Directed by Sidney Poitier, Buck and the Preacher is a 1972 American Western film starring Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee, and Sidney Poitier. When Buck (Poitier) comes home to discover that the evil DeShay (Cameron Mitchell) has terrorized recently freed African American slaves, he flees to a nearby encampment where he meets the Preacher (Belafonte). The Preacher attempts to sell information regarding Buck's whereabouts to DeShay, but when he becomes impressed with Buck's work ethic and his commitment to protecting the slaves, he changes his mind. The Preacher is actually a con man, and only when he begins to trust Buck does he fess up to his motives. The two men team up and rally against DeShay and his band of outlaws, who wish to return the slaves to Louisiana. As they head out West they must battle to keep everyone in the party alive. Buck and the Preacher was one of the first major studio films to be directed by an African American.moreless