The People

Kim Darby, William Shatner

Nice adaption of the alien-invasion novels written by Zenna Henderson in the 1960's. We follow a young female teacher who has been hired to teach all the children in a remote community. The people and the cultural practices there are quite odd: it takes her an hour or so to learn that they fled a dying planet and have been persecuted since arriving here on earth - hence their reclusiveness.

This sounds pretty hokey but the story is told with sensitivity...the aliens are presented as an oppressed minority who win our support. Made for American TV in 1972 the production values were primitive but overall the story worked. Poor Ms Darby was hampered by a 70's haircut and too-short skirts.

One commentator called this 'Waltons in Space' - pretty close to the truth.

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