Wonderful character development!

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

I saw this series when it was on TV and then read the book. As usual, I loved the book more than the series, but overall the series was true to the novel.The casting was perfect. Charlton Heston was great as Hugh Holmes, the guiding hand of Delano. Wayne Rogers played the first police chief of Delano. The next focused on was Sonny Butts, the "returning hero" from World War II who was vicious in his life and in the manner in which he executed his functions as Police Chief. Finally, Billy Dee Williams was superb as Chief Watts.The series is available on DVD now, but I could not get it through Amazon. They have it listed today as currently unavailable. I did find it through eBay on DVD and new. Good luck if you are looking for it. This series is WELL worth watching!

I list this movie the all time greatest. For illustration of close system politics and how wrong and what evils this system can unknowingly defend on its principles of hard nosed justification. Its more than a story of human drama its a lesson that opens the mind. Thats how powerful this lesson is and Americans have a fundamental right to know the true and a duty to right the wrongs. Evil cannot last it will always be discovered and dismantled. It cannot be hidden in a document its content will speak boldly beyond reason. We can thank the directors and producers along with the actors. For this movie it is a beacon of light. I wonder why it was a mini-series but i'am glad it was.

One little correction to a previous comment, the story begins in the early 1920's and goes through the mid 1960's. Although the murders are the thread that ties the 3 generations together, it is the evolution of a town, the growing pains of a culture, and the ultimate acceptance of those once rejected that makes the story. Charlton Heston is superb in his role as he "ages" through the generations, as is Keith Carradine.One word of caution, if you haven't seen it be sure you get an uncut version. The full movie (originally a TV mini series in 3 parts)is about 4-1/2 hrs. There are several commercially produced versions out there of varying lengths. Some are so badly chopped up you miss key elements of the show.

Charlton Heston, was a great narrator in this series. Through three generations, how murders were happening under their noses. The murderer was among them. Each Chief investigated the murders. I didn't like Sonny Butts. He was a womanizer and likewise wasn't police material. They should have found another Will Henry Lee. It did keep your attention. However you know the murderer, from the first.