The Sheriff

Ossie Davis is the Sheriff in a small town. When Brenda Sykes is raped, he finds the guy soon enough. But can the DA get a conviction? And can Davis keep his stepson and Miss Sykes' father from taking the law in their own hands?

This TV movie was clearly intended as the pilot for a series that never came to be. With Ruby Dee playing Davis' wife, Kaz Garas his deputy, it clearly intended to confront the issue of "quiet racism" and its not-so-quiet violent outbreaks. It's good to see Davis in one of his serious roles, portraying the strength he was capable of. But it was not to be. With Edward Binns, Lynda Day George, and Moses Gunn.