 Was rumored to be written as just another detective movie, with a  white detective in the lead, but, after the success of  _Sweet Sweetbacks Baadasssss Song (1971)_ (qv), the film was  rewritten and recast as a blaxploitation movie. This story has been  told several times by director Melvin van Peebles (qv). The Ernest  Tidyman novel which was the basis for the film is about a black  detective and not a white one.