The Grissom Gang (1971)

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

Leon Griffiths (screenplay)
James Hadley Chase (based on novel by "No Orchids for Miss Blandish")

Release Date:

2 September 1971 (Italy)

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:

Kidnapping | Nightclub Singer | Criminal Gang | 1930s | Kidnapper Kidnapped Relationship

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
Mort Marshall	...	Heinie
Elliott Street	...	Gas Station Attendant
Dave Willock	...	Rocky
Alex Wilson	...	Jerry McGowen
Raymond Guth	...	Farmer
John Steadman	...	Oldman

Directed by
Robert Aldrich

Writing credits
Leon Griffiths		(screenplay)
James Hadley Chase		(based on novel by "No Orchids for Miss Blandish")

Produced by
Robert Aldrich	....	producer
William Aldrich	....	associate producer
Walter Blake	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Gerald Fried

Cinematography by
Joseph F. Biroc		(as Joesph Biroc)

Film Editing by
Michael Luciano
Frank J. Urioste

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Art Direction by
James Dowell Vance

Set Decoration by
John Brown

Costume Design by
Norma Koch

Makeup Department
Jean Austin	....	hair stylist
William Turner	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Fred Ahern	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Malcolm R. Harding	....	assistant director
William A. Morrison	....	second assistant director

Art Department
John La Salandra	....	construction coordinator
Maurice Larson	....	painter
Don Pringle	....	greensman
Ygnacio Sepulveda	....	prop master

Sound Department
Richard S. Church	....	sound
Van Allen James	....	sound effects editor
Milo B. Lory	....	sound effects
George Malley	....	sound recordist
Harry W. Tetrick	....	recording supervisor
Mickey Cureton	....	cable person (uncredited)
Morris Feingold	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Donald F. Johnson	....	cable (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Henry Millar Jr.	....	special effects

Stunts
Dick Durock	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jesse Wayne	....	stunt double: Alvin Hammer (uncredited)
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Joe Jackman	....	camera operator
Kenny Bell	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Paul Gilbert	....	electrical engineer (uncredited)
Gilbert Haimson	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Orville Hallberg	....	camera operator (uncredited)
William Hanna II	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Robert Merry	....	best boy (uncredited)
Rik Nervik	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Paul Schwake Jr.	....	head grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lucia De Martino	....	wardrobe: women
Charles E. James	....	wardrobe supervisor: men

Music Department
Scott Perry Jr.	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Pat Miller	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Robert Gary	....	script supervisor
Patricia Heade	....	production assistant
Alex Romero	....	choreographer
Robert Sherman	....	dialogue supervisor
Dave Davies	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Don Record	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• ABC Pictures
• Associates & Aldrich Company, The

Distributors

• Cinerama Releasing Corporation (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1971) (France) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1971) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Transvídeo (2000) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

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 Emmenez-moi au théâtre: Pas d'orchidées pour Miss Blandisch (1978) (TV)

THE GRISSOM GANG (Robert Aldrich, 1971) ***

Given its considerable reputation, it seems incredible to me that I've had this film on VHS for over a decade but only now have I gotten round to watching it! Actually, I opted to have a go at it finally after having just watched another James Hadley Chase adaptation - CRIME ON A SUMMER MORNING (1965) - the previous day...but also because, distressingly, many VHS tapes I've had for a very long time are starting to rot on me!!

Made in the wake of the gangster-film revival spawned by the runaway success of BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967), it can also be seen as a companion piece to Roger Corman's BLOODY MAMA (1970). The film was much criticized at the time for its violence - coming in what is perhaps the cinema's most notorious year, with the likes of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, THE DEVILS, DIRTY HARRY, GET CARTER and STRAW DOGS! - but its gallery of grotesques is at least just as disagreeable!! It doesn't really have any sympathetic characters, but "The Grissom Gang" itself is such a lurid menagerie of harridans, dimwits and sleazeballs that one would doubtless need a shower after having spent two hours in this company! For what it's worth, the film is extremely well made (compelling, richly-detailed, exceptionally acted) and even very funny if one is attuned to the director's uniquely absurdist and delirious mind-set.

Still, its general unwholesomeness may well have curtailed Kim Darby's cinematic career - though here she demonstrates remarkable maturity when compared to her fresh-faced sparring with John Wayne in TRUE GRIT (1969). Scott Wilson's role is perhaps the best he ever had (even keeping in mind his impeccable work in both IN COLD BLOOD [1967] and THE NINTH CONFIGURATION [1980]) - though his dumb backwoods hoodlum, alternating between mother-fixation and drooling over Darby, eventually overstays its welcome. Irene Dailey's relentlessly overwrought performance as Ma Grissom (needless to say, the actress' most significant role), then, borders on camp and matches Shelley Winters in BLOODY MAMA. Tony Musante embodies the stylish side of crime with his chic attire and playboy ways, who's bound to clash with Wilson over attractive kidnapped heiress Darby. Also notable in the cast are Connie Stevens as Musante's ill-fated moll, Robert Lansing as the journalist investigating the kidnapping case and Wesley Addy as Darby's contemptuous father (who considers her 'tainted' by the experience and actually doesn't want her back!).

The finale, then, with the majority of the gang decimated at their hide-out - followed by Wilson's come-uppance outside a barn (after having spent the night with Darby for the last time) is appropriately vivid. By the way, the novel on which this is based had been filmed in Britain in 1948 under its original title, "No Orchids For Miss Blandish", but that version is only remembered - if at all - for how bad it actually was!