Leo Lieberman Movies
- 1961
This gangland crime story about the life and death of mobster Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll (John Chandler) is most notable for the array of relatively unknown actors in bit parts who later became famous. Otherwise, there is a lot of bloodshed, surface characterization, and a great deal of fiction in the violent tale. Coll is first shown suffering extreme abuse from his father, and then he segues into the development of a neighborhood gang at the age of seventeen. From there, he gets on the wrong side of gangster Dutch Schultz which ultimately is a big mistake. Director Burt Balaban depicts Coll as increasingly insane, before his last killing leads to his violent death. Among those "new" faces are Telly Savalas as Lt. Dawson, Jerry Orbach as Joe, Coll's Judas, Gene Hackman in his first screen role as a cop, and Vincent Gardenia as Dutch Schultz. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Chandler, Neil Nephew, (more)
- 1957
Sabra Tanner (Susan Cabot) is a member of an exclusive sorority on a small California campus. Wealthy, attractive, and intelligent, she should be sitting on top of the world and feel like she is; but she's the product of an emotionally abusive upbringing, by an uncaring mother, and she's so twisted in her thinking, that she knows not a moment of peace. She believes that no one accepts her, and in her growing paranoia, lashes out at her fellow sorority members, their boyfriends and fiancés, and anyone else she can bully and threaten. Her machinations finally catch up with her, but not before she sets a tragedy in motion. This film was remade in 1994 for cable as Confessions of Sorority Girls. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Cabot
- 1957
Producer-director Roger Corman serves up another thinly plotted musicfest in Carnival Rock. Corman regular Susan Cabot stars as Natalie, a singer for an oceanside carnival. Smitten by Natalie, high-stakes gambler Stanley (Brian Hutton) wins the carnival in a poker game so that he can be near the girl. Christy (David J. Stewart), the carnival's ex-owner, is likewise in love with the girl, so he stays on as a baggy-pants burleycue comic. As in most films of this nature, the plot can be blissfully ignored in favor of the musical highlights, which in this case are performed by the likes of The Platters, David Houston, Bob Luman, The Shadows and The Blockbusters. And what would a Roger Corman flick be without Dick Miller in a supporting role? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Cabot, Brian G. Hutton, (more)
- 1952
Bonzo Goes to College is the one that Ronald Reagan isn't in. The focus, of course, is on brainy chimpanzee Bonzo, who escapes a seedy sideshow and hides out on a college campus. Here he is adopted by Betsy Drew (Gigi Perreau), the daughter of nonplused professor Malcolm Drew (Charles Drake). Eventually, Bonzo joins the football team, and becomes the star player. A pair of bad guys kidnap Bonzo on the eve of the Big Game, but it isn't difficult to guess how things will turn out. More gimmicky than its predecessor Bedtime for Bonzo, Bonzo Goes to College is constructed more along the lines of Universal's "Francis" pictures (except that Bonzo doesn't talk). Outside of the chimp, there are a few good supporting performances by Maureen O'Sullivan as Drew's wife, Gene Lockhart and Edmund Gwenn as Betsy's feuding grandfathers, and young Jerry Paris as one of the crooks. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maureen O'Sullivan, Charles Drake, (more)
- 1951
The Korean conflict was in its eighth month when Columbia rushed through the timely "B" picture A Yank in Korea. The title character is one Andy Smith, played by Lon McAllister. Already a war hero, Andy causes dissention in the ranks because of his reckless bravado. It's up to sergeant Kirby (William "Bill" Phillips) to teach Andy the value of being a team player. Andy proves his true mettle during a climactic raid on a communist ammo dump. Essentially an all-male show, A Yank in Korea offers a smidgen of romantic interest in the form of Andy's wife Peggy, played by Sunny Vickers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lon McCallister, William "Bill" Phillips, (more)
