Moment of Danger [a.k.a. Malaga] (1960)

 

Starring:

• Dorothy Dandridge
• Trevor Howard
• Edmund Purdom

Storyline
Crime drama with a dash of romance begins with a tense opening, a jewel theft is carried out almost without a word of dialog. One of the thieves, Trevor Howard an expert locksmith plagues by a stint in prison, has been coerced into helping the master thief Peter pull off the heist. Now that success is at hand, Peter double-crosses Trevor and dumps his lover Dorothy Dandridge and takes off for Spain with the loot.

Sergeant Rutledge (1960)

Starring:

• Woody Strode
• Jeffrey Hunter
• Constance Towers
• Billie Burke
• Juano Hernandez
• Willis Bouchey
• Carleton Young
• Judson Pratt

Storyline
In 1866, new fighting units are formed within the U.S. Cavalry: the courageous 9th and 10th regiments. Plains Indians call them Buffalo Soldiers because of the bison coats they wear in winter. History, judging from the regiments' list of Medal of Honor winners, calls them heroes.

Against this backdrop, legendary director John Ford crafts the story of Sergeant Rutledge (Woody Strode), a 9th Cavalry officer on trial for rape and murder. Lt. Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter) defends Rutledge as witnesses give testimony (relived in flashbacks) revealing the sergeant's gallantry - and the shocking truth behind the alleged crimes. Ford, who attacked racism in The Searchers, explores the similar territory in this landmark Western, the power of which still rings out with uncommon force decades later.