EDITOR’S NOTE: As the journey through Cannon continues, this week we’re exploring the films of 21st Century Film Corporation, which would be the company that Menahem Golan would take over after Cannon. Formed by Tom Ward and Art Schweitzer in 1971 (or 1976, there are some disputed expert opinions), 21st Century had a great logo and released some wild stuff.

Directed by its star Fred Williamson, this film sees him as Johnny Barrows, a former football star and Silver Star winner who is dishonorably discharged after punching a superior officer. There’s nothing back home for him, as he’s attacked by cops and forced to live on the streets.

However, he’s not in such bad shape that he’s working going to work for mobster Mario Racconi (Stuart Whitman), who he meets while looking for a handout at an Italian restaurant. Instead, he works at a gas station where he’s ripped off again, which leads to him beating up his boss, Richard (R.G. Armstrong).

While Johnny is struggling, the mob has been at war. The Da Vinci family wants to start dealing drugs and the Racconis are an old school gang. They don’t want to get people strung out. A double cross leads to Mario being shot and his entire family being wiped out. Using his girlfriend Nancy (Jenny Sherman) as a go-between, he tries to hire Johnny, who still doesn’t want involved but this being a Fred Williamson movie, she soon sleeps with him. When the Da Vincis kidnap and assault her, that finally brings Johnny into the war.

Of course, it’s not all so simple.

This movie makes good use of cameos by Roddy McDowall as one of the Da Vincis and Elliot Gould as a wise man of the streets, Professor Theodore Rasputin Waterhouse. It also reminds me a lot of The Farmer, which is a better movie, except with the originally shot downer ending.

It ends with this: “Dedicated to the veteran who traded his place on the front line for a place on the unemployment line. Peace is Hell.”

Originally released by Atlas Films, it was rereleased by Flora Releasing and Dimension Pictures. 21st Century got this movie when they bought Dimension.

You can watch this on Tubi.