Buck and the Preacher

Set shortly after the civil war, this comedy western finds Sidney Poitier and a marvellously mischievous Harry Belafonte joining forces to take on racist bounty hunters.

  • Director

    Sidney Poitier

  • With

    Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee

  • USA 1972. 102min

  • Digital 4K

  • Certificate

    12A

Black American history is presented through the prism of a Western. Sidney Poitier’s directorial debut, in which he stars opposite Belafonte, tells the story of a wagon master and con-man pastor who join forces to transport African Americans to safety. Belafonte initiated this project and his rascally preacher steals the film. Subverting his matinee idol image, his rousing, high-spirited performance energises the ‘bro-chemistry’ of his relationship with Poitier’s morally upstanding yet fractious ally.