In a distinct break from her violent vigilante roles, Grier’s last film with AIP—the only one based on a comic book—features a model-turned-photographer who teams up with Yaphet Kotto’s private investigator to crack a couple of puzzling mysteries peopled by those who are not what they seem. Joining a packed cast of current and future stars including Eartha Kitt, Scatman Crothers, Carl Weathers, Godfrey Cambridge and Ted Lange, Pam Grier takes on a persona more Nancy Drew than Foxy Brown. Rather than surprising her enemies with razor blades, needles or shotguns, Foster’s wildest stunt is stealing a hearse from a friend’s funeral to chase down a suspect. She is still much desired, very independent, smart and resourceful, but for the most part leaves the violence to the men, who in this film are, for a change, not all inept or corrupt. The slightly breezier switch-up marked an end to Grier’s blaxploitation spree both for audiences and for Grier, who felt that her defiant superhero roles had served their purpose and had played themselves out. – BG