What is A Piece of the Action?
Task: Write a factual, original 150-190 word overview of the film "A Piece of the Action" (1977). Role: Meticulous television and film archivist.
- Type
- Film
- Year
- 1977
- Release date
- Oct 7, 1977
- Genres
- Comedy, Crime
- Updated
At a glance
- Rating
- ★ TMDB users: 5.8/10
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Task: Write a factual, original 150-190 word overview of the film "A Piece of the Action" (1977).
Role: Meticulous television and film archivist.
Constraint 1: Write ONLY verifiable facts explicitly supported by the provided SYNOPSIS and SOURCES.
Constraint 2: No inventing/guessing titles, names, dates, counts, awards, ratings, numbers, or plot points.
Constraint 3: If a detail is not in the material, omit it.
Constraint 4: Write original, neutral, encyclopedic prose in plain text.
Constraint 5: No markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points.
Constraint 6: First sentence must not contain spoilers.
Constraint 7: Word count 150-190 words.
Title: A Piece of the Action
Year: 1977
Genre: American crime comedy
Director: Sidney Poitier
Starring: Sidney Poitier (also director), Bill Cosby (co-star)
Cast: James Earl Jones (Joshua Burke), Sidney Poitier (Manny Durrell), Bill Cosby (Dave Anderson)
Plot: Retired cop Joshua Burke (James Earl Jones) tries to get career criminals Manny Durrell (Sidney Poitier) and Dave Anderson (Bill Cosby) to follow the straight and narrow. He blackmails them using knowledge of their seedy past to con them into helping juvenile delinquents turn over a new leaf.
Context: Third film pairing of Poitier and Cosby
Should you watch it?
“A retired cop blackmails two career criminals into helping juvenile delinquents.”
- Stars Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby as career criminals Manny Durrell and Dave Anderson.
- Features James Earl Jones as retired cop Joshua Burke.
- Represents the third film pairing of Poitier and Cosby following Uptown Saturday Night and Let's Do It Again.
- The provided sources do not mention specific criticisms or reasons to skip the film beyond viewer preferences.
Watch it if you enjoy 1970s crime comedies starring Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby.
The film belongs to the comedy and crime genres with a runtime of 2 hours and 15 minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
Where can I stream A Piece of the Action (1977)?
Streaming availability is listed on platforms like TMDB and Plex, though specific current providers are not detailed in the text.
Is A Piece of the Action worth watching?
It features a notable cast including Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby, and James Earl Jones, and is the third film in a trilogy.
What is the runtime of the film?
The film has a runtime of 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Are there related films in a series?
Yes, it is the third film pairing of Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby, following Uptown Saturday Night and Let's Do It Again.
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