The Klansman (1974)

Klansman, The (1974, USA) C-112m. SCOPE **½ D: Terence Young. Starring Lee Marvin, Richard Burton, Cameron Mitchell, O.J. Simpson, Lola Falana, David Huddleston, Linda Evans. Southern melodrama, solidly filmed by Bond director Young, about righteous sheriff Marvin and his difficult position trying to mediate between affiliates of Ku-Klux-Klan and eremite Burton, who helps black people on his farm. Racial tension is what this rather trashy film depicts, but comments are often pretentious. Marvin singlehandedly elevates this drama with a towering performance. B-movie veteran Mitchell makes a detestable villain. Cowritten by Samuel Fuller (who was also scheduled to direct), from a novel by William Bradford Huie. Alternative titles: KKK, THE BURNING CROSS.


BUY THE KLANSMAN ON VHS OR DVD

© Ron Altman