Joseph Carl Movies

Filmed in black and white on a very low budget, this grim Manhattan-set documentary takes an unflinching look at the realities of inner-city life as it tells the story of how Vince Williams came to become a prison inmate. His story is told via flashback and from those who witnessed his small crime. Born in poverty to a 13-year-old mother, Vince grows up responsible for providing for her and his younger brother. Sometimes he resorts to stealing to keep them fed. Sadly, Vince had a lot of potential and maybe could have done more with his life, but unfortunately, there are few opportunities in the ghetto and his struggle to survive becomes a spiraling cycle of criminal activities, violence and humiliation that only ends with his incarceration. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Israeli stage and film favorite Topol tops the cast of Sallah. Topol plays a Jewish refugee who moves his family to Israel shortly after the official establishment of that "promised land." Unlike his hard-working new neighbors, Topol is shiftless and lazy, forever finding the easiest, most painless means to support his family. Amazingly, Topol becomes a hero when, while wheeling and dealing, he uncovers misappropriations and corner-cutting in Israel's housing industry. This Menahem Golan production was originally released in Israel as Sallah Shabati. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The first Israeli film to enjoy success outside its borders, Hill 24 Doesn't Answer is set during the war of 1948. As the Arabs endeavor to gain control of the Holy Land, we concentrate on four people who've cast their lot with the Jews: Irishman Edward Mulhare, American Michael Wager, Palestinian Arieh Lavi and Yemenite girl Margalet Ovid. As the foursome holds tenuously onto the militarily crucial Hill 24, the film flashes back to show why and how these disparate souls have come together for this undertaking. Haya Harareet, who later co-starred with Charlton Heston in Ben-Hur, plays the underground worker who galvanizes Mulhare into joining the Israelis. While each actor speaks his or her native language, Hill 24 Doesn't Answer is generally shown on TV in an English-dubbed version. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi