Watch The People For Free

Just perfect...

Fresh and Exciting

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

Eager young schoolteacher, anxious for some peace and quiet in her life, accepts a teaching position in a mountain community with shuffling children who aren't allowed to sing, play music or have any fun; she seeks solace from the local doctor, who is the only resident with any personality. From Zenna Henderson's compilation of stories, this TV-movie, executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola, has an interesting main character (played well by Kim Darby) and scenario, but its explanation of the mystery is a little ritzy and complicated. Director John Korty sets a deliberately slow pace, with individual sequences edited to make a big impact. This works for awhile--aided by Darby's performance--until the plot loses momentum in the second-half. A tasty suggestion of what might have been, had Coppola aimed for a theatrical release with a bigger budget and a brighter script.

Shy, introverted eager beaver young school teacher Melodye Amerson (sweetly played by the adorable Kim Darby of "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" fame) takes a job at a remote, quiet rural farming community that's isolated from the rest of the world. The job proves to be far more difficult and challenging than she initially figured: the students are extremely terse, reserved and uncommunicative, the other townspeople are every bit as reticent, mysterious and unapproachable, and everyone lives by a strict code which leaves Melodye feeling confused and alienated. Melodye remains determined and persistent, making a slow, but steady attempt at getting the students and other townspeople to open up so they can let her in on their incredible secret.Directed with exceptional restraint, acuity and tenderness by John Korty (who later helmed "The Ewok Adventure"), sensitively scripted by James M. Miller from Zenna Henderson's thoughtful, low-key, utterly beguiling novel, deftly acted by a top-rate cast which includes Dan O'Herlithy as a sage town elder, Laurie Walters as O'Herlithy's fetching, but repressed daughter, Diane Varsi as the token accessible kindly local who gives Melodye guidance and advice, and an uncharacteristically subdued William Shatner as a friendly "outsider" physician, this gentle, folksy, leisurely paced Francis Ford Coppola science fiction TV movie parable works as a lovely, reflective, and oftentimes charming exploration of overcoming fear, how tightly held to superstitious beliefs can be very constricting, opening up to allow nice, well-meaning others to have a positive, eye-opening influence on your life, and a particularly moving sincere plea for accepting and understanding those individuals whose uniqueness defies rigidly set and highly restrictive preconceived notions of so-called "normality." A beautifully lulling and poignant little gem.

"The People" is based entirely on one of Zenna Henderson's short stories, "Pottage", which appeared in the brilliant book "Pilgrimage: The Book of the People" back in the '60s. "Pottage" is the darkest of the stories, centering on a group of people living in fear and isolation in the tiny town of Bendo, and the teacher, Melodye, who learns the truth of their origins and the secrets they keep.In the book you've already read about The People in two other stories so you have a good idea what's coming. In the movie this should have been a major bit of suspense... but it wasn't. The written story is far more compelling than what appears on screen. Kim Darby plays Melodye with warmth, but the frustration, determination, and courage in the story is somehow muted in her performance. William Shatner plays Dr. Curtis, who has a somewhat expanded role in the movie version. Dan O'Herlihy's performance as the stern Sol Deimus is the best translation of the character to the screen."The People" is entertaining if woodenly acted at times. If you find a copy and have an evening to kill it is probably worth your time, but by all means read the book.

There's something "good" about a really bad '70's TV movie! In the vein of Barbara Eden's "The Stranger Within" and Kim Darby's "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark", "The People" is unintentionally laughable. I first saw this film when it aired on television and was astounded to find a copy on video in my local library this week! I forced my poor husband to watch this treasure with me and he grudgingly gave it a rating of 2!!! I'm still laughing! Well, thanks for listening. Now, let's see if we can find a copy of George Kennedy's prize "Rabid".