AllMovie

Considered daring in 1968, If He Hollers, Let Him Go can now be seen as what it was -- a cheap attempt to exploit racial tensions and newfound sexual freedoms. Directed with no real sense of style and a distinct disregard for subtlety by Charles Martin, If He Hollers is often reprehensible in the manner in which it exploits racial issues of the day. Trying to lure patrons in by casting itself as "hip," and "with it," it ends up being extremely "square" and "dated." The dialogue is at times painful (and most other times simply banal), the plot is hokey and the characters poorly drawn. There are a few pluses, starting with Raymond St. Jacques, who manages to be good despite the poverty of the material. Dana Wynter also acquits herself admirably, although Kevin McCarthy's overblown performance will make most viewers wince. Barbara McNair's acting is nothing to write home about, but her singing is quite attractive, and her physical attributes (quite notably on display) are even more so. None of this makes If He Hollers, Let Him Go a good movie, but it helps make it bearable.