Don Ameche wants to protect the secret of his perfect community, but James Franciscus won't stop digging. Some hard-edged dialogue punctuates the moody town-with-a-secret tale. Ultimately, an obvious plot hole and a too-rapidly-falling-into-place conclusion betrays its TV-movie roots, but still an intriguing time-passer.
6 Reviews
Taking the town to the sheriff to make sure they're destroyed.
mark.waltz29 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I've seen many Leslie Nielsen films before he became the official funny man of Hollywood with "Airplane!" and "The Naked Gun" series. He played a variety of roles, both hero and villain, and in this TV movie, he is quite evil with his knowledge of the townsfolk of his community, able to control them to keep his position and create fear. But new town doctor James Franciscus, married to Shirley Knight, daughter of town patriarch Don Ameche, decides to stand up for what's right when an innocent young boy is wrongly accused of a crime. He's basically on his own because pretty much everybody else in town is afraid what will come out if Nielsen decides to speak out.
A huge cast of Hollywood veterans fills out the cast, many of whom haven't been seen on screen in a while, and they each get to shine in this campy soap opera. Franchot Tone, Josephine Hutchinson, James Dunn, Stuart Erwin and Thomas Gomez give strong performances as a variety of characters, with young Jill Banner really good as Nielsen's much abused daughter.
A lot of fun, if a bit convoluted and often preposterous, this could have easily been a murder mystery because Nielsen is absolutely horrendous. You certainly won't call him honest (or Shirley), but you will call him hungry by the way he chews the scenery. Ameche gives the strongest, most realistic performance, and Knight underplays what could have been a lot more melodramatic. This is the type of film you want to watch to the end because this sheriff is the type of person you want to see pushed into a vat of lye and dissolved while living.
A huge cast of Hollywood veterans fills out the cast, many of whom haven't been seen on screen in a while, and they each get to shine in this campy soap opera. Franchot Tone, Josephine Hutchinson, James Dunn, Stuart Erwin and Thomas Gomez give strong performances as a variety of characters, with young Jill Banner really good as Nielsen's much abused daughter.
A lot of fun, if a bit convoluted and often preposterous, this could have easily been a murder mystery because Nielsen is absolutely horrendous. You certainly won't call him honest (or Shirley), but you will call him hungry by the way he chews the scenery. Ameche gives the strongest, most realistic performance, and Knight underplays what could have been a lot more melodramatic. This is the type of film you want to watch to the end because this sheriff is the type of person you want to see pushed into a vat of lye and dissolved while living.
Leslie Neilsen is Vicious
seawolf7103-13 May 2004
The same guy who cracks us up as Frank Drebben in the Police Squad movies and as agent WD-40(Spy Hard) and kindly old Mr Magoo was so cruel, mean and depraved in this movie that for a few years he had a bit of trouble shaking that image. The depth of his evilness makes you hate his guts... Of course this was supposed to be a vehicle for pretty boy James Franciscus, but the whole world remembered Sheriff Verne Drover. He was as despicable an any villain of today.....and this was in the 60's.....before many TV cinematographers dared reach inside viewers guts to this degree. If you have the chance - watch it. If you can tape it, email me....I'll buy a copy.
Amateur appraisal
leelee-hayward11 August 2002
What a scary man that Sheriff Drover was! He kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I wish videos had been available when it was on TV last. To a British teenager in the late 60s/early 70s this TV movie was class ... Lee
Because we're young. Because we're YOUNG!
mls418230 March 2023
This TV movie tries to be shocking, cryptic and suspenseful. It fails.
Instead, it is a bunch of actors who haven't worked in decades being loud and annoying. The plot moves slower than molasses. It is basically just Sheriff Leslie Nielsen snarling and threatening people.
While the cast is impressive, most have little to do. The script uses every steamy small town cliche and yet it still doesn't help.
The only bright spots are James Franciscus and Shirley Knight both at the height of their physical attractiveness.
Have I mentioned the music is just horrid? Because we're young. Because we're YOUNG.
Instead, it is a bunch of actors who haven't worked in decades being loud and annoying. The plot moves slower than molasses. It is basically just Sheriff Leslie Nielsen snarling and threatening people.
While the cast is impressive, most have little to do. The script uses every steamy small town cliche and yet it still doesn't help.
The only bright spots are James Franciscus and Shirley Knight both at the height of their physical attractiveness.
Have I mentioned the music is just horrid? Because we're young. Because we're YOUNG.
The first scary TV movie I ever saw
Dissector11 March 2001
Yes I know it's not a horror film! but when I first saw this film, aged around 15 it was a much gentler age, and people didn't do the sort of things that happened in this film, not in rural England anyway, I'd love to see it again now! just to see if it has the same kind of impact on me. if anyone knows where I can get a copy, please let me know. Brian
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