Leon Bibb Movies
- 2004
In the early '60s, revolutionary music producer and promoter Harold Leventhal's contributions to the American folk scene forever changed the face of modern music. In addition to being the man who gave Bob Dylan his first major concert hall performance, Leventhal also managed such folk legends as the Weavers, Peter, Paul, and Mary, and Arlo Guthrie. In this tribute film to Leventhal, named after director Jim Brown's 1982 documentary The Weavers: Wasn't That a Time!, filmmaker Brown weaves interview footage with Arlo Guthrie and other longtime folk specialists in with footage from Leventhal's 2003 Thanksgiving weekend concert at Carnegie Hall. In addition to offering live performance footage of Peter, Paul, and Mary and The Weavers, this tribute concert also features performances by Leon Bibb, Theodore Bikel, Tao Rodriguez-Singer, Sarah Lee Guthrie, and Johnny Irion. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, (more)
- 1983
Canadian sailor and fisherman Sean Phelan (Winston Rekert) has been duped into carrying a cargo of drugs for the Colombian Mafia when all he wants to do is set his business back on course. Unknown to the Colombian smugglers (the Canadian Mounties have been on to them all the time) special-agent Priscilla Lancaster (Britt Ekland) is on board to thwart the smugglers -- and to fall in love with the fisherman while still undercover. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Winston Rekert, Britt Ekland, (more)
- 1969
- PG
Jason Higgs (Sidney Poitier) is an angry black man who plans to rob a factory payroll. With the help of his accomplices Dennis (Al Freeman Jr.) and his white girlfriend Cathy (Joanna Shimkus), a racially motivated demonstration diverts attention from the crooks while they rob the safe. Jason is somewhat of a modern-day Robin Hood who wishes to use the money to help the children of incarcerated soul brothers. He only places his hope in the youth who have not been sullied or scalded by the hatred of racial prejudice. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
When it was released in 1968, For Love of Ivy was the first mainstream Hollywood film to depict a mature romantic relationship between a black man and woman. Sidney Poitier stars as Jack Parks, a trucking executive who runs an illegal travelling casino out of one of his vehicles. Abbey Lincoln co-stars as Ivy Moore, the much-valued maid of the white Austin household. To make sure that Ivy won't quit her job, Frank Austin (Carroll O'Connor) blackmails Poitier into romancing her. He eventually falls in love with Ivy for real, but not before she's discovered that he's little more than a "hired hand" in affairs of the heart. Beau Bridges costars as amiable hippie Tim Austin, the only truly likeable member of his snooty, upper-crust clan. Robert Alan Aurthur based his screenplay on an original story by star Sidney Poiter. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sidney Poitier, Abbey Lincoln, (more)
- 1968
Uptight is an updated remake of John Ford's The Informer (35). The Irish Republican rebels of the original are replaced by black activists, Dublin becomes the Cleveland ghetto, and "the troubles" of 1921 are transformed into the days just following the assassination of Martin Luther King. Julian Mayfield plays an itinerant street sweeper who betrays his militant friends to the fuzz, resulting in an underground all-points bulletin to exact vengeance on the squealer. Ruby Dee portrays a prostitute who befriends the snitch as he eludes his revolutionary ex-buddies. Jules Dassin's unrelenting directorial pace is complemented by the driving jazz score of Booker T. Jones. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Raymond St. Jacques, Ruby Dee, (more)
- 1957
This remake of Zoe Akins' Morning Glory stars Susan Strasberg as Eva Lovelace, the role that won Katharine Hepburn her first Oscar back in 1933. Fresh from the midwest, the starry-eyed Eva arrives in New York, convinced that she has what it takes to be Broadway's greatest actress. Armed with more chutzpah than talent, Eva proves fascinating to big-time producer Lewis Easton (Henry Fonda) and playwright Joe Sheridan (Christopher Plummer, in his film debut). But the realization of her girl remains just outside of Eva's reach until she replaces temperamental star Rita Vernon (Joan Greenwood) on the opening night of Sheridan's newest play. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Henry Fonda, Susan Strasberg, (more)
