kbellive_sfu Why hasn't this movie been shown on television for years? There's definitely a consistency of opinion amongst those who are old enough to have been around on it's first showing in 1968 that it had a powerful and frightening message.I am one of those who saw it so many years ago, and it's a movie that I've been wanting to see again ever since, but amazingly, it's never been shown or even now released on VHS or DVD.The subject of the film that the US government is taken over by a totalitarian regime seemed impossible back then, but today whenever I see Dick Cheney talking on television it makes this concept seem not so implausible.If this film ever becomes widely available, it should be watched in conjunction with 1964's Seven Days In May as a warning to future generations to be ever vigilant for the freedoms they currently enjoy.

terryrayhiller When it aired, "Shadow on the Land"'s premise was barely credible: an unexplained national emergency so terrifies the country that Congress grants the President virtually unlimited emergency powers, which he promptly uses to establish a national security agency charged with hunting down the nation's external and internal "enemies." Soon the country is awash in curfews, traveling papers, checkpoints and managed news. Dissent is unpatriotic and quashed in the name of security and national harmony. In response, a small underground emerges dedicated to revealing the corruption and our loss of freedoms. Run as a TV movie, "Shadow on the Land" should have done better than it did, and might have made an interesting series had it received better viewer response. Unfortunately, its cautionary message of a fearful America willing to surrender basic freedoms seemed preposterous. Not helping was a fairly plodding script, generally heavy-handed characterizations and an absence of any sense of impending menace or danger. Still, "Shadow" featured such dependable lead actors as Jackie Cooper, John Forsythe, Gene Hackman, Carol Lynley, Marc Strange and Janice Rule, supported by a strong cast of future character actors including Scott Thomas, Bill Walker and Ken Swofford. All the actors -- Cooper and Hackman especially -- gave solid performances despite the script, which must have seemed something of a fantasy to everyone involved. While many of the casting decisions were predicable, there was one truly inspired piece of casting that set the show apart: John Forsythe as General Wendell Bruce, head of West Coast security and the resident villain. Setting his likable "Bachelor Father" (1957-1962) persona on its head, Forsythe created a disturbingly complex and believable nemesis: intelligent, dedicated to his duty, sophisticated, articulate and likable, with a ready smile and well-tailored suits. It was truly chilling to watch him, and helped build a case for the type of people who might someday convince us they were only there to "protect" us. Given the current political and social climate, "Shadow on the Land" was clearly a show forty years ahead of its time – an unusually cautionary tale raised in a television era still dominated by fare such as "Beverley Hillbillies," "Batman," "Death Valley Days: and "Hawaii Five-O." Someone ought to find it in the archives, dust it off, and either run it or redo it; I think we'd be far more willing to believe its vision of America than we were in 1968. Still, given that same climate, one has to wonder if the show could be done today. The premise strikes far too close to home, and patriotism isn't what it used to be. We've clearly demonstrated that as a people we are now perfectly willing to sacrifice a little freedom for security and safety, just as were the citizens of "Shadow." On a final minor note, one has to wonder if our Homeland Security folks realize that their eagle logo bears a haunting similarity to "Shadow"'s homeland security agency emblem. If we don't learn from history – even fictional ones – we are somehow doomed to repeat it.

maddutchy I saw this movie when it first played on TV. For those who read this who were not conscious in the late '60s it may seem confusing. It was a time of unrest and doubt. People were constantly asked to "trust the government". The makers of the film obviously wanted to remind us to always regard with skepticism those who seek power in order to 'protect us'. Its message was timely then and applies equally to now.I do not attach its message to any particular political party or persons in office. That would be to make it a matter of partisanship. The film deserves better. Like D.W. Griffith's "Intolerance" it is a movie for all time for freedom loving people. I hope that it comes out on DVD someday. If it does, it should be shown in every classroom in America along with "Intolerance".Right after the Towers fell on 9/11, I thought of this movie. I hoped that 9/11 would not become our "Reichstag Fire". If you don't know what the "Reichstag Fire" was, LOOK IT UP! Anyone who values Liberty should be aware of that term. By the way, it is used in the movie. Time will tell if 9/11 will be our "Reichstag Fire".The performances in Shadow On The Land were of high quality and the writing was good. It wasn't the best movie ever made but it did its job well and is worth seeing and sharing. The message is what is important.

Peter Maranci Chalk me up as another view who saw this movie decades ago, and never forgot it. The parallels to the Bush regime are haunting.Unfortunately I have it on good authority that this movie will NOT be released on DVD unless an independent company is willing to take it on, a la Shout Factory! and SCTV.The problem is that SotL probably isn't well known enough. The potential sales are too low. On the plus side, the master film DOES still exist...and there has definitely been an increase in interest lately, thanks to Mssrs. Bush & Cheney.It has been a long time, but I still remember the final scene, when the flag was raised...the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up. What a powerful moment! A remake would be pretty mind-blowing, don't you think? I'm rating it a "9", because it has been so long since I saw it. There's a lot that I don't remember.