Customer Reviews
Dreaming Big 
2007-01-12
This film brought back a lot of great memories for me. I enjoyed seeing Tamara Dobson on the screen playing the heroine that all teenage girls of the time enjoyed watching. She was smart, pretty with her own sense of style.
Cleopatra Jones 
2006-12-22
This DVD is awesome!!!
I recommend this DVD to anyone who likes action and 1970s blacksplotation movies. Eventhough this movie came out a few years before I was born, I enjoyed watching every moment of this DVD.
CLEO: One of Soul Cinema's Best 2006-10-23
Tamara Dobson was fabulously stylish, sexy, and intelligent in her role as Cleopatra Jones, the Karate/Kung Fu kicking United States Special Government Agent ("jurisdiction from Turkey to Watts Tower baby") who battles Drug Lord Mommy (Shelly Winters). Cleo ruffles Mommy's feathers by burning her Turkish poppy field that has a street value of $30 million. Mommy retaliates by getting her bad cop friends to bust the B&S House which is run by Cleo's boyfriend Rueben (Bernie Casey). The B&S House helps local drug addicts kick the habit. The B&S House staff have a Black Panther Party mentality.
To add action and humor to the movie is Mommy's odd crew of gay beauties that cater to her every whim; clutsy henchmen; Pusher Doodlebug (Antonio Fargas, best known from "Starsky & Hutch"). Doodlebug has his own odd crew that includes his high maintenance girlfriend Tiffany (Brenda Sykes, also played in "Black Gunn"), Pickle (Teddy Wilson who went on to star on tv shows like "Good Times", "That's My Mama", and "Sanford & Son"), white chauffer/butler Mattingly (real surname). Don Corneilus (Soul Train) has a cameo as himself. Ester Rolle ("Good Times") has a cameo as the mother of Cleo's two Karate kicking friends, The Johnson Brothers. This movie has a plethora of actors, both black and white, who went on to have extensive acting careers.
The well written story and screenplay is by Max Julien, who is best known for his role as "The Mack" and "Thomasine & Bushrod". The soundtrack yielded two hits, one by Joe Simon and the other by Millie Jackson.
Dobson portrayed a strong black woman with a positive character. Outside of driving the James Bond type Corvette complete with phone, personalized plates, government issued weapons concealed in the door and a top that automatically raised (awesome in 1973) to accomodate Dobson's 6 foot, 2 inch height... she displayed motor bike riding skills and a little bi-lingual capabilities that must have been needed for her traveling abroad.
The ending scene, the Bon Voyage party for Cleo ends with her white friend Police Captain Lou Crawford (Dan Frazer who has a very extensive acting portfolio with the likes of "Kojak", "Law & Order", and "As The World Turns") saying "Right On" while holding up a clinched fist (black power sign) as Cleo drives off into the sunset for her next big assignment. His actions amaze the other party people and is a priceless ending that should leave a smile on your face to go with this happy ending.
The disconsolate news of Tamara Dobson's death in October 2006 smothered the flames of my nostalgic dreams of her reprising the Cleo role for a third time (second time circa 1975, "Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold"). All biographical accounts document Tamara Dobson as having studied fashion at the Maryland Institute College of Arts before her professional modeling career. Her acting career included film appearances in "Norman... Is That You?", "Chained Heat", "Come Back, Charleston Blue", "Murder at the World Series", "Jason of Star Command", and "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century". Beyonce appears to have paid homage to "Cleopatra Jones" when she played Foxxy Cleopatra in the Austin Powers movie.
Tamara Dobson's role as Cleo was a hit and this movie is a classic that would add value to any so-called blaxploitation (Soul Cinema) era movie collection.
by:
Pamela Jarmon
ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES 2006-10-08
I can watch this movie over and over! True 70's movie that takes me back...RIP Tamara (10/2/2006)
'Cleopatra Jones' is a must see for 70s buffs. 2006-09-17
I think Tamara Dobson is absolutely stunning in the movie she's no Pam Greir but she does have some spunk in her. 'Cleopatra Jones' is one of my favourite 1970s exploitation movies. While technically blaxploitation it bears very little resemblance to the grittiness and relative realism of 'Shaft', 'Superfly' or 'Black Caesar'. It is closer to 'Black Belt Jones' meets James Bond, especially the spectacular opening sequence in Turkey. If you don't take it too seriously this is fantastic fun.
Tamara Dobson, as Special Government Agent Cleopatra Jones, is beautiful, sassy and one not to be mess with. Her lover's (Bernie Casey - 'Never Say Never Again') half-way house is under threat of closure after a dubious drug bust. Cleo suspects the involvement of a crooked cop (the always menacing Bill McKinney - 'Deliverance'), and local drug big wig Mommy (Shelley Winters as a larger than life lesbian leather queen!). Mommy and her henchmen (one of which is the legendary Paul Koslo - 'The Omega Man') try everything in their power to stop Cleopatra, but hell, look at her moves! her clothes! her Afro! Who do you think is gonna win here?! And then there is the romantic scene with her and Bernie Casey which is not explicit but intense.
While the movie can be classified as "cheesy" by many, it does have action, adventure, and romance. The action is non-stop-Cleo is always kung fuing someone or driving the hell out of her Corvette to get away from the bad guys. Also, there a pretty neat scene where she rides a motorcycle up a steep hill to everyone's dismay (if you happen to catch CJ on DVD or VHS, use pause on this scene-it is clearly a Caucasian male, with brown makeup, who is actually riding the motorcycle).
A stylish, silly and wonderfully entertaining trash classic. Directed by Jack Starrett ('Slaughter', 'Race With The Devil') and co-written and produced by actor Max Julien ('Psych-Out', 'The Mack') is a must see.......... Who is that Bad Mamma Jamma?
Next to foxxy cleopatra jones got it my girl for life 2007-09-18
I was a little girl my dad used to take me to the movies and she's the bomb. Plus I got the poster after they took the movie off. To put something else on. Rest in peace Tamara Dobson you #1.
Don't mess with Cleopatra Jones!!!!! 2007-08-03
I am a fan of blaxploitation flicks, and this one is a classic film. Tamara Dobson is beautiful in this film, and does a terrific job. Everyone in this film did an excellent job. RIP Tamara Dobson.
"Could Have Been Better" 
2007-03-28
The movie was okay. If you like movies from the 70's, then this is another flick to add to your collection. Tamara Dobson is definitly
one tough sista.
RIGHT ON! SWEET SISTAH! 2007-03-05
Simply one of the best, fun and campy, cult films of the 1970's. Even today 2007, this movie is alot of fun. Rest in peace Tamara Dobson, you were and always will be "a whole lotta woman!"
She Isn't Some Lame Wonder Woman 2007-02-19
As bad as a man as Shaft is, he wouldn't play with Cleopatra Jones if he thought for one minute she was on her last nerve, and it was shredding fast.
Tamara Dobson portrays a special agent who is busting up a drug pipeline from Turkey to the United States that is operated by Mommy (Shelley Winters). I hope I don't ruin the ending for you, but keep in mind the movie isn't titled, Mommy.
I always found the film a parody of James Bond and the other tough white heroes back in the day who would gently set the lady aside before punching out the villains, with the hero capturing her heart in the end. Cleopatra Jones disarms the bad guys with her charm, but is also cooking up some knuckle sandwiches to take them out with when the time is right.
Dobson does a great job in a role that may have been nearly impossible to pull off well. Such over-the-top characters have to be difficult to portray - there is a fine line between acting well or making the character the buffoonish Rambo - but Dobson does a great job.
The DVD cover is a pretty poor updated version to the original artwork. The movie is from 1973, not 2003 and the artwork should make that point.
If you are looking for a movie that packs a punch, run quickly away from the usual suspects and get Cleopatra Jones.
