A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich 1978  PG, 105 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Ralph Nelson
Cast: Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, Larry B. Scott, Helen Martin, Glynn Turman, David Groh, Kevin Hooks, Harold Sylvester, Bill Cobbs, Kenneth Green, Erin Blunt, Claire Brenner, Arthur French, Sheila Wills, Arnold Johnson
The focus of this film is Benjie (Larry B. Scott), a 16-year-old boy who becomes addicted to drugs. After Benjie's ghetto parents, Butler and Sweets (Paul Winfield and Cicely Tyson), and his grandmother (Helen Martin) become alienated from him, Benjie relies on a social worker (Claire Brenner) for help in dealing with his addiction.
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 Menace II Society 1993  R, 97 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
Cast: Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, Samuel L. Jackson, Glenn Plummer, Khandi Alexander, Jada Pinkett Smith, Bill Duke, Charles S. Dutton, Arnold Johnson, Vonte Sweet, Anthony Johnson, Brandon Hammond, Reginald Ballard, Jullian Roy Doster, Marilyn Coleman
Inner city violence is the theme of this story about 18-year-old drug-dealer Caine Lawson (Tyrin Turner) trying to find an escape from the street culture in the projects of Watts. Caine's father (Samuel L. Jackson) was a drug dealer, but he and Caine's drug addicted mother have now both died, and his grandparents have kicked him out of their house. Caine's one hope to break out of his lifestyle is Ronnie (Jada Pinkett Smith) who is a single mother trying to find her way out of Watts. A love affair between Caine and Ronnie leads to the decision to move south to Atlanta. But, tragedy lies ahead as they prepare to leave.
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Putney Swope 1969 R, 84 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Robert Downey Sr.
Cast: Arnold Johnson, Laura Greene, Allen Garfield, Antonio Fargas, Mel Brooks, Pepi Hermine, Stan Gottlieb, Allan Arbus
By a fluke, Black advertising man Putney Swope (Arnold Johnson) is elected head of his agency, and he immediately makes changes that rock the "soul" of the industry.
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Racing with the Moon 1984 PG, 108 min.
Genre: Drama / Comedy / Romance
Director: Richard Benjamin
Cast: Sean Penn, Elizabeth McGovern, Nicolas Cage, John Karlen, Rutanya Alda, Kate Williamson, Max Showalter, Crispin Glover, Arnold Johnson, Dana Carvey, Barbara Howard, Bob Maroff, Dominic Nardini, John Brandon, Eve Brent
It is Christmas 1942, and two friends, Hopper and Nickey (Sean Penn and Nicolas Cage) are due to report to the Marine Corps in just a few weeks. During the holiday season, Hopper falls in love with a rich girl, Caddie Winger (Elizabeth McGovern), who comes from a world far removed from his drab surroundings. A good, often humorous, view of the 1940s during World War II.
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The Seventh Sign 1988  R, 97 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: Carl Schultz
Cast: Demi Moore, Michael Biehn, Jurgen Prochnow, Peter Friedman, Manny Jacobs, John Taylor, Lee Garlington, Akosua Busia, Harry Basil, Arnold Johnson
Although Father Lucci (Peter Friedman) has been sent to Venice, California, by the Vatican to investigate signs of the apocalypse, he finds no overwhelming evidence to support a claim. But housewife Abby Quinn (Demi Moore), who is dealing with a mysterious boarder (Jurgen Prochnow), doesn't agree and fears for the future of her unborn child.
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 Shaft 1971 R, 100 min.
Genre: Action / Drama / Thriller
Director: Gordon Parks
Cast: Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn, Charles Cioffi, Christopher St. John, Gwenn Mitchell, Lawrence Pressman, Antonio Fargas, Arnold Johnson, Shimen Ruskin, Joseph Leon, Victor Arnold, Sherri Brewer, Rex Robbins, Camille Yarbrough, Margaret Warncke
After the teenage daughter of Black, Harlem gangster Bumpy Jonas (Moses Gunn) is kidnapped by the White Mafia, private investigator John Shaft (Richard Roundtree) sets out to track her down. There has been no demand for ransom, and Shaft has no clues as to who actually did the kidnapping when he enters his action-packed investigation through New York City. Isaac Hayes' theme song for this film won the Academy Award for Best Song.
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| 1. A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich (1978)
2. Menace II Society (1993)
3. Putney Swope (1969)
4. Racing with the Moon (1984)
5. The Seventh Sign (1988)
6. Shaft (1971)
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