FOXY BROWN

• Director: Jack Hill
• Cast: Pam Grier, Antonio Fargas, Peter Brown, Kathryn Loder
• 1974 | Film: 92mins | USA | Subtitles | Event: 19:30 – 22:15 [18+]
• This event takes place at Beer Merchants Tap in Hackney Wick, E9 5LN
• Book £6 tickets through my Token Homo Eventbrite page

“SHE’S THE MEANEST CHICK IN TOWN!”

A vigilante will stop at nothing to get revenge on the mobsters who murdered her boyfriend.

Cult film night BAR TRASH pops up at Beer Merchants Tap in Hackney Wick to launch film nights at the venue. Our programme starts with Blaxploitation icon Pam Grier as FOXY BROWN (1974) which screens as part of BANNED, an uncensored season of the Video Nasties.

Written and directed by Jack Hill (SPIDER BABY), FOXY BROWN was originally slated as a sequel to his previous collaboration with Pam Grier, COFFY (1973). The studio rejected the idea of the story being a sequel – requiring last-minute re-writes – whilst investing in Pam Grier’s superstar status with an increased wardrobe budget (14 looks, all designed by Ruthie West) and an ass-kicking shift in tone. FOXY BROWN remains a pioneering tribute to all Black women.

“The 1970s was a time of freedom and women saying that they needed empowerment. There was more empowerment and self-discovery than any other decade I remember… This was going on all across the country. I just happened to do it on film. I don’t think it took any great genius or great imagination. I just exemplified it, reflecting it to society.”

Pam Grier

FOXY BROWN was originally passed in an edited form by the British Board of Film Censors for cinema release in 1974. A decade later, videocassettes of FOXY BROWN were seized and confiscated in the UK under Section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 during the Video Nasties furore. Section 3 gave police the powers to seize materials suspected of being ‘obscene’. FOXY BROWN was passed with 2m 48s of cuts to achieve an 18 certificate for home video in 1987. These cuts were finally waived for an uncensored home video re-release in 1998.

Polite warning: FOXY BROWN contains “strong violence and sex” (BBFC), including scenes of violent sexual assault and drug use. The screenplay contains multiple ’N’ and ‘F’ slurs, and there’s a brawl in a dyke bar… We are showing FOXY BROWN fully uncensored with subtitles from the best available digital source.

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic, Token Homo. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles/captions where possible. Tickets from £3. Strictly adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo on Instagram for news and updates. ///