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

Outstanding performance by Rod Steiger .........

[merklekranz · 7/10 · 18 September 2012]

Whether "Midnight Murders" is an accurate depiction of the pursuit of hateful fugitive Gordon Kohl doesn't matter. What does matter is that this powerful film is immensely entertaining. Rod Steiger gives an outstanding performance as Kohl, while Michael Gross playing F.B.I. Agent Richard Maberly, is a relentless pursuer of justice. Deluded into thinking that killing two U.S. Marshals was an act of self defense, Kohl goes on the run, aided somewhat by sympathetic South Dakota locals. The movie is exciting from start to finish, with great rural locations, and an eerie bird call like soundtrack. The final shootout only confirms that there really were no winners in this film. - MERK

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

[lellison · 9 November 2003]

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.

A highly inaccurate portrayal of an event; meant for entertainment purposes only.

[tinecrine · 2/10 · 19 January 2023]

This semi-obscure movie is based off of James Corcoran's book "Bitter Harvest". Said book was publicly denounced by Kahl's wife Joan as being inaccurate and filled with lies. That should say quite a bit right from the start...

The inconsistencies, inaccuracies, etc. In this movie compared to the actual events that took place and the people involved are so plentiful I made a list.

• Joan Kahl is portrayed as skittish and weak when in reality she was a caring mother of 6+ children.

• Rod Steiger is strangely complemented by some as looking the part he plays but IMO he is a bit too short and heavy-set, and strangely always seems to be wearing the same set of clothes.

• As mentioned in some of the other reviews here, the filming locations are noticeably wrong to anyone familiar with ND. There are far too many trees and a distinct lack of snow in the scenes.

• GK is portrayed as a racist, bitter old man hell-bent on getting revenge, when in reality he was a religious father who admitted to not enjoying killing the marshals and just wanted to be left alone by the government.

• The entire Medina shootout scene is wrong, from the vehicles used to the positioning of those vehicles to who fired at certain times, etc.

• The Arkansas shootout is entirely wrong as well, the movie shows a long exchange of gunfire and GK is killed via smoke inhalation and an explosion. In reality GK never fired a shot and was murdered by a local sheriff who was then killed by friendly fire.

• Many of the names used to represent people in the movie have been changed from their real-life counterpart, maybe due to consent issues or fear of legal action for whatever reason.

This movie is strictly for entertainment purposes only. Those looking for an actually accurate portrayal of the events it is based on should watch the documentary Death & Taxes.

A cold,effective thriller

[akhilles84 · 10/10 · 28 September 2001]

Rod Steiger plays one of the worst neo-nazi criminals ever brought to screen and also one of the most dangerous and maniacal ones.I dont know if this is based on true events,but it is a very realistic movie. Michael Gross plays the FBI agent that is hunting on Steiger,but cant stop him from attacking a few innocent colored victims before he is finally gunned down in a frenzied shootout with the FBI.

I found this movie quite effective as well as realistic.This could have easily been a documentary from the way it looks and feels while you are watching it.Documentary or a movie,it would be as good and useful anyway.Useful because it makes us see what the Aryan movement is all about and what kind of men stand behind it.Lunatics,simply put.Gross makes a great performance and manages not to get completely overshadowed by the brilliant Steiger,which does one of his last powerful performances here.All in all,a piece of work to be admired and taken seriously.Which is pretty hard not to. 9 out of 10

Opinion of the movie In the line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas

[kjunem · 3/10 · 7 November 2006]

It has been many years since I've seen the move In the Line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas but It was poorly done. First off I live in the state that it happened. THe film was made in Georgia which isn't like North Dakota. I don't know how they could have shown a movie that was supposed to have taken place in North Dakota in the winter and not have shown snow. I remember there being snow on the ground at the time of the shooting. They made us North Dakotans with southern accents which, we born and raised North Dakotans, don't have. The film was very one sided. I didn't know Gordan Kahl personally but my grandfather did. Despite his faults and beliefs, Gordan had many friends.

TV movie about a foreshadowing event in 1983.

[lightninboy · 8/10 · 17 June 2005]

The Gordon Kahl incident, Medina, North Dakota on Sunday, February 13, 1983, was a forerunner to the James and Steven Jenkins incident, Ruthton, Minnesota in September, 1983, the whole mid-1980s farm crisis, and even Ruby Ridge and Waco. Gordon Kahl was a promoter of Posse Comitatus, and had a considerable following in North Dakota. Eventually, push came to shove. Kahl went down to the Arkansas Ozarks. But the FBI went in and got their man. The movie is based on a book written by James Corcoran who covered the news story for the Fargo Forum. The Georgia filming location suffices for North Dakota in winter? Not quite. There was a Dodge Ramcharger in the actual slaying incident. There was a small undercurrent of Posse Comitatus in North Dakota and Minnesota in the 1980s and early 1990s. They are a neo-Nazi sort of group. I think maybe an anti-Big Brother undercurrent would be a good thing if not taken to extreme extremes, but not a racist one.

Not too bad.

[monke19 · 10/10 · 18 February 2005]

Saw this movie on a TV rerun a while back and thought it wasn't too bad. I know someone from the town of Medina, N.D., where he was living after prison. It's pretty surreal when you know someone whose family was around at the time of the incident.

Yes, this movie is very realistic. Its not flashy, its not stylized, its like real life, the way movies are supposed to be. Rod Steiger also looks insanely close to the real Gordon Kahl.

It is probably one of the largest stories in N.D. history because of the nationwide impact it had.

If you catch this on TV (probably on one of the smaller cable channels), check it out, especially if you are from N.D. Its not that bad of a movie and for those of you who remember it, I'm sure you'll find things you like and don't like about it.