The Grissom Gang (1971)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

James Hadley Chase (novel)
Leon Griffiths (writer)

Release Date:

24 September 1971 (West Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

The psychotic killer, the young heiress...the kidnapping that becomes a love story.

Plot:

Set in the 1920s Depression, a gang of half-witted small-time hoods led by Slim Grissom kidnap heiress...

Plot Keywords:

Kidnapper Kidnapped Relationship | Kidnapping | Beautiful Woman | Nightclub Singer | Criminal Gang

Cast

Kim Darby	...	Barbara Blandish
Scott Wilson	...	Slim Grissom
Tony Musante	...	Eddie Hagan
Robert Lansing	...	Dave Fenner
Connie Stevens	...	Anna Borg
Irene Dailey	...	Gladys 'Ma' Grissom
Wesley Addy	...	John P. Blandish
Joey Faye	...	Woppy
Michael Baseleon	...	Frankie Connor
Ralph Waite	...	Mace
Hal Baylor	...	Chief McLaine
Matt Clark	...	Joe Bailey
Alvin Hammer	...	Sam
Dots Johnson	...	Johnny Hutchins (as Dotts Johnson)
Don Keefer	...	Doc Grissom

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:PG | UK:X | West Germany:16 (f) | Argentina:18 | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-18 | Norway:18 (1972) | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Aldrich Studios, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

ABC Pictures

Trivia:

One of the key props in the film is a diamond necklace. Because of Robert Aldrich's insistence on accuracy, this was a real diamond necklace, that came complete with a special female courier, disguised as a secretary, and with an escort of guards on the set. Special arrangements were made with the local bank and sheriff's department in the location of Placerville, California, while the necklace itself was transported by a motorcade of vehicles.

Quotes:

Eddie Hagan: How come you never get your ass out of bed?
Anna Borg: Well, it's the place you seem to like it the most.

Movie Connections:

Version of No Orchids for Miss Blandish (1948)

One Of The Sweatiest Films Ever!

Man, is this an early 70's movie or what?? Made around the time realistic brutality and violence were embraced, this film makes sure you embrace it too. The camera stays on the murder victims for a long period of time and makes sure the blood is red, REALLY red. Machine gun riddled bodies litter this fun mess of a movie. At the height of Kim Darby's fame, she gives it her all, desperately trying to make ridiculously written scenes work with Scott Wilson, who chews up the garishly decorated scenery. (Wilson's work with Robert Blake in IN Cold Blood still ranks as some of the finest in American film). The actress playing Ma is so over-the-top you gotta love it. It lookslike she was directed with Think Bette Davis!! She snarls, whoops, shouts, I even think they give her a moustache. And boy do they sweat in this movie. The lighting is designed to bring it out and everybody sweats. The cops sweat, the gangsters sweat, the stoolies sweat, even Connie Stevens sweats!