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Boss Nigger

Boss Nigger

Western · Comedy · 1975

Two black bounty hunters ride into a small town out West in pursuit of an outlaw. They discover that the town has no sheriff, and soon take over that position, much against the will of the mostly white townsfolk.

Movie details

Boss Nigger

“White Man's Town... Black Man's Law!”

1975 Western · Comedy 1h 33m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.7 / 10

Community rating

Two black bounty hunters ride into a small town out West in pursuit of an outlaw. They discover that the town has no sheriff, and soon take over that position, much against the will of the mostly white townsfolk.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Boss Nigger?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Nevada Smith

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Nevada Smith is the young son of an Indian American mother and European-American father. When his father is killed by three men over gold, Nevada sets out to find them and kill them. The boy is taken in by a gun merchant. The gun merchant shows him how to shoot, on time and correctly.

Firecreek

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True Grit

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Western · 1969

The murder of her father sends a teenage tomboy on a mission of 'justice', which involves avenging her father's death. She recruits a tough old marshal, 'Rooster' Cogburn because he has 'true grit', and a reputation of getting the job done.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Jack Arnold

Written by

Fred Williamson

Fred Williamson

Fred Williamson

Boss Nigger

D'Urville Martin

D'Urville Martin

Amos

R.G. Armstrong

R.G. Armstrong

Mayor Griffin

Barbara Leigh

Barbara Leigh

Miss Pruitt

William Smith

William Smith

Jed Clayton

Don 'Red' Barry

Don 'Red' Barry

Cast

Carmen Hayward

Carmen Hayward

Clara Mae

Court is in session

Put Boss Nigger on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.