Black Dynamite

Black Dynamite (2009)

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 Bryan 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 area, 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.

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:

Hanguns

Smith & Wesson Model 629 Classic

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.)

Smith & Wesson Model 629 Classic - .44 Magnum

"Freeze you jive turkey!"

S&W 629 Classic in right hand.

The iconic Black Dynamite pose with First Lady Pat Nixon and Gloria (Salli Richardson)

Dan Wesson Large Frame .44 Magnum

Black Dynamite also uses a stainless Dan Wesson Large Frame revolver, again in .44 Magnum.

Dan Wesson Large Frame .44 Magnum left hand.

Colt Detective Special

A Colt Detective Special is O'Leary's (Kevin Chapman) weapon of choice. The model in the film appears to be a 3rd Gen. Bullhorn (Byron Minns) later uses one to put one of his own out of his misery.

Colt Detective Special 3rd Gen - .38 Special

"Do ya want to live?"

Colt 1911A1 Series 70

One of Chicago Wind's (Mykelti Williamson) thugs holds a Colt 1911A1 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.

Colt 1911 Series 70 - .45 ACP

Smith & Wesson Model 60

First Lady Pat Nixon (Nicole Sullivan) uses a Smith & Wesson Model 60 to stop Black Dynamite from destroying the presidential china.

Smith & Wesson Model 60, stainless variant of the Model 36 - .38 Special.

"Take your filthy black hands off the presidential dinnerware, you moon cricket!" (Moon cricket?)

Philadelphia Derringer

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.)

Philadelphia Derringer - .44 Cal. 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.)

Inexplicably, it's in the White House...

...and even more inexplicably, it's kept loaded.

Submachine Guns

M1928 Submachine Gun

While Don Rafelli (Mike Starr) is on the phone, a henchman with a Thompson M1928 gun can be seen in the background.

M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine and early 'simplified' rear sight that would be adopted for the M1 Thompson - .45 ACP

Madsen M50

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.

Madsen M50 - 9x19mm

Dino (Richard Edson) bursts in with his Madsen M50.

"Doughnut men don't wear alligator shoes"

M3 Grease Gun

Cream Corn (Tommy Davidson) uses an M3 Grease Gun.

M3 "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.

Cream Corn fires his M3. The shot is reversed.

Smith & Wesson M76

One of Rafelli's goons uses a Smith & Wesson M76.

Smith & Wesson M76 - 9x19mm‎

The goons fire at Black Dynamite at Roscoe's.

Shotguns

Winchester 1300

Bullhorn (Byron Minns) uses a Winchester 1300 during the assault on Kung-Fu Island. He never fires it, although a notable use of the weapon is Bullhorn racking the pump, accidentally interrupting a quip from Black Dynamite.

Winchester Model 1300 with extended tube & rubber Butt pad - 12 Gauge

Rifles/Carbines

M16/SP1 & M203

A Black Panther is seen training himself to load the M16 quickly in the Panthers' compound. Militant #2 (Darrel Heath) also carries one with an M203 on Kung-Fu Island.

M16 aka SP1 (flat "slab side receiver") with an A1 "birdcage" Flash hider, used to impersonate the M16A1 during the 1970s and 1980s. This version has a 30 round magazine - 5.56x45mm

M16A1 5.56x45mm with M203 grenade launcher 40mm

M14

During the assault on Kung-Fu Island, Saheed (Phil Morris) carries an M14, though he is never seen firing it. It is probably the same M14 from the militant's headquarters.

M14 rifle - 7.62x51mm NATO

Note the M14 in the background.

M1 Carbine (including Iver Johnson Enforcer)

One of Black Dynamite's guys uses an M1 Carbine. Bullhorn (Byron Minns) also uses an Iver Johnson Enforcer.

The Modern Manufactured version of the M1 Carbine, with standard stock, from Auto-Ordnance (affiliated with Kahr Arms and Thomson Arms). Chambered in .30 Carbine

Iver-Johnson Enforcer Pistol - .30 Carbine

The man to Black Dynamite's left has an M1 Carbine, the one to the right has the Iver Johnson Enforcer

Heavy Weapons

M60 machine gun

An M60 machine gun is seen in Black Dynamite's (Stock footage-filled) flashback to his days in the Vietnam War.

M60 machine gun with bipod extended - 7.62x51mm NATO

M72 LAW

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.

M72A2 LAW - 66mm

The Secret Service fires off the rocket before Black Dynamite shoots him.