The People (film)

The People is a 1972 science fiction TV movie, broadcast as an ABC Movie of the Week on January 22, 1972. It is primarily based on "Pottage", a novella by Zenna Henderson, with elements of Henderson's stories "Araret", "Gilead" and "Captivity." It stars Kim Darby, William Shatner, Diane Varsi, Laurie Walters, and Dan O'Herlihy. Darby and Shatner had previously appeared together in the Star Trek episode "Miri."

Plot summary
Melodye Amerson is a young teacher who goes to a remote area to work with a group of individuals who have isolated themselves from civilization and maintained an independent community, vaguely similar to the Amish or a religious commune. Melodye is unnerved by the secretive behavior of her students, and the fact that all fun, games and activities she proposes are forbidden to them. Valancy, an elder in the community, advises Melodye to stay, because she senses that things are about to change in the valley, and Melodye herself is a part of that change.

Melodye soon discovers that the secluded and "backwards" residents are actually aliens with mild paranormal powers. A natural disaster destroyed their planet, and they are hoping to establish a life on Earth. Landing in the late 1800s, initially they shared their secret with local residents, but found themselves condemned as witches. Many were killed, and the survivors forbade their children ever to use their abilities, even with extreme discretion. Young adults like Valancy (and even some of the older people) have been pushing for an end to these restrictions.

Cast

 * Kim Darby—Melodye Amerson
 * William Shatner—Dr. Curtis
 * Diane Varsi—Valancy Carmody
 * Dan O'Herlihy—Sol Diemus
 * Laurie Walters—Karen Diemus
 * Johanna Baer—Bethie

Production
As noted above, the film was notable for its second pairing of William Shatner and Kim Darby, who had worked together in the Star Trek episode "Miri."

The children's illustrations in the film were done by Arthur Okamura.

The film was the first TV movie for John Korty, and was produced by his sometime partner Francis Ford Coppola, listed as the Executive Producer on the actual film, and scored by his father Carmine.

Reception
One history of science fiction reports that the film stood out in its time "for being neither shoddy nor sentimentalized."