Terence Young is an efficient director and storyteller who never dramatizes his films, like as if he assumes they are dramatic enough by themselves for their mere stories. This film is full of rapes, sensational and spectacular murders and even a massacre, but it never follows all these extremely dramatic occurrences through but leaves them sort of unfinished. But the direction is skilful to say the least. Actors like Richard Burton, Lee Marvin, O.J.Simpson, Cameron Mitchell and others don't get the chance to play out their roles for the speed and efficiency of the story, although they all make great characters and act splendidly. It's an awesome story with many critical turns to it, and although the quality of the film approaches level B the film should be remembered and discussed for its story, like a testimony of the true nature of the klan. It's not a beautiful fairy tale but rather grim reality all the way, although it pretends to be fiction. It reminds you of other revolting films from the south, like Arthur Penn's "The Chase" with Marlon Brando and "In the Heat of the Night" with Rod Steiger/Sidney Poitier, but this is much more to the point. It shows and explains racism in a way that makes it impossible for any racist to remain so after having seen this minor but important film.
Review of The Klansman
