THE SHERIFF
US, 1971, 73 minutes, Colour.
Ossie Davis, Kaz Garas, Ruby Dee, Kyle Johnson, John Marley, Ross Martin, Lynda Day George, Moses Gunn, Brenda Sykes, Joel Fluellen, Ed Binns.
Directed by David Lowell Rich.
The Sheriff sounds as if it is a western. It is not. This is a brief telemovie from the early days of Universal Studios’ television movies. It is set in a small town and the focus is on racial tensions. The focus is an accusation of rape against a white businessman, a wealthy man, who is alleged to have raped a college student, who is black. Ossie Davis, black himself, is the sheriff and his has a white assistant investigating the allegations.
Ossie Davis appears with his wife, Ruby Dee.
The film is brief, makes its points with some vigour – but designed also for the wide home audience watching the film on television.
1. How interesting and entertaining a film? As a television movie?
2. Comment on the telemovie techniques, the conventions, their use?
3. How real did this world seem? How authentic the people and places? How real and demanding the issues? As an echo of America and the world of the seventies?
4. The importance of the law and police framework as a test of values for this kind of movie, for these issues? The importance of law and police in the early seventies? Reaction against the police? The popularity of police television shows at the time?
5. How interesting and convincing a person was the sheriff? His being pictured in his job, an elected black man as sheriff of this county, an upright man in himself, a good man relating well to his family? The sequences of his hunting with Vance?
6. The crisis which he underwent: the rebellion of his son, the impact in his home, the colour implications? How well did he handle the situation, humanly, legally? His insight into what people would do? The nature of the confrontation with Waters? His dependence on the deputy? His forcing Mr. Kinsella’s hand for a warrant? Insight
into the integrity needed for being a sheriff?
7. The importance of the support of his wife, her relationship to Vance and trying to make him see the sheriff’s point of view?
8. The importance of the focus of rape? Its impact on those concerned? The physical hurt, psychological damage, invasion of privacy, implication of relatives, public gossip, law courts and the administration of justice? How convincingly were these aspects communicated?
9. The racial themes and their exploration? Walters as a taken-for-granted, bigoted man? Echoed by the deputy’s wife? The deputy in between his wife and the sheriff?
10. The decision in court as a breakthrough in justice for blacks? The deputy’s wife giving testimony? As an example of the breakdown of racial prejudice?
11. How well did the film portray Walters' personality and not just make him a cardboard figure of evil? The rape sequence and the lead-up to it? His being pictured in his job, in court with his lawyer? His trying to wriggle out of the case, his vindictiveness? Janet and her father? How convincingly portrayed? The effect of the rape on Janet, her relationship with Vance and his being rude in public? Her courage in the courtroom? The vindictiveness of her father? His attempt on Walters? His being ousted by the sheriff?
12. How important was Vance's rebellion against his father? The change in attitude of love to suspicion? Impatience about civil rights? The sequences at home and his refusal to come to dinner? The words of his mother and father? The car chase and Vance's attempt after? How much did he learn?
13. Mr Kinsella and the authorities in the town?
14. The character of the deputy and his relationship with his wife? The revelation of her evidence? The breaking down of her prejudice? How important for the themes?
15. How well did this short film focus moral issues for a television audience?
