The Grissom Gang 1971  R, 128 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Robert Aldrich
Cast: Kim Darby, Scott Wilson, Tony Musante, Robert Lansing, Connie Stevens, Irene Dailey, Wesley Addy, Joey Faye, Don Keefer, Dots Johnson
Heiress Barbara (Kim Darby) is captured by the sadistic, violent Grissom Gang, which is headed by Ma Grissom (Irene Dailey). Its modus operandi: get the ransom, kill the hostage. However, drooling moron Slim (Scott Wilson) falls for Barbara, and she learns how to survive in the ultra violent world. Set around 1930, the film is based on James Hadley Chase's bestseller "No Orchids for Miss Blandish" that was panned at the time of publication as "sadistic pornography." Previously filmed in 1948 as "No Orchids for Miss Blandish."
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The Joe Louis Story 1953 N/R, 88 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Robert Gordon
Cast: Coley Wallace, Paul Stewart, Hilda Simms, James Edwards, John Marley, Dots Johnson, Evelyn Ellis, Carl "Rocky" Latimer, John Marriott, William Thourlby
Amateur boxer Coley Wallace takes on the role of Joe Louis, the "Brown Bomber," in this biographical drama that follows Louis' rise in the boxing world–showing his out-of-the-ring problems as well as his in-ring successes.
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No Way Out 1950  N/R, 106 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Cast: Richard Widmark, Linda Darnell, Sidney Poitier, Stephen McNally, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Harry Lauter, Stanley Ridges, Will Wright, Jack Kruschen, Mildred Joanne Smith, Harry Bellaver, Dots Johnson, Robert Adler, Ray Teal
Revenge based on racial prejudice is the name of the game in this movie that marks Sidney Poitier's film debut. Poitier plays medical intern Dr. Luther Brooks who is blamed for the death of Ray Biddle's (Richard Widmark) brother George (Harry Bellaver). The Biddle brothers are shot during a robbery and taken to a county hospital. The Biddles are racists, and when Brooks arrives to treat Ray, he refuses treatment because Brooks is Black. George dies while under Brooks' care, and Ray blames Brooks. He calls on his gang to cause violence in the Black neighborhoods, but the Blacks fight back. Ray escapes from the hospital with Brooks as his hostage and plans to kill him. But, Ray's girlfriend Edie steps in and thwarts his plans.
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Paisan 1946  N/R, 120 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Roberto Rossellini
Cast: Carmela Sazio, Robert Van Loon, Alfonsino Pasca, Maria Michi, Renzo Avanzo, Harriet Medin, Dots Johnson, William Tubbs, Dale Edmonds, Gar Moore
This powerful post-World War II film is the second in Rossellini's "war trilogy" (the other two being "Open City" and "Germany Year Zero"). Six episodes are presented in chronological order, going regionally from the South to the North. Starting with the invasion of Sicily in 1943 and ending with liberation in 1945, each episode shows a slice of life in Italy that includes the Allied liberators.
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| 1. The Grissom Gang (1971)
2. The Joe Louis Story (1953)
3. No Way Out (1950)
4. Paisan (1946)
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