Savages

Nineteen year old Sam Bottoms is made to wander miserably

through the desert without food, water, shoes, or clothes (save a

pair of shorts). He's been forced to surrender his belongings to a

sadistic, rifle-wielding adversary -- Andy Griffith (yes, ANDY

GRIFFITH -- no kidding!!!). Griffith gets sick kicks from hunting

people instead of "conventional" prey, and will track Bottoms down

for the big kill unless the youngster can outwit him...

Folks familiar with the fine 1930s suspense film "The Most

Dangerous Game" will see distinct plot parallels. "The Most

Dangerous Game" possesses one of the most regurgitated plot

devices in Hollywood history: that of the demented hunter with a

penchant for tracking down human prey. It's turned up on "Fantasy

Island" as well as "Gilligan's Island" and for all we know may one

day make up the plot of a reality-based TV show (God forbid!).

However, for any familiarity the material may present, "Savages"

gets high marks for offering a fresh retelling of this fable. Full of

urgency, this is highly charged, suspenseful, top flight

entertainment turned out by a solid, committed cast.

Rugged locales and spare production values enhance what is a

lurid melodrama full of tension between the principal actors. There

are even a couple genuine scares that may make you jump out of

your seat!

Andy Griffith is truly arch in his role as villain, brilliantly cast against

type. He seems to relish this opportunity to stretch every moment

he's on screen (and who can blame him after so many years

playing the Good Guy in dreary, old Mayberry?!?).

Likable young pup Sam Bottoms appears sincerely vulnerable and

sympathetic, trudging barefoot through rugged desert terrain and

tumbling down treacherous ravines. He turns in an earnest and

athletic performance and for all he goes through, and with the help

of some excellent make-up effects, it's difficult not to imagine

some of his wounds being legit!

It winds up being tough to decide who is more fun to watch:

Griffith, grinning lasciviously from ear to ear as he harasses and

torments his young prey...the sadistic overtones of his character

barely restrained... ...or golden-boy hottie Bottoms, the bewildered but stalwart hero,

first degraded at gunpoint to strip for the camera, then forced to

subject his lithe, attractive body to any number of physical

humiliations brought about by the punishing landscape... ...in all, it's a pretty tasty couple hours of entertainment!

"Savages" should inform film enthusiasts and TV-viewers of the

21st century (particularly those born in the 70s, 80s, and 90s) that

some excellent productions were crafted for television way back in

the 1970s. The Movie Of The Week format often proved itself: fresh,

young talent was given a place to shine, and veteran performers

received some choice opportunities to expand their repertoire.

This is one of those movies I really wish was available on DVD, as many of the early Aaron Spelling classics should be. It was years before I would see A FACE IN THE CROWD, but when I first saw this excellent TV thriller, I imagine it must've dropped a lot of jaws to see amiable Sheriff Andy Taylor cast against type as one mean 'sumbitch' - not only doing a great job at it, but having fun as well!

Griffith glowers with gleeful menace as a rich lawyer whose hobby is big-game hunting. Sam Bottoms (THE LAST PICTURE SHOW) co-starred as an unsuspecting local from the town Griffith visits to bag his latest prey. He enlists Bottoms as a helper/guide, with the young man having no idea that Griffith's character is bored with the usual game, and has his (literal) sights set on bagging the ultimate trophy...MAN.

Think of it as "DUEL" on-foot, as Bottoms, witness to a cold-blooded murder committed by Griffith, must make it back to town without food, water or most of his clothes, the deranged hunter dogging his every step. This story has been told in many forms, (the most well- known being THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME), but rarely has it been told this well or suspensefully since.

Andy Griffith got his start playing a bad guy in "A Face in the Crowd." Don't miss that one since it is one of the earlier films on the role of the media in politics. It also shows the way politicians use the good old boy image to mask the Machiavellian schemer beneath, e.g. Reagan, Clinton and Bush 2.

Griffith had also just played a very bad dude in "Pray for the Wildcats" where he causes the death of two teenagers because the female rejects his dirty-old-man seduction attempts.

This film sticks pretty close to the Robb White original novel (which I got in grade school in the scholastic books weekly reader program in the early 70's). I was very excited to see a movie version since I had just read the novel. The description of the effects of deadly dehydration in the desert are not realized in the movie since to be realistic would have required some serious make-up effects work.

This is one of the best TV movies I have ever seen, and easily the most sadistic. Andy Griffith is absolute perfection as the crippled big city predatory lawyer and hunting enthusiast who turns guide and nature lover Sam Bottoms into his prey. His performance is a true work of art. But, all the entire players, including Noah Beery Jr. and James Best are perfectly cast. A true game of hearts, mind, and soul. Not to be missed. 10/10

Andy Griffith gives a tour-de-force performance as a big-city (!!!) lawyer who is as cunning as he is warped. Sam Bottoms is totally believable as the nature-loving student who suddenly finds himself fighting for his life and his credibility. I sat down to watch this film on commercial TV one early AM, expecting to doze off in 20 minutes, and it was so fast-moving, gripping, and suspenseful, I found I had to watch the whole thing.