Garment Jungle 1957 Genre: Drama
Director: Vincent Sherman, Robert Aldrich Cast: Lee J. Cobb, Kerwin Mathews, Gia Scala, Richard Boone, Valerie French, Robert Loggia, Joseph Wiseman, Harold J. Stone, Adam Williams, Wesley Addy, Willis Bouchey, Robert Ellenstein, Celia Lovsky, Sid Melton, Jud Taylor
Alan Mitchell (Kerwin Mathews) returns home from the Korean War and joins his father Walter's (Lee J. Cobb) clothing firm only to discover that Walter is involved in a union-busting syndicate. Alan tries unsuccessfully to talk Walter into changing his mind about unions, and then talks to union leader Tulio Renata (Robert Loggia). Alan's visit results in a series of murder victims–including Walter and Renata. Finally, Alan uses his father's accounting books to give the police evidence of the extortion that led to the murders.
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Knock on Any Door 1949 N/R, 98 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Nicholas Ray Cast: Humphrey Bogart, John Derek, George Macready, Allene Roberts, Dooley Wilson, Mickey Knox, Barry Kelley, Cara Williams, Jimmy Conlin, Sid Melton
A lawyer, Andrew Morton (Humphrey Bogart), works hard to defend Nick Romano (John Derek) on a murder charge. Sequel: "Let No Man Write My Epitaph."
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Lady Sings the Blues 1972 R, 144 min. Genre: Musical
Director: Sidney J. Furie Cast: Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James T. Callahan, Sid Melton, Virginia Capers, Scatman Crothers, Milton Selzer, Ned Glass, Paul Hampton
Diana Ross makes her film debut as Singer Billy "Lady Day" Holliday in this biography of Holliday's rise and ultimate fall. Diana Ross received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her work in this movie.
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The Lemon Drop Kid 1951 N/R, 91 min. Genre: Comedy / Musical / Romance
Director: Sidney Lanfield Cast: Bob Hope, Marilyn Maxwell, Lloyd Nolan, Jane Darwell, Andrea King, Fred Clark, Jay C. Flippen, William Frawley, Tom Dugan, Harry Bellaver, Sid Melton, Ben Welden, Ida Moore, Tor Johnson, Jack Kruschen
Based on a Damon Runyan story, this is the remake of the 1934 film about a reformed gangster, The Lemon Drop Kid (Bob Hope). The Kid accidentally gives gangster Moose Moran (Fred Clark) a bad tip on a race. Now Moran tells The Kid that he must come up with $10,000 to make up for what he would have won. The Kid sets up a fake charity–after all, it is Christmas–and begins to raise the needed funds. This is the film that introduced Ray Evans and Jay Livingston's Christmas ballad, "Silver Bells."
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The Lost Continent 1951 N/R, 83 min. Genre: Sci-Fi
Director: Sam Newfield Cast: Cesar Romero, Hillary Brooke, Chick Chandler, John Hoyt, Acquanetta, Hugh Beaumont, Sid Melton, Whit Bissell, Murray Alper, William E. Green
After a rocket crashes on a Pacific island, Major Joe Nolan (Cesar Romero) heads a team to find it and recover classified information. They come upon prehistoric animals–yes, including dinosaurs. They also encounter a young native woman (Acquanetta) who proves to be of value. Dated and poor special effects, but the film may interest some on a cold winter's day.
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The Steel Helmet 1951 N/R, 84 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Samuel Fuller Cast: Gene Evans, Robert Hutton, Steve Brodie, James Edwards, Richard Loo, Sid Melton, Richard Monahan, William Chun, Harold Fong, Neyle Morrow, Lynn Stalmaster
Set during the Korean War, in this film Gene Evans plays the role of cantankerous Sgt. Zack who is rescued by Korean orphan Short Round (William Chun). They meet a group of American soldiers, and Zack leads them to a Buddhist temple where they set up an observation post while awaiting enemy action.
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Tunnel of Love 1958 N/R, 98 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Gene Kelly Cast: Doris Day, Richard Widmark, Gig Young, Gia Scala, Elisabeth Fraser, Doodles Weaver, Elizabeth Wilson, Charles Wagenheim, Robert Williams, Vikki Dougan, Esquire Trio, Sid Melton, Cosmo Sardo, Donald Kerr, Howard Negley
There are really funny things that happen during the adoption process, and a married couple, Isolde and Augie Poole (Doris Day and Richard Widmark), encounter more than their share when they register with the Rock-a-Bye adoption agency. When the agency sends out Estelle Novick (Gia Scala) to interview Isolde and Augie, their neighbor Dick (Gig Young) hits on her, and Estelle decides that Augie is not a good candidate for fatherhood. Augie decides to change Estelle's mind by taking her out to dinner. Matters get out of hand, and Augie wakes up in a motel room with a hangover. Nine months later, the agency tells Augie and Isolde that they have a baby for them. The baby bears a striking resemblance to Augie. Is there more to this than meets the eye?
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White Heat 1949 N/R, 114 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Raoul Walsh Cast: James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Margaret Wycherly, John Archer, Steve Cochran, Wally Cassell, Fred Clark, Ford Rainey, G. Pat Collins, Paul Guilfoyle, Sid Melton
In this great gangster film, mobster Cody Jarrett (James Cagney) is psychologically dependent on his evil mother (Margaret Wycherly). Nevertheless, he is determined to make it to "the top of the world, Ma." So, Cody and his gang rob a train, kill people, and make off with the loot. But, they leave clues behind, and Cody ends up in jail on a trumped up charge. Now, the feds send an undercover agent Hank Fallon, a.k.a. "Vic" (Edmund O'Brien), to the jail. He befriends Cody and infiltrates Cody's gang. Cody's mother is killed, Cody breaks out of jail with "Vic," and reunites with his gang for a chase scene through a chemical factory ending with Cody crying out to his deceased mother.
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| 1. Garment Jungle (1957)
2. Knock on Any Door (1949)
3. Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
4. The Lemon Drop Kid (1951)
5. The Lost Continent (1951)
6. The Steel Helmet (1951)
7. Tunnel of Love (1958)
8. White Heat (1949)
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