DEATH SQUAD

US, 1973, 74 minutes, Colour.
Robert Forster, Melvyn Douglas, Michelle Phillips, Claude Akins.
Directed by Harry Falk.

Death Squad is a hard-hitting telemovie focusing on police and a vigilante squad within the Los Angeles police force. It is reminiscent of such films as the sequel to Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, and the film about judges executing freed criminals, The Star Chamber.

Robert Forster is good as the policeman with a conscience as well as the courage to go in and expose the squad. Melvyn Douglas is also good as the patriarchal policeman who has founded the squad. A group of regular character actors led by Claude Akins and Kenneth Tobey are the members of the squad.

While an interesting police thriller, the film raises questions about justice, the police force, vigilante groups.

1. An interesting and entertaining telemovie? Its similarity to police thrillers? The themes of justice? Vigilantes?

2. The telemovie and the treatment of issues for the home audience? Tough treatment? Emotional and intellectual raising of issues?

3. The introduction, the court case, the acquittal of the accused? The squad and their signals, the taking of the accused, the execution? Getting rid of the gun, the execution? Getting rid of the gun? The series of killings? The title? Rights and wrongs of American justice? Responsibilities for justice? Earl and his beliefs? Recruiting methods for the death squad? The officials and their response, the public? Ethics and morality?

4. The officers and their style, personalities? Motivation? Cover? The officials? The superior and his authorising the arms? The young men and their throwing the weapons in the river? The executioners? The audience sharing this experience, methods, righteousness? The effect on themselves? The discovery, the determination to kill Eric? Protecting themselves? The Superintendent and his suicide? The failure of the death squad?

5. Eric and his past, his being recruited by the Commissioner, discussions? His agreeing to go in, his work, partner, clashes? The introduction to the death squad? Duke and his partner being killed? The emotional involvement? His regard for Earl, the visits to the hospital? Joyce and the bond with her? The discovery of the truth? The confrontation with Earl? His being set up, the killing of his rival, his being beholden to the group, participating in the execution? His going underwater to recover the guns? The discussion with the Superintendent and his being taped? The set-up to kill him? His escape? The Superintendent and the gun, his suicide? The siege? The participation of the woman at the radio? His being called in? His final weeping? A man of integrity? Skill? Motivation? The effect on him?

6. Earl and his experience, his age? Melvyn Douglas in the role and his screen presence? His beliefs, his rhetoric about rape, fifty years ago, the dangers in the streets? His vigilante attitudes? The establishment of the death squad? Recruiting? His listening to the tape? The confrontation with Eric? His death?

7. The partner, sharing the work, tough, the nightclubs? Being recruited? The men of the death squad and their friendships? Their covering themselves? Breaking out to violence?

8. The officials and the handling of the situation? The reputation of the police? The effect on the public?

9. Joyce and her relationship with Earl, the memories of her husband, friendship with Eric?

10. A picture of contemporary police work and its difficulties?