Detroit stories that should be movies

[marshamusic]

Thanks for that article, Marsha! Great stuff. Another thing about Turpin was that he was an absolute baseball nut. I imagine any fast-talking person would try to get an angry Turpin onto the subject of baseball, or give up some tickets, to avoid a beating.

Detroitnerd, that wasn't me who posted that article, that was Neilr, I think. But as I said, he was legendary to many Detroit residents. I didn't know he was a baseball nut too.

My movie list would be:

A movie about Cadillac's arrival on the Detroit River - and the native American response, and the settling of this land.

A movie involving Fort Wayne

A movie about Underground Railroad

A movie about the racetrack times on the eastside of Detroit, precusor to Henry Ford's auto company.

A movie about the late Claude Harvard, African American inventor who worked with Henry Ford and made many automotive inventions, but was not properly credited due to prejudice. He was a fascinating man, and my neighbor when growing up in Highland Park.

A movie about the Dr. Ossian Sweet Case [[already mentioned); whites mobbed the home where a black doctor and his wife were moving into the block on the near East Side; one of his party inside the house who was defending the home shot one of the men in the mob outside and killed him.

The insuing trials were a sensation, and Clarence Darrow was the defense attorney. Frank Murphy [[as in the downtown criminal court, Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, later named after him) was the presiding judge in the case, and an all white, male jury acquitted the black defendents, though they had difficult lives afterwards. Base the movie on the stunning book by Kevin Boyle, called Arc of Justice.


A move about Dr. Melvin Hollowell, who faced profound descrimination as a black surgeon in Detroit, who was not allowed to practise medicine on white patients. He was instrumental in forming and practicing in the black hospitals of the time. A cinematic story of those hospitals and medical professionals in Detroit's segregated medical system is well deserved.

A movie about the visit of Bobby Kennedy to Detroit, when he drove down 12th street in a calvalcade and learned about the city.

A movie about the "Kerceval Incident" a precusor to the '67 Riots.

A movie about the founding of Conant Gardens, and the role of the abolitionist Shubael Conant who refused to have "restrictive covenants" on homes built on his property, which created the first community of black home building and ownership in Detroit.

A movie about the Irish woman in Corktown [[can't remember her name) who successfully fought to stop the razing of a significant segment of that community, that remains today, unlike what happened with Black Bottom.

A movie about the life of Coleman Young.

A movie about the life of General Baker, radical labor leader of DRUM [[not counting the movie already made, Finally Got the News).

A movie about the life of Ken Cockrel [[Sr.).

A movie about the still beautiful homes and blocks of Detroit.

A movie about Paradise Valley/Sugar Hill and all of the A list black artists who came to play and stay there.

A movie about Miller High School on the Near East Side, and the amazing talent that came from that institution.

A movie about the "Downtown Synagogue" on Griswold. Much interesting history there.

A movie about Soupie Sales. Period.

A movie about Maxine Powell, and her "charm school" for Motown acts.

A movie about the various ethnic minorities [[Greeks, Germans, Jews, Irish, Middle Easterners, etc. and their lives in Detroit.

A movie made from the book "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson, about the Great Migration of blacks from the South to the North [[I believe, the greatest migration in history, someone correct me if I'm wrong).

A movie about the XGames/Assembly guys and their milieu here in Detroit.

A movie about Gilda Radner [[was there one)

A movie about Mitch Ryder.

A movie about Sonny Elliot, a very interesting guy. I used to talk to him when he lived in Lafayette Park, about his upbringing on and love for Hastings St. and the blues/jazz scene.

A movie about Mies van der Rohe and Lafayette Park.

A movie about the Olympia Theatre and it's many important acts down through the years.

A movie about the 1943 Riots in Detroit.

The story of my own father, Joe Von Battle, and his Hastings Street and 12th Street record shops; from the 1943 Riots to the 1967 Riots - my current project, for which my film partner and I were finalists in the recent Knights Challenge [[didn't get it, but continue to seek funding). We will begin shooting next year.

Ok, that's off the top of my head at the moment. Of course they don't all have to be full-length feature films, even short docs would be nice; but there are a lot of great, compelling stories in this city.

[DetroitPlanner]

Marsha, I agree with many of your suggestions. A movie about Coleman Young would be awesome. He was polarizing, funny, misunderstood or adored by many.

[compn]

a game of monopoly, starring detroit.
dan gilbert, matty moroun, mike illich play.

magic johnson just bought state fairgrounds. will he put a hotel on it?

we got a battleship movie. ridley scott is set to direct it even.

[Wesley Mouch]

...One last thing. When I made those donations, the librarian entered the donations into a paper ledger [[pen and paper) and I was shocked. They don't have an electronic entry. It's all on paper.
This is a shame in this day and age that the library doesn't have the resources/funds to bring their entry of books and collections into the 21st century....

Solid record keeping doesn't have to be computerized. There's nothing like paper for documentation. Any doubt about your donation, go get the book. I'm not arguing against progress, but I'm glad to hear that they keep good records.

[Drexciya68]

Many have already shown interest in the real story of "White Boy Rick".

Richard Wershe Jr is serving a LIFE sentence for one *non-violent* drug charge he recieved as a minor [[17 years old) back in May of 1987. Three years prior Rick was recruited by Federal agents and Detroit police as a teenage undercover informant in Detroit's dangerous drug underworld of the 1980s. Rick's release is long overdue!!


http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/artic...k#.UkjCD8c0_Mg


http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/artic...white_boy_rick


http://www.thefix.com/content/story-...70041?page=all


http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/artic...low_winter_sun


http://www.theoaklandpress.com/gener...mode=fullstory


https://www.facebook.com/freewhiteboyrickwershe
http://www.change.org/petitions/free...oy-rick-wershe
http://freerickwershe.com/Home_Page.html
https://twitter.com/freerickwershe


Letter from Ex Detroit cop -> https://sphotos-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/h...95049953_n.jpg


Letter from a former Federal agent who worked with Rick:
Page 1: https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...32565032_n.jpg
Page 2: https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...38415208_n.jpg
Page 3: https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...57473128_n.jpg
Page 4: https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...73341454_n.jpg


http://articles.latimes.com/1991-05-...detroit-police
http://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/12/us...ith-theft.html
http://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/08/us...ezzlement.html




===============


"The Rick Wershe Blog
650 Life Law vs Current Law
January 14, 2013 at 7:59 PM
Before anyone can fully understand Rick Wershe’s case, they must first understand the original law he was sentenced under, and what the reformation of that law means for his possibilities of parole.


In 1973, the 650 Lifer Law was signed into law in the State of Michigan. This law stated that anyone found in possession of 650 or more grams of a schedule 1 controlled substance, as defined by State of Michigan, is to be given a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.


In 1998, the 650 Lifer Law went under reformation. It now pertains to individuals found in possession of 1,000 or more grams of a schedule 1 controlled substance, and instead of being a mandatory life sentence, the law now has a punishment of “life or any term of years”. What this reformation did is give the parole board jurisdiction of 650 Lifer Law cases after the defendant has served a certain amount of years. In HB 4920, which was passed by Michigan’s 95th Legislature, the possibilities of parole for drug offenders who have been given life sentences is defined. Subsection [[7) states that “A prisoner sentenced to imprisonment for life, other than a prisoner described in subsection [[6), is subject to the jurisdiction of the parole board and may be placed on parole according to the conditions prescribed in subsection [[8) if he or she meets the following criteria:”. Rick meets the criteria of [[7)[[c), which states, “Except as provided in subsection [[12), the prisoner has served 17-1/2 calendar years of the sentence for violating, or attempting or conspiring to violate, section 7401[[2)[[a)[[i) of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401, and does not have another conviction for a serious crime.”


Subsection [[12), in short, states that an individual who has cooperated with law enforcement in eligible 2-1/2 years earlier than the time provided in subdivision [[7)[[b), and [[7)[[c), which may pertain to Rick’s case because of his cooperation with authorities.


Subsection [[6), in short, states the crimes for which a life sentence has been given, that are NOT eligible for parole after a certain number of years, none of which pertain to Rick’s case.


Hundreds of inmates have been released as a result of the change in drug laws, however, Rick has not been as fortunate. Some of these individuals, who will be discussed in greater detail at a later date, have had cases with much greater amounts of drugs, and have not cooperated with law enforcement, but have still managed to be paroled by the same board that has denied Rick time and time again. Because of this, many questions have been raised as to why Rick is still in custody after 25 years.


[[On 1/13/13 I spoke with Rick on the phone. During our brief conversation I asked if he had a message he would like me to add to this first blog entry. He wants everyone to know he is happy that it his involvement with the police has finally been made public, and that the truth is finally out there for everyone to see.)"


http://freerickwershe.com/Rick_Wershe_Blog.html

[rb336]

Marsha, I agree with many of your suggestions. A movie about Coleman Young would be awesome. He was polarizing, funny, misunderstood or adored by many.

Always have admire his testimony before HUAC

http://archive.org/stream/communismi...1unit_djvu.txt

[marshamusic]

Always have admire his testimony before HUAC

http://archive.org/stream/communismi...1unit_djvu.txt

Well, well well! I haven't seen this in a long time. Interesting stuff, I'll take more time to read this later. Thanks.

[Drexciya68]

Marsha, I agree with many of your suggestions. A movie about Coleman Young would be awesome. He was polarizing, funny, misunderstood or adored by many.

He was also a racist crook who ordered and covered up murders in Detroit. Not to mention his role in the drug trade in Detroit and the fact that he put a bunch of crooks, criminals and fools in top city positions

[G-DDT]

Well, gosh, I'm just gonna' cosign a bit around here. Definitely a Purple Gang film [[or HBO series); you can have a real nut playing Ziggy Selbin-acting like Joe Pesci ala' Goodfellas-cuttin' off some dude's finger to get at his precious ring. Yeah, one about Soupy Sales. Definitely, the 1943 riots, if it will show a lot of Belle Isle and the hideous Black Legion. I also would like to see a period piece about the UAW and Walter Reuther [[especially with the Battle of the Overpass).

[G-DDT]

I want to make a movie about Gilda Radner.

Only if it can have the scene when Harold Ramis tried to get her to overcome her jitters about flying by feeding her lots of drugs, and eventually she was a zombie that had to be walked onto the plane with a sign around her neck saying "Hi! My name is Gilda, and I'm not afraid to fly."

[rex]

maybe not a movie but a tv episode. The "exotic" dancer who stole a bunch of yay, oxys, and cash from her boyfriend not so long ago. Drug gang in turn kidnapped her siblings.

[Hypestyles]

The Detroit 1967 riots/rebellion has never been a feature film. The story could focus on 1967 or it could have a parallel narrative with some folks in the present day or near-present day, along with the '67 events.. in the present day have a pair of young college graduates, one who grew up in the city in the aftermath of the rebellion, and another who grew up in the suburbs after his/her parents relocated just after the rebellion..the parents of both grads recall the events starkly differently..

[skyl4rk]

The Algiers Hotel Incident

Gar Wood Mansion Jams

[G-DDT]

The Algiers Hotel Incident

Gar Wood Mansion Jams

Ooo, good ones.

[56packman]

The REAL story of what happened to the Packard Plant, naming names, showing the interconnection between city hall, Lansing and the DPD, and not glorifying Raves [[which were illegal activity) and Graffiti. "Packard the last shift" touches on some of this, but there are some things they just didn't want to say.

[JenniferL]

Lowell Cauffiel's true crime book "Masquerade" would make a compelling movie, particularly if they could find the right actors. It tells the story of Grosse Pointe psychologist Alan Canty who, under a second identity, gets involved with a Cass Corridor prostitute and her pimp.

[G-DDT]

Lowell Cauffiel's true crime book "Masquerade" would make a compelling movie, particularly if they could find the right actors. It tells the story of Grosse Pointe psychologist Alan Canty who, under a second identity, gets involved with a Cass Corridor prostitute and her pimp.

Think my mom helped with developing the pictures of her for that-heard he was disposed of in a messy fashion.

[JenniferL]

Think my mom helped with developing the pictures of her for that-heard he was disposed of in a messy fashion.

Yeah, his body was cut up and scattered throughout the state.

[davewindsor]

How about a movie on one of those old prominent Detroit industrial families?

I see those one minute Chrysler commercials on John and Horace Dodge that would be great for a movie. Talk about a colorful family to do a movie on. They would walk into working class bars and get into bar fights. They were alcoholics that served their employees beer during lunch. They raced boats. They could revolve the movie or even a series around a Dallas theme with John having that JR Ewing personality.

They could spin a Dallas theme off a lot of old prominent Detroit business families. The David Stott Flower Mills that spun off into real estate, the Book brothers, the Fisher Brothers, the Buhl Family, etc.

They could even do a movie on that colorful gambler and playboy, James Scott, who later bequeathed his estate to build the Scott Fountain on Belle Isle. When I think of James Scott, I get this image of Leo Dicaprio in the movie, the Great Gatsby.

[Rochelle St.]

Maybe the story of the Avro Vulcan jet that crashed on the east side in1958 would make a good movie.
Or a History Channel style documentary about this and other plane crashes in Detroit, like the crashes of a DC-3, A Bud Conestega cargo plane, the two navy fighters that collided over the eastside, the Vulcan jet...etc.

[marshamusic]

The Detroit 1967 riots/rebellion has never been a feature film. The story could focus on 1967 or it could have a parallel narrative with some folks in the present day or near-present day, along with the '67 events.. in the present day have a pair of young college graduates, one who grew up in the city in the aftermath of the rebellion, and another who grew up in the suburbs after his/her parents relocated just after the rebellion..the parents of both grads recall the events starkly differently..

There *was* an HBO movie in 2002 called City on Fire, The Story Of The '68 Detroit Tigers, which was, basically, about '67. I was in it.

[Inkadinkado]

Home Invasion Gang and its takedown c. '94 would make for a good show.

[Honky Tonk]

The Odd Couple, staring Matty Moroun and Michael Dug-in.

[Smirnoff]

Gar Wood going overseas to capture & bring home the Harmsworth Trophy, then challenging the world in a boat race on the Detroit River 8 times to retain!

[night-timer]

One news story that fascinated me was the murder of French artist Bilal Berreni at the Brewster Projects in 2013. He was murdered by the YBN [['Young Brewster Niggaz') gang. They were so named because they were kids whose parents lived in the Brewster Housing Projects.

The YBN gang were also known as PBS [[Paper Boyz Stacking), a rap group who made video clips, had an agent for booking their live shows etc. Three or four of those YBN/PBS guys are now facing life behind bars over Berreni's death. They have a bunch of music video clips on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0XJMsgGv9g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAx1WqEpmXM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53BqGYNSht0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ncw3c0B3dQ

It looks like dancing and singing is more fun than a life sentence. Spoiler warning: the movie will have a shitty ending.