Just when you're ready to once again fall into the trap of sweeping generalizations, and say that "Ted Turner's TV-movies make me want to count dots on the wallpaper for more fun," along comes a bizarre little character study that seems wholly out of place on television. Based on Civil War historian Shelby Foote's novel September, September, the teleplay for Memphis was co-written by Larry McMurtry and star Cybill Shepherd (mostly McMurtry one suspects), and directed by Yves Simoneau (Perfectly Normal). Set in 1957, Memphis stars Shepherd, John Laughlin, and J.E. Freeman as Renny, Rufus, and Podjo, respectively, a ragtag group of misfits who hit upon a strange kidnapping scheme. Considering the daily reports of racial violence in the streets of Arkansas stemming from the busing issue, the trio figures if they kidnap a well-off black family's kid, the parents will not go to the white police force--particularly down South in a place like Memphis. Their target is a 6-year-old boy named Teddy, whose father Eben (Richard Brooks) works at the bank for his crusty father-in-law Tio (Moses Gunn). Initially, things seem to work out as planned, and the kidnappers send a serious ransom note to Eben. But then things start to get a bit weird: Rufus is going ape because Renny (his girl) is spending too much time with the kid; Renny, a childless ex-prostitute is beginning to take a real shine to Teddy; and unbeknownst to all of them, Tio and Eben have bypassed the white police as expected--and enlisted the aid of the local black underworld (as not expected). What makes Memphis such a strange bird is that it continues to take unexpected turns, and the audience remains unsure of exactly where this fairly volatile subject matter is headed. Although Rufus uses pejorative terms for blacks throughout, this is not an offensive film, and the characters of Tio and Eben are neither portrayed as helpless following the kidnapping, nor as gunslinging Rambos out to wreak revenge. An offbeat, yet believable, film that features good performances and a driving story. Recommended. (R. Pitman)
Memphis
color. 92 min. Turner Home Entertainment. (1991). $89.98. F.A.B. rating: M (Mature) Library Journal
Memphis
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