Cleopatra Jones is a good programmer with the offbeat twist of having a sexy woman detective as the lead character. The script incorporates a slew of action set pieces, capably directed by Jack Starrett.
Tamara Dobson makes a smart starring debut, after fashion model and teleblurb work, as the title character, a sophisticated undercover agent working to stamp out the world drug trade. But a phony raid on lover Bernie Casey’s ghetto halfway house, in which Dobson has a great interest, draws her home to unravel the plot.
Behind Casey’s problems, and serving as Dobson’s arch-enemy, is Shelley Winters, in vulgar characterization as a lesbian-type gangleader. The line between offbeat cameo and repulsive casting is wider than a freeway, but Winters crosses it with felicity.
