Dope

 

STAKEOUT ON DOPE STREET-1958-Grocery clerk Ves (Jonathan Haze), bodybuilder Nick (Steven Marlo) & artist Jim (Yale Wexler) find two pounds of heroin after a police bust. They decide to sell it and live on easy street. They enlist a junkie named Danny (Allen Kramer) to help them. After their first deal Jim has problems with his girlfriend Kathy (Abby Dalton) who doesn't like their plan. Danny relates a long flashback where he goes through cold turkey. When they run afoul of gang boss Mr. Fennell (Herschel Bernardi) and his thugs they regret their involvement. 

This forgotten little crime drama with a message was the first feature film directed by Irwin Kershner after making a few documentary shorts and some TV. After stuff like THE RETURN OF THE MAN CALLED HORSE and EYES OF LAURA MARS, he really made it to the big time directing THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, NEVER SAY NEVER and ROBO-COP 2.

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Hitman

 

MURDER BY CONTRACT-1958-Claude (Vince Edwards) becomes a hit man for Mr. Moon (Michael Granger) who works for the mysterious Mr. Brink. In LA he's met by high strung Marc (Phillip Pine) and laid back George (Herschel Bernardi). Claude is kind of a nut who berates a waiter and seems more interested in sightseeing than the hit. He gets upset though when he finds out his latest job Billie Williams is a woman. After a failed attempt to electrocute her and more planning he's successful but a drunken call girl (Kathie Browne) informs him that he didn't kill Billie but instead a police woman. 

The climax is a little far fetched but it's an ok low budget film noir. Director Irving Lerner later worked with Edwards on his hit TV show “Ben Casey”.

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