The Grissom Gang is a 1971 film directed by Robert Aldrich about a demented backwoods family, the Grissoms, 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 matriach "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, who J. Edgar Hoover tried to promote as the leader of the infamous Barker-Karpis kidnapping gang during the Depression. The film contains a good variety of period-accurate firearms before another period-piece gangster film Miller's Crossing.
WARNING! This article may contain a few spoilers in the descriptions of the pictures.
The following firearms were used in the film The Grissom Gang:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingMk 2 training grenade (the blue training color has been painted to look like live Mk II) and also note the slight difference between the training dummy's body shape and the real thing. This is the most common version seen in films since no movie uses live ordnance and many productions don't bother trying to get mockups that look exactly like the live Mk II.Error creating thumbnail: File missingWoppy hands Slim the "pineapple".Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe grenade rolls into Johnny's house.
