Posse (1993 film)

Gramercy Pictures
Company type	Film production and distribution company
Industry	Film
Founded	1993
Headquarters	United States
Products	Films

Posse is a 1993 American Western film both directed by and starring Mario Van Peebles. Featuring an extensive ensemble cast, it centers on a group of African-American soldiers alongside a marginalized white soldier who have been betrayed by a corrupt colonel. The plot opens with their flight while carrying a stash of gold, led by Jesse Lee (Mario Van Peebles), who seeks vengeance for the murder of his preacher father. The tale is presented as a flashback narrated by an unnamed elderly man (Woody Strode). The film’s title refers to a group called upon to aid law enforcement. This production marked the inaugural release from Gramercy Pictures.

Melvin Van Peebles, father of director Mario Van Peebles, contributed the song "Cruel Jim Crow" for the movie, which was his first musical recording in two decades since his 1974 album What the....You Mean I Can't Sing?!. This effort eventually led to his 1995 album Ghetto Gothic. The film’s narrative style—an extended recollection voiced by Woody Strode—continues his dedication to highlighting neglected black historical figures, expanding on his earlier work in the 1972 documentary Black Rodeo.

Plot

Set in 1898, the story follows convicted Buffalo Soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 10^th Cavalry Regiment, commanded by Jesse Lee (Mario Van Peebles), who are drafted to participate in the Spanish–American War in Cuba. Amid relentless enemy assaults, Jesse requests permission to retreat from the dishonest Colonel Graham (Billy Zane), who instead orders Jesse to execute a White prisoner as a condition. Jesse refuses and demonstrates his shooting skill by shooting the prisoner’s cigar. Graham kills the prisoner himself and appoints Little J (Stephen Baldwin), a White inmate, as leader, commanding the 10^th to rob a shipment of Spanish gold while disguised as civilians—a ploy intended to have them executed as deserters. The soldiers turn on Graham’s forces, killing both him and his men.

The remaining group—Jesse, Obobo (Tiny Lister), Angel (Tone-Lōc), Little J, and aide Weezie (Charles Lane)—escape Cuba and make their way to New Orleans. There, Little J and gambler Father Time (Big Daddy Kane) narrowly avoid hostile gamblers before being ambushed by Graham and surviving troops. Angel is killed during this attack; the others flee to reunite with Jesse out West.

Chased by Graham, they pause in a town where Jesse employs specially crafted gold bullets—believed to be capable of slaying demons—to avenge his father’s lynching. They reach Freemanville, an African-American community founded by Jesse’s father King David (Robert Hooks). Jesse reconnects with Carver (Blair Underwood), Freemanville’s sheriff, who secretly conspires with Cutterstown’s sheriff Bates (Richard Jordan). Bates demands Jesse’s surrender or threatens to burn Freemanville.

Bates launches an assault on Freemanville; Little J dies defending Weezie, while Obobo and Papa Joe (Melvin Van Peebles) are captured. Disguised as Ku Klux Klan members, Jesse and Father Time rescue them. Bates kills the mayor during this raid; meanwhile, Graham forms an alliance with Bates.

Jesse rallies the townsfolk against Bates, warning that if Freemanville is destroyed, Cutterstown will suffer the same fate. During the ensuing battle, Graham arrives with cavalry forces and a Gatling gun. Jesse uses dynamite to destroy the Gatling gun just as reinforcements appear.

Carver attempts to escape with Freemanville’s land deeds but is confronted by Lana (Salli Richardson), Papa Joe’s daughter. Father Time intervenes but is killed by Carver. After revealing their land deal, Bates betrays and murders Carver. Jesse ultimately kills Bates in a decisive confrontation.

Graham captures Lana; he and Jesse engage in a final fight that ends with Graham’s death and the destruction of the saloon. The townspeople then battle the resulting fire.

The narrative concludes nearly one hundred years later with an elderly man (Woody Strode) recounting the history of black cowboys to reporters while sharing a book from Jesse. A caption highlights that over 8,000 stories of black cowboys have been excluded from Hollywood and other accounts.

Release

Posse marked the first film released by Gramercy Pictures, the company that eventually became Focus Features. It achieved a box office total of $18.2 million across the U.S. and Canada, with an overall global revenue reaching $20 million.

Soundtrack

Intelligent Hoodlum - The Posse (Shoot 'Em Up)
Tone-Lōc - Posse Love
B.B.O.T.I. (Badd Boyz of The Industry) - One Night of Freedom
Melvin Van Peebles - Cruel Jim Crow (Posse Don't Play That)
Top Choice Clique - I Think To Myself
Michel Colombier - Jesse
Vesta - Tell Me
David + David - Free At Last
Salli Richardson - If I Knew You At All
Sounds of Blackness - Freemanville (Homecoming)
Vesta - Ride of Your Life
The Neville Brothers - Let That Hammer Fall

Reception

The movie holds a 33% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, compiled from 18 critical reviews.

Janet Maslin of The New York Times highlighted that although the film embraces classic Western elements like rugged dialogue and brotherhood, it also aims to correct misrepresentations in history.

Roger Ebert expressed criticism, describing the film as excessively directed and visually overwhelming, which detracted from clear storytelling.

Entertainment Weekly assigned a C+ grade, characterizing it as a "slick, energetic blend of Western motifs."

External links