Tick, Tick, Tick

This was one of my most memorable movies from when I was a kid. It seems to be about real people, who move from humor to fierce tension back to humor again. Northern organizers help a southern black man get elected sheriff in a small town (which feels like a lot of small towns down south) in the 60's, and he gets to deal with the reality of being elected. The movie sets up quite a few stereotypical characters; for some of them, it knocks down the stereotype, and then for others it lets it stand. People (black and white) in the town have to choose between their traditions, their comfort, and their values, as tensions rise when the new sheriff tries to do his job.

It's not high drama, but it's real.

Sure, if one is going to compare this film to the earlier "In the Heat of the Night", it can't quite measure up, but that doesn't mean that it's not a good film in its own right. It's a pretty effective story of race relations, in which a black man, Jimmy Price (Jim Brown) is elected the new sheriff of Colusa County. He's replacing the outgoing sheriff, white man John Little (George Kennedy). Jimmy is going to have a rough road ahead of him, but rises to the challenge, and enforces the law in a fair manner, showing no favouritism to either race. His job is made particularly difficult when he arrests a young man (Robert Random) who's killed a little girl in a traffic accident, and the mans' bigshot father (Karl Swenson) shows up to demand his release.

Brown is extremely good in this early lead role, playing a character of likability and integrity. Kennedy is also fine as the one white person willing to stand behind him. A lot of familiar faces fill out supporting and character roles: Lynn Carlin (as Littles' wife), Janet MacLachlan (as Prices' spouse), Don Stroud, Richard Elkins, Clifton James, Mills Watson, Bernie Casey, Anthony James (who was actually in "In the Heat of the Night"), Dub Taylor, and Barry Cahill. Stroud is utterly convincing as Littles' former deputy who's one of the biggest, creepiest racists in the bunch. All of the performers do fine work, but it's the great Fredric March (in one of his last film roles) who tends to steal the show as the aged, ill tempered mayor who's resistant to the idea of outside help.

Plenty of solid local flavour and a nice assortment of music help to make this decent entertainment. Director Ralph Nelson manages to milk some believable tension out of the scenario, especially near the end when it's believed that Swenson will be returning to town with all of his bigoted cronies.

Nelson does come up with an ingenious way to begin the action, with some of the townspeople literally frying an egg on the pavement while there is insistent ticking on the soundtrack. And there's a highly amusing exchange between our leads to end the film.

Seven out of 10.

George Kennedy has never been better as the frustrated outgoing sheriff, and Jim Brown is good also, as his disillusioned replacement. Pot boiling is kept on the high burner by Don Stroud and his band of KKK rednecks. When a White boy is arrested for manslaughter following his drunken car accident, things reach the time bomb stage of the film's title. Special mention must be made of the sound track that although somewhat inappropriate, is none the less excellent. Ultimately "Tick Tick Tick" comes across as a dark period of history, frozen in time by this wonderful film. Despite the good and plenty of stereotypes, the movie does not come across as preachy, but merely as an entertaining look into the past. - MERK

This film is hugely under rated and deserved a clutch of awards.

"Racial tensions threaten to explode when a black man is elected sheriff of a small, racially divided town in the Deep South".

The movie is set in a time when race almost defined a nation. And the picture captures the period brilliantly illustrating the culture, language and music of the era.

There are stand out performances from George Kennedy-surely one of his finest- as the former sheriff coming to terms with unemployment and racism. The town mayor played by Frederic March, who gives a charismatic amusing performance. But the best of all and the one who steal the show is Clifton James who is apparently hostile to the new sheriff but events have a way of changing minds. Where he excels is his ability to convey his thoughts silently, a skill few actors possess.

All the cast are convincing as is the ultimate theme and outcome of the story.

Highly recommended:

8/10.

Jim Brown takes over as a sheriff of a racially segregated southern town from George Kennedy in the 50's. Excellent human nature study of the time when a turn of events forces Brown to seek Kennedy's assistance with a tense situation. Outstanding performances by the entire cast. Believe Kennedy and Brown fans would be impressed with this film.