The Grissom Gang

The Grissom Gang is a 1971 crime drama directed by Robert Aldrich (The Dirty Dozen) that revolves around the Grissoms, a demented backwoods family who steal a kidnap victim (Kim Darby) from another gang of outlaws in Depression-era Missouri (around 1931, according to clues in the film). The matriarch "Ma" Grissom (Irene Dailey) is bent on killing the girl once the ransom has been collected, but her dimwitted son Slim (Scott Wilson) has fallen for her and blindly defends her from his family as the girl herself begins to develop a case of Stockholm syndrome. "Ma" Grissom is slightly based on the public's perception of "Ma" Barker, whom J. Edgar Hoover tried to promote as the leader of the infamous Barker-Karpis kidnapping gang during the Depression. The film features a good variety of period-accurate firearms before another period-piece gangster film Miller's Crossing.
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== Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless ==
Frankie Connor (Michael Baseleon) draws and fires a blued Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless during the kidnapping of heiress Barbara Blandish (Kim Darby). Sam (Alvin Hammer), another kidnapper, draws a Colt 1903 during the confrontation at Johnny's house. During the second half of the film, Slim Grissom (Scott Wilson) begins carrying a Colt 1903 in a shoulder holster in addition to his switchblade.
== double-barreled shotgun ==
Johnny Hutchins (Dots Johnson) carries a Double Barreled Shotgun with exposed hammers during the film, as does Woppy (Joey Faye), one of the Grissom gang.
thumb|none|450px|J. Stevens and Company Side by Side Shotgun (Circa 1878) exposed hammers and designed to fire Black Powder shotgun shells - 12 Gauge
== Colt Official Police ==
Joe Bailey (Matt Clark), another of Barbara's original kidnappers, carries a Colt Official Police with him. It is taken from him by Eddie Hagan (Tony Musante) at Johnny's house.
== Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless (Nickel) ==
Eddie Hagan (Tony Musante) carries a nickel Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless in a brown leather shoulder holster throughout the film.
== Colt Police Positive ==
Mace (Ralph Waite) and Woppy (Joey Faye) each carry a Colt Police Positive. Woppy attaches a suppressor onto his Police Positive in a nightclub bathroom. Some of the Kansas City policemen are also seen with Police Positives.
== Smith & Wesson Model 1913 ==
Frankie's dancer girlfriend Anna Borg (Connie Stevens) has a .35-caliber Smith & Wesson Model 1913 that she draws several times during the film.
== Colt M1911A1 ==
Private investigator Dave Fenner (Robert Lansing) carries a Colt M1911A1 in the film, although it switches to a Star Model B when he fires it.
== Thompson M1921AC ==
Slim Grissom (Scott Wilson) and Woppy (Joey Faye) fire Thompson M1921AC submachine guns at Fenner while at Johnny's house. Gladys "Ma" Grissom (Irene Dailey) and Mace (Ralph Waite) also fire Thompsons during the police siege on their nightclub. The Kansas City police also use Thompsons. Almost every Thompson seen used in the film has a fifty-round drum magazine.
== Star Model B ==
When firing his 1911A1, Dave Fenner's (Robert Lansing) pistol is now a 9 mm Star Model B. This substitution was common in films of this era (such as The Wild Bunch, The Getaway, and later The Untouchables.
== Winchester Model 1897 ==
Several Kansas City policemen carry Winchester Model 1897 shotguns.
== Smith & Wesson Model 10 ==
Some of the Kansas City policemen have Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolvers.
== Winchester Model 70 ==
A Kansas City police sniper uses a somewhat anachronistic Winchester Model 70 to fire a shot at Slim Grissom at the barn, scaring him.
== Mk 2 hand grenade ==
When trying to lure Fenner out of hiding in Johnny's house, Woppy (Joey Faye) hands Slim (Scott Wilson) a Mk 2 hand grenade when the latter asks for "the pineapple". It blows up part of Johnny's house.
Category:Movie
Category:Crime
Category:Drama
Category:Robert Aldrich
Category:James Hadley Chase