AR-48" and whoever had it must "work for the Man." But according to the book he's looking in, it's just a 45-90-300 WCF. (And none of the men who shoot Jimmy had anything that could fire such a round.)
