The DIY Drive-In: Roger Corman's The Intruder: The Cultivation of Fear .

The Intruder (aka Shame) (1962)Directed by: Roger CormanWritten by: Charles Beaumont (from his novel) After a few annoying mishaps with a scratched DVD, I was finally able to watch Roger Corman's excellent film The Intruder for the 1st time. Corman is obviously recognized for his significant contributions to independent and especially super low budget filmmaking as a successful producer of over 300 films.

He is likewise an accomplished director, helming 50 of his own films, including hisgorgeous takes on Edgar Allen Poe classic tales like The Masque of Red Death and The Pit and the Pendulum. Lesser known isThe Intruder, an intense social commentary on theturbulent fight for the equal treatment of negro citizens. The background of Corman's film is thestruggle for desegregation in America's schools in the 60's. The Intruder has the unfortunate distinction of existence the only Corman film to lose money, though it ranks as one of his best efforts. Shot in crisp black and white,itsurpasses most filmsof a similar theme with its stunning cinematography and uncompromising take on the subject. I was surprised by what an intense film experience The Intruder turned out to be. Even beinga seasoned viewer of some very brutal films, I winced a few times at exactly how provocatively Corman's film displayed ignorance, racism, and senseless violence. This is no watered down,sappy endingOscar hopeful by any means. It was clearly made to present the lurid and depressing reality of bigotry and racism in our country, as easily as the violence seething underneath. The movie is as seasonably as ever, and while we mayhave shifted our bigotry to accomodate the needs of the time,it is quite clear thatthe seeds of hatred are easily planted and nurtured with heaping helpings of care with a sly smile.

William Shatner shines asopportunistic racist Adam Cramer, newly arrived via bus to a little township in Missouri. A likeable fellow, he introduces himself to various folk as a "reformist". From the get go, he prods the town to judge their feelings about integration, equal rights, and the negro citizens in general. To his delight, he finds that most of the population harborprejudice of some sort, and are strictly againstthe integration about to make office in their own town. Cramer, full of culture and confidence, quickly seduces the girl of local press man Tom McDaniel (Frank Maxwell), as good as Vi, the wife of traveling salesman Sam Griffin. Cramer's charisma carries him to incite mob violence in a town torn between their own inherint racism and the law of the land. He positions himself in the ranksofthose in power, and finds it really slow to control the total town to get what he wants. Once the wheels are set in motion, Cramer receives resistance from McDanielwho proves a perpetual thorn in Cramer's side. McDaniel is rewarded for his outspokeness with a severe beating at the men of about of the more mean-spirited good ole boys. Cramer employs the aid of the KKK to promote the township over into chaos, culminating in a near lynching of an innocent black student.

It's a crime that The Intruder isn't more accepted and respected in the cinema world. Corman put up his own money to make thisserious and thoughtfulpolitical film just to have it relegated as an afterthought in his career. It's rather a strong man of study and is surely due for a revival, especially as our nation is moved into a fury by any amount of nutjobs outpreaching hate against immigrants, the gay community, or anyone else deemed "different" or "scary".The Intruder Trailer

THE INTRUDER: Movie Trailer. Watch more top selected videos about: William Shatner, Jeanne Cooper