Ninth Street

This is an extraordinary film, a unique slice of Americana, circa 1968, as seen through the eyes of two down-and-out gentlemen, ex-war vets and ex-vets of the life of a small-town haven of good-time society, catering to African-American personnel from an Army base in the heart of the midwest. The movie gives us a synopsis of the history of this place, which began with WWII and runs through the Vietnam war. The primary focus is on the life, events, and characters who inhabit this town at the time of the beginning/middle of the Vietnam era. Although the majority of the actors and actresses are African-American and are not necessarily well known, the performances are first rate; from the two winos to the town pimp, to the older women who offer sage advice, and the priest (Martin Sheen) also. The black-and-white tone of the film only seems to add to the "authenticity" of it. This movie is a real treasure, and anyone who is a true moviephile will appreciate it and it's place in video history.