David Lewis, born in Pittsburgh in 1916, made a notable contribution to the cult film landscape with his role in Cleopatra Jones (1973). Known primarily for his long tenure on daytime television, he showcased his versatility in a variety of roles throughout his career. In Cleopatra Jones, he adds to the film's vibrant narrative, blending his television experience with the dynamic energy of 1970s exploitation cinema. His performances continue to resonate within the genre, marking him as a distinctive figure in cult film history.
Cleopatra Jones
Cleopatra "Cleo" Jones (Dobson) is an undercover special agent for the United States Government. Overseas modeling is only a cover for her real job. Cleo is a Bond-like heroine with power and influence, her silver and black '73 Corvette Stingray (equipped with automatic weapons), and her martial arts ability. While she evokes the glory of a funk goddess, she remains loyal to her drug-ravaged community and her lover, Reuben Masters (Bernie Casey), who runs B&S House (a community home for recovering drug addicts). The film opens with Cleo overseeing the destruction of a poppy field in Turkey belonging to the evil drug lord, Mommy (Shelley Winters). Mommy employs an all-male crew and a bevy of beautiful young women catering to her many wants. When she hears about her poppies' demise, she plots revenge, ordering a corrupt policeman to raid the B&S House. When Cleo returns to LA to arrest the police responsible for the raid, she continues to take apart Mommy's underworld drug business, thwarting her minions along the way.[5] Cleo and Mommy face off in a showdown, in which she is trapped by Mommy in a car crusher but is saved by her friends from the B&S House. In the final showdown, Cleo chases Mommy to the top of a magnetic crane where the two women fight. Mommy proves to be no match for Cleo, who hurls Mommy over the side of the crane to her death, while Cleo's friends defeat her henchmen. At the end of the film, as Reuben and the members of the community celebrate victory, Cleo departs the scene. She sets off to complete her mission of stemming the tide of drugs that flow into her community. Cleopatra Jones is assigned to crack down on drug trafficking in the United States and abroad. After she burns a Turkish poppy field, the notorious drug lord Mommy is furious at the loss of her supply and vows to destroy her.
