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Based on a novel of the same name by Charles Beaumont, The Intruder tells the story of a small Southern town called Caxton on the eve of integration. A man shows up in a smart white suit and claims to be a social reformer but all he is really there to do is cause trouble which soon gets out of control. The man is Adam Cramer a charming, smooth talker played by William Shatner. With some brilliant performances and an interesting narrative this is an impressive film on a small budget.
Director: Roger Corman
Starring: William Shatner, Frank Maxwell and Beverly Lunsford
Running Time: 83 Minutes
The film was directed and produced by Roger Corman, a man who has produced almost 500 movies over the years. Before this film he had 17 hits and could basically pitch anything to the studios and they would green light it. However, that was until The Intruder as due to the controversial story the studios wouldn't touch it and so Corman and his brother Gene, re-mortgaged their homes to fund the project themselves. Although it was critically acclaimed this was the first of Gorman's films to not make back it's money until recently.
The next step was to get a star to play Cramer and they managed to secure Shatner for the role. This was Shatner's first starring role as until this point he had worked a lot on Broadway, guest parts and supporting roles in film and TV. I was actually really impressed with Shatner as nowadays he comes across as a little eccentric and I'm used to seeing him in more comedic roles as in Miss Congeniality (2000) and the TV series Boston Legal. It was refreshing to see him in a dramatic role where he had a lot to work with. Shatner is brilliant as Cramer, he shifts from boyish charm to sinister delight taking pleasure in the cruelty he inflicts with ease. The whole thing seems to be almost a game for Cramer as he manipulates everyone around him to follow him and fight against the new law of integration in the high school. There are two townspeople who are immune to his charms however; Tom McDaniel (Frank Maxwell) and Sam Griffin (Leo Gordon).
Tom McDaniel is the local newspaper editor and although at the start of the film he openly admits he is against integration he also says its the law and so will obey. McDaniel takes an instant dislike to Cramer and does not trust him. Once hearing Cramer's inflammatory speech at the court house he is forced to admit to himself he is actually in support of integration and it is the right thing to do. He then decides to do what he must and fight against Cramer's infective racist rhetoric. Frank Maxwell plays the character with skill.
One of my favourite characters in the film was the loud and brash Sam Griffin. He is presented to the audience at first as this behemoth man who is in your face and abrasive and a total contrast to Cramer's slick charismatic gentleman. However, as the film progresses Griffin is one of the only characters that does not seek to be a hero or a leader but rather just seeks to do the right thing and is revealed to be a genuinely caring and good man. He is the only one who sees right through Cramer and knows exactly why he does what he does and tells him as much. Leo Gordon is very impressive and plays both the loud brash scenes as well as the more subtle scenes with skill and poise.
There are some more really impressive performances in the film from Charles Barnes, Jeanne Cooper and Robert Emhardt. Barnes was just a local who they gave the part of Joey Greene one of the black students who is starts at the white school. Considering he had only acted in bit parts twice before I was really impressed with his stoic silence and how much this communicates to the audience. Jeanne Cooper plays Sam Griffin's wife Vi who Cramer seduces just for his own pleasure which seems to be his motives for most everything. Finally Robert Emhardt who was an established actor at this point plays the archetypal Southern rich guy who Cramer befriends in order to push his own agenda. Emhardt is most impressive in the final few scenes where he confronts his own failings.
The Intruder is an interesting exploration of human fear and ignorance. Considering the time it was made in 1962 it is an impressive feat and one which is executed with maturity and class. The best thing about the film is the complex narrative and characters. The characters are not just one thing, Sam Griffin, probably the most heroic character, at times is seen to ignore his wife's obvious clinical depression. This is based in reality as people are many things but are quite often represented in films as just one whether it be a hero or villain. Here we have characters who are good people doing bad things and bad men who perform heroic acts. This gives the film strength and a depth that is often lacking in films from the period dealing with such subject matter.
Overall I was really impressed with The Intruder especially when you consider it's production constraints. The film was made on a modest budget of just $80,000 and filmed over a period of three weeks. They also filmed on location in Southeast Missouri and almost shot in guerrilla style with the swing set climatic scene being shot in three separate locations. They also had to contend with a local population which were only provided with small excerpts of the script when asked to take small parts in the film and who were under the impression Cramer was actually the hero of the story. The film tells an important story and the ease of which characters throw around the N word while unsettling highlights a time of shame in American history. The ending of the film is done in such a way that you do get a sense that the townsfolk have learnt something but without any sort of serious retribution. This however I would argue is a strength of the film as Griffin refuses to let the people off for their actions and makes them see their actions for what they are, highlighting their shame.
Final Verdict
The Intruder is a film with an interesting narrative that deals with complex human emotions of fear and hatred. With some brilliant performances from the cast especially Shatner and Gordon the film connects with the audience till the climatic scene. Highlighting the power of manipulation and irrational fear it is an important story of a shameful time.
The Intruder (1962)
Director: Roger Corman
Starring: William Shatner, Frank Maxwell and Beverly Lunsford
Running Time: 83 Minutes
The film was directed and produced by Roger Corman, a man who has produced almost 500 movies over the years. Before this film he had 17 hits and could basically pitch anything to the studios and they would green light it. However, that was until The Intruder as due to the controversial story the studios wouldn't touch it and so Corman and his brother Gene, re-mortgaged their homes to fund the project themselves. Although it was critically acclaimed this was the first of Gorman's films to not make back it's money until recently.
The next step was to get a star to play Cramer and they managed to secure Shatner for the role. This was Shatner's first starring role as until this point he had worked a lot on Broadway, guest parts and supporting roles in film and TV. I was actually really impressed with Shatner as nowadays he comes across as a little eccentric and I'm used to seeing him in more comedic roles as in Miss Congeniality (2000) and the TV series Boston Legal. It was refreshing to see him in a dramatic role where he had a lot to work with. Shatner is brilliant as Cramer, he shifts from boyish charm to sinister delight taking pleasure in the cruelty he inflicts with ease. The whole thing seems to be almost a game for Cramer as he manipulates everyone around him to follow him and fight against the new law of integration in the high school. There are two townspeople who are immune to his charms however; Tom McDaniel (Frank Maxwell) and Sam Griffin (Leo Gordon).
Tom McDaniel is the local newspaper editor and although at the start of the film he openly admits he is against integration he also says its the law and so will obey. McDaniel takes an instant dislike to Cramer and does not trust him. Once hearing Cramer's inflammatory speech at the court house he is forced to admit to himself he is actually in support of integration and it is the right thing to do. He then decides to do what he must and fight against Cramer's infective racist rhetoric. Frank Maxwell plays the character with skill.
One of my favourite characters in the film was the loud and brash Sam Griffin. He is presented to the audience at first as this behemoth man who is in your face and abrasive and a total contrast to Cramer's slick charismatic gentleman. However, as the film progresses Griffin is one of the only characters that does not seek to be a hero or a leader but rather just seeks to do the right thing and is revealed to be a genuinely caring and good man. He is the only one who sees right through Cramer and knows exactly why he does what he does and tells him as much. Leo Gordon is very impressive and plays both the loud brash scenes as well as the more subtle scenes with skill and poise.
There are some more really impressive performances in the film from Charles Barnes, Jeanne Cooper and Robert Emhardt. Barnes was just a local who they gave the part of Joey Greene one of the black students who is starts at the white school. Considering he had only acted in bit parts twice before I was really impressed with his stoic silence and how much this communicates to the audience. Jeanne Cooper plays Sam Griffin's wife Vi who Cramer seduces just for his own pleasure which seems to be his motives for most everything. Finally Robert Emhardt who was an established actor at this point plays the archetypal Southern rich guy who Cramer befriends in order to push his own agenda. Emhardt is most impressive in the final few scenes where he confronts his own failings.
The Intruder is an interesting exploration of human fear and ignorance. Considering the time it was made in 1962 it is an impressive feat and one which is executed with maturity and class. The best thing about the film is the complex narrative and characters. The characters are not just one thing, Sam Griffin, probably the most heroic character, at times is seen to ignore his wife's obvious clinical depression. This is based in reality as people are many things but are quite often represented in films as just one whether it be a hero or villain. Here we have characters who are good people doing bad things and bad men who perform heroic acts. This gives the film strength and a depth that is often lacking in films from the period dealing with such subject matter.
Overall I was really impressed with The Intruder especially when you consider it's production constraints. The film was made on a modest budget of just $80,000 and filmed over a period of three weeks. They also filmed on location in Southeast Missouri and almost shot in guerrilla style with the swing set climatic scene being shot in three separate locations. They also had to contend with a local population which were only provided with small excerpts of the script when asked to take small parts in the film and who were under the impression Cramer was actually the hero of the story. The film tells an important story and the ease of which characters throw around the N word while unsettling highlights a time of shame in American history. The ending of the film is done in such a way that you do get a sense that the townsfolk have learnt something but without any sort of serious retribution. This however I would argue is a strength of the film as Griffin refuses to let the people off for their actions and makes them see their actions for what they are, highlighting their shame.
Final Verdict
The Intruder is a film with an interesting narrative that deals with complex human emotions of fear and hatred. With some brilliant performances from the cast especially Shatner and Gordon the film connects with the audience till the climatic scene. Highlighting the power of manipulation and irrational fear it is an important story of a shameful time.
7/10
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