The long-lost, independently financed Black urban crime/action film SOLOMON KING (1974) from director/actor/producer/writer Sal Watts.

The long-lost, independently financed Black urban crime/action film SOLOMON KING (1974) from director/actor/producer/writer Sal Watts, SOLOMON KING was shot in Oakland, CA in 1973 with a cast of mostly non-professional actors. A stunning soul-funk soundtrack, and incredible clothes from Watts's own Mr. Sal's Fashion stores. Restored with the cooperation of the filmmaker's widow, Belinda Burton-Watts (who appears in the film), and utilizing one of the only surviving complete prints of the film from the UCLA Film & TV Archive alongside the original soundtrack elements (which had been stored in Burton-Watts's closet for several decades).

Media

Bonus Materials

• New restoration from a sole surviving 35mm release print of the film in the collection of the UCLA Film & TV Archive, with extensive digital restoration by Craig Rogers and color grade restoration by Tyler Fagerstrom for Deaf Crocodile Films.
• New video interview with the filmmaker’s wife and SOLOMON KING actress, Belinda Burton-Watts, featuring rare archival photos of Sal and Belinda from her collection. Interview conducted by Jonathan Marlow.
• Rare episode of “The Jay Payton Show” (1976), a legendary Oakland TV program showcasing local Black musicians and dancers, executive produced by Sal Watts and featuring Jay Payton, Fresh, the Black Resurgents and A Tint of Darkness.
• New booklet essay by author and film historian Josiah Howard (Blaxploitation Cinema: The Essential Reference Guide).
• Separate commentary tracks by film historian and documentary producer Steve Ryfle (Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, From Godzilla To Kurosawa) and film critic Walter Chaw (Film Freak Central).
• New trailer

 

Cast & Crew

Actors:

•       Sal Watts as Solomon King
•       Jamie Watts as Manny King
•       Samaki Bennett as Samaki Miller
•       Claudia Russo as Princess Oneeba
•       Felice Kinchelow as Albert
•       Tito Fuentes as Tito Fuentes
•       Bernard B. Burton as Abdulla
•       Richard Scarso as Hassan

Director: Sal Watts

Director: Jack Bomay

Additional Details

Label: Deaf Crocodile

Genre: Action/Adventure

Language: English

Run Time: 85 mins

Region: 1

Release Date: 01/05/27

UPC: 850066568934