Bryan O'Dell
In a refreshing if somewhat ominous change of pace, this independently produced film explores the life and ambitions of its central characters, Frank, a black L.A. drug baron and his younger brother "Sugarpop," who has been given the right academic credentials to move his family into the "legitimate" business world. When the older man is gunned down by assassins, it's up to the younger man to helm the family business, get revenge for the killing, and leverage their earnings into some form of respectable participation in society at large. Fortunately for his short-term goals, he is an expert in the use of light aircraft, and he and his gang members skillfully use them to gain a strategic advantage. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bryan O'Dell, Clifford Shegog, (more)
- 1981
- PG
This tuneful drama features the rock group Love Machine as it tells the tale of a record promoter hired by a crooked producer to fulfill affirmative action quotas. It is the hard-working, independent-minded promoter who discovers and develops the Love Machine, an all female group. The trouble begins when the group's lead singer is kidnapped and the promoter learns that his employer's label is really a front for the mob. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John R. Daniels, Gwen Brisco, (more)
- 1978
- R
In this realistic urban drama, a recently returned Vietnam vet moves back to his home in Watts to resume his life as a gang member. He spends much of his time training a younger man to be a gang member. The trouble really begins when one of the gang fatally overdoses on drugs. The gang vows to get revenge upon the local pushers. The film was shot on location in LA. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Bryan O'Dell, (more)
Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier, co-stars of the comic capers Uptown Saturday Night and Let's Do It Again, team up again for this socially conscious comedy-adventure. This time out, Poitier and Cosby play Manny Durrell and Dave Anderson, Windy City con artists with a long history of cheating crooks who rip off the poor. They are blackmailed by retired cop Joshua Burke (James Earl Jones) into "giving back to the community." Manny and Dave soon find themselves posing as career counselors for a group of surly inner-city youths at a local community center. Despite the efforts of such unruly kids as class clown Gerald (Eric Laneuville) and bitter Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph), Manny actually begins to take pride in the help he's giving to his students. Soon, though, he's forced to deal with two additional obstacles: the arrival of his girlfriend's obnoxious parents (Gammy Burdett and Wonderful Smith) and the attentions of a local mobster (Titos Vandis) upset that he's been had. As with his previous Cosby collaborations, Poitier directed A Piece of the Action, whose cast also includes Denise Nicholas as a community center leader, Tracy Reed as Manny's girlfriend, Nikki, and Ja'net DuBois as Nikki's tipsy aunt, Nellie. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hope Clarke, Bill Cosby, (more)
