William Shatner Movie:

Editorial Review:
COLOR. KIM DARBY, WILLIAM SHATNER, DIANE VARSI, DAN OHERLIHY. Executive Producer: FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA. This at once sensitive and subtly chilling science fiction fantasy tells the story of Melodye Amerson, an idealistic young woman who comes to a rural village to teach school. Melodye is not a by-the-book educator. She believes in giving children enough freedom to explore the world around them and within them. At the same time, Melodye is looking for her place in the world. She has abandoned her previous life because, as she explains, "Ill have time to figure me out" and "I can use a little peace and quiet." What she is destined to find in this hamlet is something else altogether. To begin with, the townsfolk all are more than a bit strange. They seem curiously spiritless and are offended by the fact that Melodye is pretty. They never smile. Nor do they ever travel out of the valley in which they live. They dress unappealingly. Playing sports and singing songs, reading a fashion magazine and watching television are taboo. Whats more, they are immune to many diseases. As Melodye spends time among them she begins observing the most unusual and otherworldly gravity-defying sights, none of which can be logically explained. Who exactly are these people? Where do they come from? What are they doing in the valley? What strange gifts do they have? Finally, what effect will Melodye have on them and how will they change her? 74 minutes.

NOTE: This DVD is published under license from Video Yesteryear - Plain Case - NO ARTWORK

The People (1972-USA) Reviews:
Good movie-Poor quality DVD
2009-12-05 - A number of years ago I saw this show on TV and enjoyed it enough that I tracked down the book that inspired it and enjoyed reading it to get additional details and stories associated with "The People". After reading all the Amazon reviews of the DVD, I decided to purchase it in spite of the obvious quality control issues that everyone described just so that I could see the movie again. I was not dissipointed. The movie story line was still what I remembered, but after reading the book, the movie made even more sense than when I saw it on TV the first time. I was, however, very glad I had read the reviews on the poor quality of the DVD itself and been prepared in advance because everything said previously was true. The packaging is a cheap clear plastic container and the DVD looks like it was labled on someone's home inkjet printer. The movie is grainy and so soft in places you can't see the expressions on the actor's faces. Also, the 2nd part of the movie, after the "reel" is changed, is out of sync, similar to old martial art films. It is a little distracting if you are focused and watching the movie but not bad if you like to have the TV on in the background and only periodically look up to watch certain scenes.

I don't regret getting the movie but glad I purchased it knowing what to expect or I would have been VERY disappointed!

Charming FILM - Bad copy
2009-07-24 - THE PEOPLE is a television film produced in the early 1970's by Francis Ford Coppola's company. The quirky, charming story revolves around a young school teacher, played by Kim Darby, who is assigned to a remote mountain area to teach in a one room schoolhouse. Through the events of the story, she learns that her youthful charges possess remarkable talents and that their ancestors share an extraordinary history.

It was so refreshing to see Darby's work in this film and it reminded me of all the reasons I like her as an actress. She has that wonderful knack of playing, such that her lines emerge as completely spontaneous thoughts. Even when she recites Thoreau to one of the students, she has to think it through, remembering each phrase as it comes to mind. Very good work.

Sadly, the quality of the print sold here is atrocious. It seems to be copied from a VHS and the second half of the film is out of synch between picture and sound. This all but ruins Carmen Coppola's score and the entire dramatic climax is severely diminished due to this technical glitch. As a film maker, I cannot believe that the creators of this haunting piece of work would wish to see it screened in this fashion, and we, as customers, deserve better, too. Most of us bought this film, I believe, because it somehow touched us as young people, and we wanted to relive the experience. As much as I wanted to laugh and cry again over the story, I only found myself crying over this desecration of Zenna Henderson's simple, touching work.

Sweet movie, terrible copy
2009-06-30 - Agree with the others here... I've been a Zenna Henderson fan forever, and the movie, while dated, is a sweet interpretation of her stories.

The DVD looks like it was a 3rd generation VHS copy transferred to digital format. Plain white label that looks like it was printed from a home computer. I really wonder if this is really a legitimate copy or a bootleg.

Beware! Flawed Copy!
2009-03-26 - The quality of this DVD makes me wonder if the makers are selling a pirated copy as new. The video and audio quality are terrible and they actually left in the message to wait while they changed reels. After the change the quality actually dropped further, being greatly out of synch.

Technically Disappointing Quality
2009-03-11 - As a great admirer Zenna Henderson's work, I was delighted when I discovered that the movie, The People, was available on DVD. The move is a well done blend of the Zenna Henderson stories. But the DVD copy is terrible! To call the transfer of this film to DVD amateurish is a gross understatement. Although the first two thirds of the video is tolerable. In the last third of the movie, the music is unsteady, the sound is out of sync and the picture tends to break up. The production quality of this DVD is a terrible disappointment.