The People main poster

The People

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5.5/10 • 13

1972-01-221h 14m

DramaScience FictionTV Movie

A young woman is assigned to teach school in a secluded valley whose inhabitants appear stern, secretive and anti-pleasure. Following two children who disappear to play in the woods, she finds that this is actually a community of extraterrestrials with mild paranormal powers who are attempting to repress and deny their heritage for fear of arousing prejudice and hatred in their human neighbors. Based on a series of novels by the late Zenna Henderson.

Directors
John Korty
Writters
James M. Miller
Editors
James M. Miller, Patrick Kennedy

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Kim Darby

    Kim Darby

    Melodye Amerson

  2. William Shatner

    William Shatner

    Dr. Curtis

  3. Diane Varsi

    Diane Varsi

    Valancy Carmody

  4. Dan O'Herlihy

    Dan O'Herlihy

    Sol Diemus

  5. Laurie Walters

    Laurie Walters

    Karen Diemus

  6. Johanna Baer

    Johanna Baer

    Bethie

  7. Chris Valentine

    Chris Valentine

    Clement Rancher

  8. Chris Valentine

    Chris Valentine

    Clement Francher

  9. Stephanie Valentine

    Stephanie Valentine

    Talitha

Reviews1

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Wuchak Avatar

Wuchak

Aug 18, 2024

6/10

Little House on the Prairie with paranormal bits A young woman (Kim Darby) takes an assignment as a teacher of a small community in the desolate rolling hills somewhere in the Southwest. She becomes increasingly aware of the peculiarities of the people, such as the kids dragging their feet and a hush-hush attitude. William Shatner is on hand as the doctor, also an outsider. “The People” (1972) is based on Zenna Henderson's 'People' stories, which were first published in 1961 (specifically, the story "Pottage" from "Pilgrimage: The Book of the People"). It was produced as a potential pilot for a TV series that never materialized. Yet it works as a standalone rural drama that’s slow-paced and mild, but with an interesting concept and the corresponding strange phenomena, which I don’t want to give away. Let’s just say that I wouldn’t be surprised if Stephen King was inspired by Henderson’s stories to write “Carrie.” Not that this is a horror flick, not at all, although it includes weird, outlandish elements. I just suspect that King maybe took ideas from Zenna’s “The People” to create his more famous horror story. It has the tone of Star Trek’s first season episode “This Side of Paradise” mixed with the soon-to-come Little House series. Darby was 24 during shooting and surprisingly thin, although winsome. She previously worked with Shatner in the Star Trek episode “Miri” when she was 18. The soothing score was composed by Carmine Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola's father. In fact, this little unassuming flick was produced by Francis’ American Zoetrope. It’s short ‘n’ sweet at 1 hour, 13 minutes, and was shot in Nicasio, which is a 40-minute drive north of the Golden Gate Bridge (the schoolhouse); and San Rafael, which is about 12-15 miles southeast of there. GRADE: B-/C+

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  • The People poster
  • The People poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
based on novel or booktelekinesisalienteacherschoollevitation