Theme '70 : Tackling the Beast They Call Exploitation Cinema

Just as exploitation movies kept away from mainstream cinema formats, so this book keeps away from usual publication design with a scrapbook style layout, with its source being the ‘90s grindhouse fanzine Theme ’70 that spotlighted exploitation movies and the stars that became cult figures.Author Mark J. Banville is a longtime collector of such memorabilia and a good sampling of his collection is on display here, including poster and stills reproductions, movie synopsis’, star photos and biographies. There’s the Queens of black and white exploitation, Pam Grier and Claudia Jennings; the Bruce’s Lee and Li and Jim Kelly among the martial arts contenders; Ron O’Neal leading a lineup of blaxploitation heavies like Fred Williamson, Jim Brown, Bernie Casey and Richard Roundtree; and an equally important supporting cast that includes Mary Woronov, Joe Don Baker, Roberta Collins, John Saxon and William Smith. And among the many movies detailed, there’s Coffy, Truck Stop Women, Death Race 2000, TNT Jackson, Vanishing Point, Blacula, Superfly, Death Dimension, Candy Tangerine Man, Savage Sisters, Black Mama White Mama, Stacey, Black Gunn, Switchblade Sisters, Velvet Smooth, The Italian Stallion, all backed with stacks of photos and adverts crammed within the book’s 210 pages.Theme ‘70 is unique, with its unfettered design (great work by Dan Black) making it the kind of book that you can dip into time and time again and always find something fresh. Needless to say, it’s a must for all exploitation devotees as well as for novices looking for an introduction into the genre.

I remember reading this "back in the day" (when it was a fanzine). A brilliant and entertaining read.In true Hollywood style, this sequel is a long time coming and more polished and glossy - it's the same thing but still a brilliant and entertaining read!

Phew! Blew my mind. Seriously researched content from the blaxploitation genre. No stone left unturned. A modern classic from the 70s underground. I can hear all those great soundtracks leaping from the pages. Brilliant stuff.

200 odd pages of 70s nostalgia and beautifully packaged by Headpress. The author clearly writes with affection for these forgotten Blaxploitation classics and his enthusiasm is infectious. Any chance of a sequel?

I got this mainly for the artwork but it's well researched and thought through. Very nice to flick through if you're a fan of the genre

Cool book, highly recommended if you're a film nut... Go out and git one, sucka's!!!!

Great entertaining read. Really enjoyed this and hadn't seen a lot of the photos before.

A beautifully compilled book with some fantastic photos . A fantastic read.