Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold - Tamara Dobson Blaxploitation Classic

<p><em>Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold</em> — Cleo Goes Kung Fu</p><p>This week on <strong>Black Deth 101</strong>, Nubius Black and Johnny Deth follow Tamara Dobson’s iconic super-agent overseas for the 1975 sequel <em><strong>Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold</strong></em>. This time, Cleo leaves the streets behind and heads to Hong Kong and Macao, where missing agents, martial arts mayhem, casino corruption, and Stella Stevens’ outrageous <strong>Dragon Lady</strong> collide in one wild blaxploitation/kung fu mashup.</p><p>Directed by <strong>Charles Bail</strong>, the film stars <strong>Tamara Dobson</strong>, <strong>Stella Stevens</strong>, <strong>Ni Tien / Tanny</strong>, <strong>Norman Fell</strong>, <strong>Albert Popwell</strong>, and <strong>Caro Kenyatta</strong>. The plot sends Cleopatra Jones to Hong Kong after two government agents, Matthew and Melvin Johnson, disappear while investigating a heroin operation connected to the Dragon Lady’s casino empire. </p><p>We get into:</p><p><strong>Cleo as an international action hero</strong>The first <em>Cleopatra Jones</em> already made her larger than life, but this sequel turns her into a global superhero: fashion model, federal agent, martial artist, rescue squad, and walking disco explosion.</p><p><strong>Blaxploitation meets Shaw Brothers energy</strong>The movie leans hard into Hong Kong action, with casino intrigue, kung fu fights, boat ambushes, henchmen, and secret criminal operations. Run Run Shaw is listed as producer on several sources, which helps explain the East-meets-West action flavor. </p><p><strong>Tamara Dobson’s presence</strong>Roger Ebert noted Dobson’s striking height and screen presence, calling attention to the film’s parade of capes, hoods, metallic outfits, and impossible-to-miss fashion statements. That’s half the movie right there: Cleo doesn’t sneak into Hong Kong — she arrives. </p><p><strong>Stella Stevens as the Dragon Lady</strong>Is the villain problematic? Absolutely. Is she memorable? Also absolutely. We talk about the camp, the menace, the stereotype, and the way the film turns its villain into a strange cocktail of Bond villain, casino boss, and grindhouse cartoon.</p><p><strong>Mi Ling / Mi Lin-Fong deserves more love</strong>Ni Tien, credited in some sources as Tanny, gives Cleo a local partner and brings real action-movie energy to the team-up. The movie works best when Cleo and Mi Ling are fighting, investigating, and moving through the Hong Ko