The Tenth Level

This made-for-TV movie is taken directly from the work of Dr. Stanley Milgram. Although much of Milgram's scientific methods are omitted in favor of dramatic content, the central point of the experiment remains true and very poignant. There is supposed to be a remake of this film which came out in 2005. I haven't seen it and the title eludes me (something like Atrocity?). However, like the subject matter of "The Tenth Level", there are many eye-popping discoveries in psychology which movies could exploit to lay naked the flaws and fallacies of human nature without Hollywood's melodrama making the case inane and useless to a public desperately in need of modern morality tales. The most wonderful thing about "The Tenth Level" was that it sought a higher ground instead of the formulaic boy-meets-girl, boy-saves-world, boy-gets-girl garbage. If there is any way you can see this film, it is well worth watching even if all you wish to see is what William Shatner did between Star Trek and T. J. Hooker.

Like the other commenters, I saw this as a child. I would have been 9 years old, but I still remember the shocking realization of the fact that this experiment reveals (depressingly) that most people are willing throw all their beliefs out the window and submit unquestioningly to authority.

It's not easy to stand up to entrenched authority, with the only thing on your side the knowledge that righteousness is with you. What I took away from the film at such a young age was that peer pressure can be evil and should not be followed blindly; what's right is right, and that's that.

I remember Shatner going over the top as usual, but somehow his assay of the evil doctor worked very well. Before the final twist was revealed, I was quite shocked that such a film would be shown; the main character of the film is ostensibly evil and making innocent people suffer for no good reason and is a sadist. I believe this was shot on video in a television studio; in spite of that extra added element of unreality, this production still effected me greatly.

Highly recommended. If anyone reading this controls the rights to it, PLEASE RELEASE IT! You will sell many copies.

I have been waiting to see The Tenth Level starring William Shatner again,myself. I have never been able to find it even though I have searched for it from time to time, although not for a few years now. This drama made an indelible mark on my psyche and I have never gotten it out of my mind since first seeing it when it originally aired back in the seventies. It was chilling to the core! I watched it alone and I recall it being in black and white though it's possible we only had a black and white set at the time. If someone has a copy of The Tenth Level for sale or rent, please advise on how I might be able to acquire a copy from you! I am glad to find others that also were struck by the brilliance of this production and that I am not the only one looking for it. Thank you very much. Victoria Perkins Crystal Lake, Illinois

I saw this movie as a teen, and have been looking for it ever since. Something about it stuck with me, and I wanted to see it again.

I've since stumbled across a reference to it in a pamphlet written by Chuck Colson. That article stated that the film "was a powerful testimony about man's inability to safeguard human rights."

The 10th Level is intense and moving, because it displays, via a real life incident that reveals how very malleable people can be.

I think it should be shown in every High school Political science and psychology class in the country.

If ANYONE knows how I could obtain even a "taped off TV" copy, please let me know!

This is Shatner's most important and probably least-known vehicle. I wish I could remember more about his performance, but it really doesn't matter compared to the issues raised by the experiment depicted here. Laurence Olivier would have disappeared behind this story.

Milgram's experiment involved convincing a subject that he or she was testing another subject (who was actually not, but was performing out of sight, and could obviously be heard) by supplying info and then asking questions. A wrong answer from the hidden subject required the real subject to administer a shock, and each successive wrong response got a higher-voltage shock, up to "The Tenth Level", which was lethal.

Somehow, even more shocking were the results of the tests, which were done all around the world and are revealed at the end of the show.

Somebody tell Shatner to get this put on a DVD (or do a remake!) because it is that important. I have never forgotten it, and sincerely doubt that anyone else who saw it forgot it, either.