In the Line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas (1991) (TV)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Dick Lowry

Writers (WGA):

James Corcoran (book)
Michael Petryni (teleplay)

Release Date:

12 May 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller | Action

Plot:

Gordon Kahl is man who feels that the U.S. government doesn't care about the American farmer, so he retaliates by not paying taxes...

Plot Keywords:

Sequel | Based On Book

Cast

Rod Steiger	...	Gordon Kahl
Michael Gross	...	Agent Richard Mayberly
Gary Basaraba	...	Leland Winters
Christopher Rich	...	Scott Faul
Amy Wright	...	Karen
Beth Fowler	...	Joan Kahl
Henderson Forsythe	...	Doc Martin
Brad Sullivan	...	Dan Krebs
Tony Higgins
Dan Ziskie
David Hart	...	Chief Larry Douglas
Michael Dolan	...	Earl Mackie
Madison Arnold
Kristin Griffith
Randal Patrick	...	Carl Greenwood

Also Known As:

In the Line of Duty: The Twilight Murders
Midnight Murders

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:15 | Iceland:12 | Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Patchett Kaufman Entertainment

Trivia:

Beth Fowler's TV debut.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Throughout the film the city name Medina is pronounced muh-dee-na, the correct pronunciation is muh-dye-na.

Quotes:

Mayberly: You all right?
Leland Winters: Yeah. It was Gordon Kahl, son Yorie, Scott Faul, Wilbur Lundy, guy named Lester Tompkins, all members of the Posse. Kahl did the most damage.
[angry]
Leland Winters: He shot Bob Cheshire point blank. He executed him.
Mayberly: You're sure it was Kahl?
Leland Winters: Hell, yeah. I talked to him at the clinic after.
Mayberly: [surprised] What?
Leland Winters: The ambulance took us all to Doc Earns' clinic in Medina and there he was.
Mayberly: All of you were there?
Leland Winters: It's the closest doctor. Yorie was there and I guess Kahl came to see how he was.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Follows In the Line of Duty: A Cop for the Killing (1990) (TV)

An excellent teleplay from a fine book of an actual event.

This TV movie was born of James Corcoran's first published book. James, young journalist for a local newspaper, was working the weekend shift alone at the city desk. Watching unfold this horrific night, he became obsessed. As an investigative reporter, he subsequently followed up on every detail involving Gordon Kahl and his Posse Commitatis organization, as also he did with the many law enforcement agencies. A few years later, at the urging of a mentor, he wrote the book.

Living in Corcoran's home town at the time, I followed the episode with great interest. His achievement was one of becoming an expert on every aspect and reporting it with absolute accuracy. The depth of his study and research touched on the rationale, mindset, and motive of each character. There are many sub-plots, which interwoven, result in a work that would be impossible to write as a fictional story.

This true story begins with a background of interconnected events that precede the actual murders. Scenes early in the movie describe actions by various law enforcement agencies and Kohl's band of followers, which quickly converge into the literally explosive showdown. Following this tragic night are many emotional confrontations and controversial actions. Because emotions reached so high, and pain so deep, it is most difficult to hold blameless any person involved in this tragic happening.

Rod Steiger's fine performance closely emulated the appearance and demeanor of Gordon Kahl. Other characters were equally well portrayed. The scenes of the small town central to the plot were also accurately presented. Few dramatic events receive the factual and quality treatment as did this TV movie adaption of Corcoran's book. Very little creative license was taken in this production. To view this movie is to actually live the history of the event.

May it never happen again.