Savage

Martin Landau plays TV-reporter Paul Savage in this TV-pilot that was never picked up as a series. This was the final TV-film directed by Steven Spielberg, before his first theatrical feature film came out in 1974, 'The Sugarland Express'.

I like the opening sequence, because it sets up the main character in a campy, yet flashy way and sets the tone for the rest of the news-oriented 'film'. Landau is a good fit for the smart, confident (sometimes arrogant) Savage. It takes a while for the story to pick up steam, but once it gets going, 'Savage' is an interesting combination of politics, ethics and crime.

If you can find it, 'Savage' is certainly worth a viewing, especially for Spielberg-fans/collectors. If you can't find it, watch 'Duel' instead, an early Spielberg-classic (1971, available on DVD).