L'Enquête impossible

Charlton Heston, was a great narrator in this series. Through three generations, how murders were happening under their noses. The murderer was among them. Each Chief investigated the murders. I didn't like Sonny Butts. He was a womanizer and likewise wasn't police material. They should have found another Will Henry Lee. It did keep your attention. However you know the murderer, from the first.

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 film was made at a time when the big networks, in this case CBS, took pride in making tv movies and mini-series. Excellent attention to detail in just about every aspect of this 3 part movies. As the film movies from the 1920's to the 1940's and eventually the 1960's the viewer gets to see the town of Delano Georgia grow and change. It almost seems as though Delano is a real town. The costumes, settings and props for each time setting are well done.

This mini-series stick very close to the original story written by Stuart Woods. During a 40 year time frame 3 different police chiefs try to solve the various and ongoing murders that are taking place in the vicinity of Delano. Young male transients are being kidnapped and sexually assaulted before they are murdered. Racial tensions run high in Delano and add to the difficulty in solving the murders. Good acting by all who participated. Charlton Heston, Paul Sorvino, Brad Davis and Billy Dee Williams were at the top of their acting game in this mini-Series.

I was able to tape the original 3 part mini-series when it was first aired and despite some drop in quality due to age this mini-series is a favorite of mine and viewed at least once a year. For those who enjoyed the film they may want to read and or watch the story and film GRASS ROOTS. This story continues to follow the Lee family as one of their members attempts to become a U.S. Senator. During the race another racially motivated murder in Delano complicates matters.

I first watched this movie when it debuted on television in 1983, I was 19 years old. My whole family would get together each night for the ac- casion. I have to say, that even though the movie was quite long, it grapped at you for more and with that, it was well worth to watch. It has got to be the best "Chief" movie of all times. I loved it then and still feels the same for it now in 2004. I use to rent this movie to show other people who didn't get the chance to see it, and they all felt it was the best thing going. Even 21 years later, it's still the best thing going. I strongly recommend "CHIEFS" to all those who has not seen it. I applause all the characters especially Charlton Heston, what a great man. This is a must see.

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.