Anna Lucasta 1958  N/R, 97 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Arnold Laven
Cast: Eartha Kitt, Sammy Davis Jr., Frederick O'Neal, Henry Scott, Rex Ingram, Georgia Burke, James Edwards, Rosetta LeNoire, Isabel Cooley, Alvin Childress
Eartha Kitt takes on the role of prostitute Anna Lucasta who is kicked out of her home and then exploited by her family. This remake of the 1949 film features an all-Black cast, which is consistent with how playwright Philip Yordan wrote his controversial 1944 Broadway production.
|  | |
The Benny Goodman Story 1956  N/R, 116 min.
Genre: Drama / Musical
Director: Valentine Davies
Cast: Steve Allen, Donna Reed, Berta Gersten, Herbert Anderson, Robert F. Simon, Hy Averback, Dick Winslow, Jack Kruschen, Harry James, Wilton Graff, Sammy Davis Jr., Martha Tilton, Barry Truex, Shepard Menken, David Kasday
Great music is part of this biography of the famous bandleader Benny Goodman (Steve Allen) that includes his days of growing up in Chicago as well as his romance with and marriage to society debutante Alice Hammond (Donna Reed). Guest performers include Harry James, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton, Sammy Davis Jr., and Martha Tilton.
| | |
 The Cannonball Run 1981  PG, 95 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Hal Needham
Cast: Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Fonda, Jackie Chan, Bert Convy, Jamie Farr
This is another Hal Needham/Burt Reynolds predictable story about beer-drinking rednecks who, this time, participate in a coast-to-coast car race. Old story, old gags.
| | |
Cannonball Run II 1984  PG-13, 109 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Hal Needham
Cast: Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Shirley MacLaine, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Marilu Henner, Sid Caesar, Jack Elam, Jamie Farr, Frank Sinatra
This film features the same humor found in "Cannonball Run" and "Smokey and the Bandit;" however, Burt Reynolds fans will probably enjoy it.
| | |
Convicts 4 1962  N/R, 105 min.
Genre: Drama
aka: Convicts Four
Reprieve
Director: Millard Kaufman
Cast: Ben Gazzara, Stuart Whitman, Ray Walston, Vincent Price, Rod Steiger, Broderick Crawford, Sammy Davis Jr., Jack Kruschen, Jack Albertson, Myron Healey
A convict (Ben Gazzara) turns his efforts to the aesthetic world while serving a lengthy prison sentence and becomes a credible artist.
| | |
Cracking Up 1983 PG, 83 min.
Genre: Comedy
aka: Smorgasbord
Director: Jerry Lewis
Cast: Jerry Lewis, Herb Edelman, Zane Busby, Dick Butkus, Milton Berle, Sammy Davis Jr., Foster Brooks, Buddy Lester, Francine York, Robin Bach
This is not one of Jerry Lewis' best by a long shot, but there are a few funny scenes as Jerry plays various characters–all tied to a suicidal chump seeking help from the shrink (Edelman).
| | |
The Kid Who Loved Christmas 1990 TV, 100 min.
Genre: Family
Director: Arthur Allan Seidelman
Cast: Cicely Tyson, Michael Warren, Sammy Davis Jr., Gilbert Lewis, Ken Page, Della Reese, Esther Rolle, Ben Vereen, Vanessa Williams, Trent Cameron
This touching Christmas story is about a young orphan (Trent Cameron) who is determined to join his musician father for the holidays. This film, co-produced by Eddie Murphy, was Davis' last appearance.
| | |
A Man Called Adam 1966 N/R, 103 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Leo Penn
Cast: Sammy Davis Jr., Ossie Davis, Cicely Tyson, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra Jr., Peter Lawford, Mel Torme, Lola Falana, Jeanette Du Bois, Kenneth Tobey, Johnny Brown, George Rhodes, Michael Silva, Michael Lipton
Jazz trumpeter Adam Johnson (Sammy Davis Jr.) has many problems: prejudice against Blacks, feeling guilt for an accident that killed his family, a non-caring agent, etc. When the only White member of his band is beaten by racists, it's too much for our hero. A depressing story, but the all-star cast and good music throughout help save it.
| | |
Moon Over Parador 1988 PG-13, 96 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Paul Mazursky
Cast: Richard Dreyfuss, Raul Julia, Sonia Braga, Jonathan Winters, Fernando Rey, Sammy Davis Jr., Michael Greene, Polly Holliday, Charo, Milton Goncalves, Marianne Sagebrecht, Reinhard Kolldehoff
A Caribbean dictator dies and, in the interest of stability, the police chief asks a visiting actor (Richard Dreyfuss) to impersonate the dictator.
| | |
 Ocean's Eleven 1960 N/R, 127 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Lewis Milestone
Cast: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Angie Dickinson, Richard Conte, Cesar Romero, Patrice Wymore, Joey Bishop, Akim Tamiroff, Henry Silva, Ilka Chase, Buddy Lester, Richard Benedict, Jean Willes
Under Danny Ocean's (Frank Sinatra) leadership, veterans of the 82nd Airborne regroup after 15 years to raid five Las Vegas casinos–the Sahara, Flamingo, Riviera, Sands, and Desert Inn–on New Year's Eve. Of course, there are more than a few hurdles to overcome while carrying out their "perfect" plan. This is the "Rat Pack's" first feature film.
| | |
One More Time 1970 PG, 93 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Jerry Lewis
Cast: Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis Jr., Percy Herbert, Maggie Wright, John Wood, Allan Cuthbertson, Dudley Sutton, Anthony Nicholls, Moultrie Kelsall, Bill Maynard, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing
In this sequel to "Salt and Pepper," financially struggling Chris Pepper and Charlie Salt (Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Jr.) inherit an English castle when Chris' twin brother dies. A weak movie with BAD jokes–including some racist undertones.
| | |
 Porgy and Bess 1959 N/R, 146 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Otto Preminger
Cast: Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis Jr., Brock Peters, Diahann Carroll, Ivan Dixon, Claude Akins, Pearl Bailey, Clarence Muse, Ruth Attaway
Andre Previn and Ken Darby won the Academy Award for Best Musical Score for this film based on Ira Gershwin's classic folk opera about life on Catfish Row.
| | |
Robin and the Seven Hoods 1964 N/R, 103 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Musical
Director: Gordon Douglas
Cast: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Falk, Bing Crosby, Barbara Rush, Victor Buono, Allen Jenkins, Edward G. Robinson, Hans Conried, Hank Henry, Robert Foulk, Jack La Rue, Sig Ruman, Richard Bakalyan
Robbo (Frank Sinatra), who leads Chicago gangsters during Prohibition, is given $50,000 by Marian (Barbara Rush) to hunt down the man who killed her gangster father Big Jim (Edward G. Robinson). Robbo gives the money to his henchman Will (Sammy Davis Jr.) who, in turn, gives the money to Allen A. Dale (Bing Crosby) who runs the Blessed Shelter Orphans Home. Dale informs the press about the gift, and Robbo becomes a celebrity, known as Chicago's Robin Hood. Now, Robbo and his gang open up their own mission and, of course, use it as a cover for back-room gambling. "My Kind of Town" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song.
| | |
Salt and Pepper 1968 G, 101 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Richard Donner
Cast: Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Michael Bates, John Le Mesurier, Graham Stark, Ernest Clark, Ilona Rodgers, William Mervyn, Harry Hutchinson, Calvin Lockhart
Christopher Pepper and Charles Salt (Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis Jr.) run a nightclub in London's Soho district, but are also secret agents. They must stop an officer (John Le Mesurier) who intends to hijack a nuclear sub and rule England. This is an average comedy with a 1960s' look and feel that spawned a sequel, "One More Time."
| | |
Sergeants 3 1962 N/R, 112 min.
Genre: Comedy / Western
Director: John Sturges
Cast: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, Henry Silva, Ruta Lee, Buddy Lester, Hank Henry, Michael Pate, Phillip Crosby, Dennis Crosby, Lindsay Crosby, Dick Simmons, Armand Alzamora
Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack stars in this Gunga Din satire (now set after the Civil War) as three cavalry sergeants–Mike Merry, Chip Deal, and Larry Barret (Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Peter Lawford), along with slave-turned-bugler Jonah Williams (Sammy Davis, Jr.)–head out West to confront American Indians. They end up getting captured, but Jonah blows his bugle to warn the Cavalry that the Indians have set a trap for them. The ensuing battle against 1,000 Indians results in a victory for the Cavalry, and Jonah is made a trooper.
| | |
Sweet Charity 1969  G, 157 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Bob Fosse
Cast: Shirley MacLaine, John McMartin, Ricardo Montalban, Sammy Davis Jr., Chita Rivera, Paula Kelly, Stubby Kaye, Barbara Bouchet, Alan Hewitt, Dee Carroll
Recreated from the Broadway hit, this film is good entertainment. It is the story of dance-hall hostess Charity (Shirley MacLaine), a woman with a "past," who Oscar (John McMartin) loves but has trouble reconciling with her lifestyle.
| | |
Tap 1989 PG-13, 110 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Nick Castle
Cast: Gregory Hines, Sammy Davis Jr., Suzzanne Douglass, Savion Glover, Joe Morton, Dick Anthony Williams, Howard "Sandman" Sims, Bunny Briggs, Steve Condos, Jimmy Slyde
Yes! This movie is filled with all the great dancing you would expect as recently released from prison Max (Gregory Hines) must decide between returning to a life of crime or using his talents to entertain as a tap dancer. Great choreography.
| | |
 That's Dancing! 1985 G, 105 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Jack Haley Jr.
Cast: Gene Kelly, Sammy Davis Jr., Mikhail Baryshnikov, Liza Minnelli, Ray Bolger, Bill Robinson, June Haver, Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire, James Cagney, Lucille Ball, Judy Garland
Music fans will enjoy this compilation of dance routines from numerous films that span half a century.
| | |
The Trackers 1971 TV, 73 min.
Genre: Western
Director: Earl Bellamy
Cast: Ernest Borgnine, Sammy Davis Jr., Julie Adams, Jim Davis, Arthur Hunnicutt, Connie Kreski, Caleb Brooks, Leo Gordon, Norman Alden, Ross Elliott
A rancher (Ernest Borgnine) is after those responsible for killing his son and kidnapping his daughter. He hires an arrogant professional tracker (Sammy Davis Jr.) to help in the search and the two don't hit it off well together.
| | |
| 1. Anna Lucasta (1958)
2. The Benny Goodman Story (1956)
3. The Cannonball Run (1981)
4. Cannonball Run II (1984)
5. Convicts 4 (1962)
aka: Convicts Four
aka: Reprieve
6. Cracking Up (1983)
aka: Smorgasbord
7. The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990)
8. A Man Called Adam (1966)
9. Moon Over Parador (1988)
10. Nightmare in the Sun (1964)
11. Ocean's Eleven (1960)
12. One More Time (1970)
13. Porgy and Bess (1959)
14. Robin and the Seven Hoods (1964)
15. Salt and Pepper (1968)
16. Sergeants 3 (1962)
17. Sweet Charity (1969)
18. Tap (1989)
19. That's Dancing! (1985)
20. The Trackers (1971)
In The News
|
