Chiefs

My entire family was riveted to the "Chiefs". I feel that it is one of the best written and casted films to this day. I'd promote this movie until I die. It was intelligently written, eluding to hideous crimes without the overkill of blood and gore. Anyone that appreciates old cars, old cycles and vivid acting would benefit to rent, buy or borrow Chiefs. I like to tell anyone that will listen that they will be on the edge of their seats for most of the movie. I was a teenager when it came on TV. To this day I can remember how I felt during the 'handlebar scene'. Sad to say, this movie's plot is the first thing I think of every time I hear of a disappearance or kidnapping in the real world. I'd rate this as one movie I would want on my TV line up once a year. A remake is in order if it could be cast with such strong actors again.

One little correction to a previous comment, the story begins in the early 1920's and goes through the mid 1960's. Although the murders are the thread that ties the 3 generations together, it is the evolution of a town, the growing pains of a culture, and the ultimate acceptance of those once rejected that makes the story. Charlton Heston is superb in his role as he "ages" through the generations, as is Keith Carradine.

One word of caution, if you haven't seen it be sure you get an uncut version. The full movie (originally a TV mini series in 3 parts)is about 4-1/2 hrs. There are several commercially produced versions out there of varying lengths. Some are so badly chopped up you miss key elements of the show.

Chiefs was one of the best mini-series of the 80s, it's the story of a town in the deep south state of Georgia. It's seen through the eyes of a leading citizen and civic booster Charlton Heston. And it's the story of 3 police chiefs in different eras of the 20th century.

In fact when the series opens Delano, Georgia has grown so that the place needs some local law enforcement. So Heston and the other town fathers create a position of police chief and in a contest between two local farmers Wayne Rogers and David Carradine. Rogers is selected. Early on he's killed and the wrong man is identified as the killer.

The second chief story has an abused kid in a white trash family who has grown up with hate and rage and bigotry. Brad Davis wins the acting honors in this series with his portrayal. But whatever else he is Davis has a good police instinct and it costs him his life and the town thinks he just up and left town.

Things come full circle when Billy Dee Williams becomes the third chief and discovers and solved what the first two chiefs gave their lives for.

Chiefs is a flawlessly cast production. What terrible secret did Delano have? I think it was best said about another infamous southern town Scottsboro, Alabama. If what happened in that railroad car with those young black men and two white women had happened a bit down on the railroadd track some other small Alabama town would have the infamy.

Heston is almost destroyed by the revelation of events. All his hopes and dreams for his town have been smashed because everyone will think of the terrible events that took place there.

Chiefs is simply outstanding. I hope it's broadcast again or comes out on DVD.

If you like movies about dusty, small southern towns that are hiding a crime/mystery/secret, then this one's for you! It has all of the elements to keep you watching. Centered around the police chiefs of the town and serial killer, over a long period of time. Psssst....The men who play the police chiefs are all great actors.

This is definitely one story I wish someone would either release on DVD or show on television again. This is a wonderful story that shows is a wonderful look at how life was in the south as shown through the eyes of three generations of police chiefs. Wayne Rogers is great in his role as the first chief, Will Henry Lee, and Brad Davis is great as the racist chief Sonny Butts. However, Billy Dee Williams gives an outstanding performance as Chief Tyler Watts (aka Joshua Cole), the chief who manages to break the case that had been dogging the town for years. Also, Keith Carradine plays the perfect killer in Foxy. His portrayal of the maniacal serial killer really gave you the impression that he had a dark side. But the performance that really surprised me was Charleton Heston as town founder, Hugh Holmes. Normally, I'm not the biggest fan of Mr. Heston, but he turned out an outstanding performance as the man who is the tie to the three generations of police chiefs. This mini-series is definitely a classic.