INCIDENT AT DARK RIVER

US, 1989, 95 minutes, Colour.
Mike Farrell, Tess Harper, Helen Hunt, Philip Baker Hall.
Directed by Michael Pressman.

Incident at Dark River is a telemovie with an ecology theme. Mike Farrell stars and is one of the executive producers. It shows his concern about the issues. The focus is on a small town, the factory which gives them a livelihood - and the unchecked putting of chemicals into the local rivers as well as the PR efforts to cover up mistakes. It also highlights the role of the firm in blackmailing the town to keep it present there, no matter what it did.

Farrell is good as the father whose daughter dies as a result of lead poisoning from chemicals in the river. Tess Harper is his not-understanding wife who blames herself. Helen Hunt is a young student interested in ecological issues. There is a good cast - making the story credible. References are made to Three-Mile? Island and Chernobyl as to the polluting of the Love Canal. Marsha Mason starred in a similar film, Lois Gibbs and the Love Canal.

1. A significant telemovie about ecological issues, pollution? Big business and finance? Crusaders and truth?

2. The ordinary American town, its environment, the mountains and the river? The focus on the factory? Musical score?

3. The title and its tone? The experience of the factory, the death of Kathleen, the consequences?

4. The significance of crusaders, the developments in technology, disregard of people's rights and chemical waste? Destruction and cover-up? The role of the media? The exercise of power and influence? The loner and his crusade and the consequences?

5. Tim and Betty and their family life, ordinary, the town fair and everybody enjoying it, happiness? Patrick and Kathleen, playing by the river, the emergency, Kathleen's illness, the double-talk about the virus, her illness, coming home, her death? Patrick blaming himself? The tension with Tim and Betty?

6. Playing in the water, the contaminated doll, the pipe and the effluent? The doctors and their fears, the virus?

7. Starbrite: a significant contribution to the town and giving jobs, the work, the effluent? The PR man and his skill in talking? The president of the company, talking with the PR man, smooth talk, the cover-up? Mr Walski and his seeing the emergency, releasing the valve? The clashes with Tim, the rudeness of the PR man? Tim and his impatience? The interviews with Paul Strickland - and then the pressure on the editor to suppress the article? Mr Walski and his giving Paul information? The press conference and the smooth talk? The lies? Motivation, competitiveness? Blackmailing the town?

8. Tim McFall? in himself, his work, suspicions about the river, continuing his reading, going to the college group, friendship with Jessie? The visit to the EPA and the lack of support? The scientist? His being warned off, going to a lawyer - and the inability to make a case that would stick? The tension with Betty? The death of his daughter? The funeral, reassuring Patrick that he was not to blame? The note to the PR man and the hostile reaction? The interview with Paul, nothing happening, anger? The stone through his window, Betty leaving? Going to Jessie, the sexual advance, his not following through, the importance of the discussion with her, her straight talk? His calling the meeting, explanations, answering questions? Hostility of the people?

9. Betty as the ordinary mother, her work, the complaints of her co-worker? Kathleen's illness, grief, the estrangement within the home, the death, the funeral, her not understanding, leaving and taking Patrick?

10. Patrick as an ordinary young boy, tense and blaming himself?

11. Jessie and her friend, their work, concern about the whales, concern about the town, the leads given, the EPA? The link with Paul? Her straight talk with Tim? Going to the meeting and giving information? Support at the funeral?

12. Walski, the emergency, the cover-up, the tour of the factory, giving the information to Strickland, his name not being quoted?

13. Paul, the journalist type, the interviews, smooth talk with the PR man, interview with Walski, the boss sacking him? Publishing?

14. The EPA, the law? The checks?

15. The focus on the people of the town, issues of jobs, issues of truth, issues of family support?

16. The final demonstration, Tim and his presenting the issues to the group? Reactions against him? The doctor from Baltimore supporting his investigations? Going into the factory, smashing the pipe, his being accosted, Betty completing the breakage? A future?