Dwan Smith Movies
- 1978
George (Sherman Hemsley) is delighted when his temporarily unemployed son, Lionel (Sherman Hemsley), agrees to enter the Jefferson family business. Unfortunately, Lionel's inexperience is matched only by his incompetence, and before long he has implemented dozens of useless "changes" in the operation. The limit comes when Lionel plans a half-price sale that bids fair to financially ruin his terrified dad. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, (more)
- 1977
- R
Based loosely on the real-life relationship between political activist Angela Davis and convict-turned-author George Jackson, Brothers stars Bernie Casey as David Thomas, who begins corresponding with college professor and outspoken black activist Paula Jones (Vonetta McGee) after he's convicted of a crime he didn't commit. David's relationship with Paula gives him strength and insight as he tries to survive in the brutally violent and racist environment of prison. A great deal more serious and politically minded than most of the other "blaxploitation" films of its era, Brothers was directed by Arthur Barron, in a severe departure from his previous film, the sweet teenage love story Jeremy. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bernie Casey, Vonetta McGee, (more)
A trio of musically talented Harlem sisters rise to become major stars of the '50s. Unfortunately, their sudden popularity causes much turmoil in their lives. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Philip Michael Thomas, Irene Cara, (more)
- 1975
Ellery Queen (also known as Too Many Suspects) was the 78-minute pilot film for a TV series based on the fictional intellectual author/sleuth created by cousins Frederick Dannay and Manfred Lee. Jim Hutton plays Ellery (the tenth actor to do so on screen!), while David Wayne is his police inspector father. The plot, set in 1947 Manhattan, involves the murder of a fashion model. Fifteen minutes before the fade-out, Ellery turns to the audience, presents the clues, and asks us to solve the murder--a cute if unnecessary trick, since Ellery's got the case all worked out and the killer is no surprise to anyone who's watched TV murder mysteries in the last 25 years (the actor in question has said "I did it!" so often that it's a wonder he can walk the streets without being apprehended). Ellery Queen was a pet project of the TV writing team of Richard Levinson and William Link (of Columbo) fame. After the subsequent Queen TV series expired after a single season, Levinson and Link revived the notion of a murder-solving novelist and changed the gender of the protagonist--and the result was Murder She Wrote. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
Two of Rampart's paramedics have crosses to bear in this episode. Roy (Kevin Tighe) wrestles with the prospect of amputating an accident victim's leg at the man's own request, while John (Randolph Mantooth) sweats out an audit from the IRS. Elsewhere, the staff is confronted with another case of wildly contradictory medical symptoms; a baby is trapped in a locked car; and a pregant woman may suffer heart failure if she delivers. Ray Ballard steals the show as a con artist who specializes in bilking medical insurance companies. This is the final episode of Emergency's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1973
Lamont (Demond Wilson) and Rollo (Nathaniel Taylor) believe they're on the road to riches when they agree to manage the Three Degrees, an all-girl singing trio from Philadelphia. Fred (Redd Foxx) wants no part of this arrangement, not even when the girls move into the Sanford house. Everything comes to a head during a talent show at the Safari Club. The real-life Three Degrees appear as themselves. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Redd Foxx, Demond Wilson, (more)
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