Search - The Klansman on DVD

Intolerance, ignorance, injustice ('I's that are blind)

Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 05/17/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"REEL ENTERPRISES is a Georgia-based purveyor of public domain movies, both classic era and modern. Their catalog includes several titles unavailable elsewhere.


Despite its bad press, THE KLANSMAN is -not- a terrible movie, nor in any way laughable-- the subject matter is far too grim to be humorous. Secondly, Richard Burton and Lee Marvin -do not- appear here either drunk or dissipated by alcohol. They don't mumble their lines or stagger through scenes, despite claims to the contrary.

Three decades of political correctness virtually guarantee this film could never be made today. It's far too repulsive with its racial slurs, hatred and stereotypes for modern audiences. The setting is a small Alabama town where whites are a minority that intimidates black citizens with Klan activity and extreme gang violence.

Some of the more repulsive moments:
Two blacks walking home from a bar are jumped by a large group of armed whites. They flee into the woods, where one is wounded by rifle fire. He is set upon, castrated and executed, as his helpless friend watches from nearby bushes. This man, played by O.J. Simpson, later becomes an avenging angel who clandestinely shoots one-by-one the men involved in his friend's death.

When a white woman (Linda Evans) is raped by a black, she's ostracized as unclean by church and community and abandoned by her husband.

The deputy sheriff (Cameron Mitchell) arrests a young black woman (Lola Falana) under false pretenses, and takes her (along with his buddies) to a warehouse where he viciously rapes and leaves the defiled virgin to hemorrhage on a dirty floor. Before agreeing to rush her to a hospital, the sheriff (Lee Marvin) coerces the girl into promising she will claim that four black men attacked her.

A local landowner (Richard Burton) whose ancestor was lynched in 1861 when he refused to support Secession, is widely despised by local whites because of his hatred of the KKK and support of poor blacks. The film climaxes on the man's mountain with a deadly clash against several Klansmen. It's a sickening scene, one that doesn't turn out as you'd like.


THE KLANMAN is ultimately a competent depiction of outrageous events that soon build to a nightmarish explosion of violence. As brutal as it is, the story holds your interest even to its unhappy ending. Credit for this must go to a strong cast and script.

(Note: The PARAMOUNT VHS tape from 1999 is still the most complete version of this film. All subsequent releases are heavily edited.)"

Film history on vhs

Mrgvase | 08/14/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Firstly,this is not a great film,but what gets me is that films once passed and realiesed,should be left complete and in their proper run time.This vhs copy is the only real 112m version on the market,all the dvds have scenes missing,why bother putting them out if not whole.It has happened to lots of movies over the years.The Klansmen is one that has been a victim of polictial correctness,as a film buff I find this a pity,ok the subject matter is not for everyone,and we hope in our modern society we do not full back into this race hate time zone,but this is part of 70s movie history,let future movie fans see it as it was made,as for burton and marvin being drunk on set,well again let the film be judged by yourself,I for one think they were,and to finish buy this copy as no way will it get a blu ray realise,not for the subject matter,but because hollywood wishes to move 100,000 copies of a film not a couple of 100s,get this vhs copy before its gone forever. Guy Vase Aberdeen Scotland,oh and film gets two stars for its time in movie history not for being any good,just shows how some movies have been made in the past"

Believe It or Not

A. Chan | Newark, CA | 01/28/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I only recently saw this movie, although I remember seeing a preview of it in the theaters when it was originally released in the 70s. The preview included a scene of OJ Simpson sprinting across railroad tracks ahead of an oncoming train. In the movie this happens after his character shoots a Klansman. In the next scene Richard Burton and Lola Falana are driving away from the shooting in, believe it or not, a Ford Bronco. Next thing you know, OJ comes out from his hiding place in the back of the vehicle, still with his rifle, and asks Burton to stop and let him out in a rural area. After a heated discussion, he leaves after also pulling a hunting knife out of the Bronco. Coincidence or beyond coincidence?"

The Klansman (movie)

miss nita | 02/08/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I saw it many years ago when it came out in theatres. Good movie, that's why I ordered it this day and age. The quality was not very good. The colors were off, the soundtrack was a bit off, and there was a skip in the movie. I didn't pay much for it and still consider it a good deal. I happen to like old movies and actors of yester year."