Gordon Parks, Jr's blaxploitation classic "Superfly" chronicles the trials and tribulations of a cocaine dealer, Youngblood Priest (Ron O'Neal of "Original Gangstas"), who wants to bow out of the business with one big score and retire to obscurity. Priest informs his partner that they can buy 30 kilos of high-quality cocaine for $300-thousand and sell it in four months' time for a cool million. The catch is that Priest wants to buy the coke from his favorite drug dealer, Scatter (Julius W. Harris of "Live and Let Die," but Scatter has already made it known that he has dealt his last cocaine. Priest admires Scatter and convinces the older man who he grew up with to get the product for him. Just about everybody around Priest who either wants out or prefers to remain as a drug pusher suffers a terrible fate. Unfortunately, Scatter discovers that his former employers don't want him to quit, and they kill him and make his death appear to be a drug overdose. Call it sympathy for the pusher because the protagonist has decided to turn over a new leaf, change his ways, and conclude his life of crime. Priest's sexual conquest in a bubble bath glamorizes his lifestyle as much as the plethora of up-close shots of him cruising around in his pimped-out 1972 Eldorado Cadillac with a Rolls Royce Grill. Indeed, according to the trivia section at IMDB.COM, the NAACP denounced the portrayal of Priest's lifestyle "for its glorification of drug use and the stereotyping of African-Americans." Nevertheless, our protagonist experiences his share of woes. Early, in the action, Priest struggles with two junkies who try to steal his money, and our protagonist has to chase one of them across town-it seems-to reclaim his loot. O'Neal must have been in tip-top shape to perform stunts like clambering up a fire escape in his desperate pursuit of his quarry. Later, a dim-witted, ill-fated underling, Fat Freddie (Charles MacGregor of "Across 110th Street"), gives up Priest to dirty NYPD detectives after being brutally tortured for the information. The 1970s' blood splashed across his face resembles paint more than blood. Nevertheless, Priest is sincere about his vow to quit. Just when the police are poised to crush his dream, Priest learns that those corrupt white cops want to use him as their pipeline. Priest's partner-in-crime Eddie (Carl Lee of "Werewolves on Wheels") rejoices about the new set-up and banishes any thought of turning his back on the sweet life. Later, near the end of this 91-minute epic, Priest confronts his chief adversary, a high-ranking white policeman, Deputy Commissioner Reardon. The only thing that prevents Reardon from killing Priest is that the hero has paid white assassins to retaliate against the Commissioner and his family if Priest dies. If any soundtrack were ever inseparable from a film such was the case with Curtis Mayfield songs. "Superfly" wouldn't be "Superfly" without Mayfield's iconic songs. Produced for a reputed half-million dollars, this crime classic coined over $30 million at the box office.

"Priest" (Ron O'Neal) is a drug dealer who realizes that the dangers of his profession are bound to catch up to him and decides to retire. But first he wants to make one last "big score" before he does. So he talks to his partner "Eddie" (Carl Lee) and his mentor "Scatter" (Julius Harris) and they reluctantly agree to support him. However, after one slip of the tongue things begin to unravel very quickly for all three of them in one fashion or the other. Anyway, rather than reveal the rest of the plot and possibly ruin the film for those who haven't seen it, I will just say that this is possibly the best "blaxploitation" film ever made. As a matter of fact, in my opinion only "Shaft" can equal its stature within the genre. Be warned though that this film is certainly not for general audiences. Be that as it may it is still very interesting and all things considered I rate this movie as definitely above average.

Youngblood Priest (Ron O'Neal) is a cocaine dealer who begins to realize that his life will soon end with either prison or his death. He decides to build an escape from the life by making his biggest deal yet, converting the coke to cash and running off to start a new life.You have to love the musical score from Curtis Mayfield; "Super Fly" is one of the few films ever to have been outgrossed by its soundtrack. And there are lots of interesting facts about this film: The film was shot by director of photography, James Signorelli, who would go on to become the film director at Saturday Night Live. The director's father, Gordon Parks, was the director of "Shaft", another blaxploitation classic, and financed this movie with the help of two dentists.Does the film glorify drug use (particularly cocaine use)? I suppose that depends on your interpretation. Many say it does, the creators say it was intended to show the negative aspects of drug culture. I can see it both ways. I mean, gee, your hero is a drug pusher. But his life is hard... and yet, this hard life is presented as glamorous. Who knows?

Say what you may about the movie, the cast, the music, etc.; without Ron O'Neal, the movie would not have made an impact. He was so believable, so compelling, so mesmerizing, so much that, so many people either misinterpreted the message of the movie, or were caught up in the drugs, hustlers, street life. The saddest part about Superfly, the movie, is that the lead actor was never given the chance he so richly deserved in more diverse roles reflecting his unlimited abilities, and incomparable talent to play anything and everything. I have collected various movies he made during his 3-decade career, and in each he delivers; whether the part was small or large. It is often said he was hurt by the backlash of the film, and allowed it to sour him for a time, but enough already about that, his legacy of films and passion for acting will long be remembered.