Sandy Reed Movies
- 1974
Johnny Tough is a "blaxploitation" film tempered by a social consciousness. Dion Gossett plays a young urban African-American. Gossett continually rebels against the white establishment, as represented by his teacher. The boy finds he can expect no back-up of his attitude at home, where his parents wallow in self-indulgence, so he feels that a show of force is his only option. Renny Roker and Sandy Reed also appear in this film. Not quite as violent as most films in its genre, Johnny Tough was consigned to the Late Late Show circuit as soon as it finished its initial theatrical run. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dion Gossett, Christopher Townes, (more)
- 1971
- R
Mike Simms plays a young black soldier serving in Vietnam, who is abruptly summoned back to his old Watts neighborhood. Simms' family is mourning the death of Simms' brother, who was killed by two racist cops. Encouraged by a white friend to investigate his brother's death, Simms finds himself in the unenviable position of being the voice of moderation between the black militants preparing to ravage the neighborhood and the white extremists who are poised to take retaliatory action. Filmed by an African-American crew, The Bus Is Coming endeavors to be evenhanded in showing the evils of racism from both ends of the spectrum. The amateurishness of the actors merely serves to enhance the realism of the project. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Steve Grayson (Elvis Presley) is a swinging racecar driver whose manager Kenny (Bill Bixby) has bet his money on the horses. Most of the horses didn't win, causing Steve to be visited by IRS agent Susan Jacks (Nancy Sinatra). Gale Gordon plays Hepworth, her stuffy supervisor, and William Shallert has the role of Abel Esterlake, former racecar driver who helps Steve on the track. Steve engages in the stock-car races at the Charlotte Speedway to get back the money to keep him and his manager out of jail. Presley delivers 11 songs, the most notable being "Let Yourself Go." Elvis by now was just playing out the innocuous string of movies that his musically insensitive, cigar-chomping manager Colonel Tom Parker had contracted for him. Soon Elvis would undertake the most successful live comeback by any performer in history and leave these trashy features behind. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elvis Presley, Nancy Sinatra, (more)
- 1967
The fast-paced world of stock-car racing provides the backdrop for this drama that centers upon a driver who is forced to retire after a blackout causes the death of another driver. He then begins working at a "Thrill Circus" as a stunt driver. There he meets the proprietor's daughter, who also drives there, and her lover. The professional driver is bored by his new job and so begins training the girl's beau to be a professional. The training is good and the young man wins his first race. This causes the banished driver's gold-digging ex-girl friend to try to steal the hot young driver away from the daughter which creates some problems between the younger and the older drivers. They reconcile when they are paired up during a crucial 500-mile race. In the midst of the race, the older pro feels another blackout coming on. By the end of the film, he realizes that the fainting spells are a psychological reaction to a childhood trauma. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Annette Funicello, Fabian, (more)
- 1966
In this musical aimed at teenagers, Frankie Avalon, and Fabian battle it out for Annette Funicello's affections on the stock car track. The tale begins when smugglers trick Avalon into taking on contraband during a cross-country race. He catches on to their ploy and helps the Feds capture the crooks. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, (more)
