"A family of seven children are living without parents is (sic) a swampy backwoods area all by themselves. Some of the children get the idea that it would be good to have parents or guardians to look over them so, they take in two strangers and make them the parents they so desperately want. The couple finds that getting away from these children will be more difficult than they imagined," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.
Creepy TV movie featuring game performances from: Stacy Keach (as Jimmy Wheeler), Samantha Eggar (as Caroline Henderson), John Savage (as Peter), and Robby Benson (as John). Mr. Keach sets the tone, with a perfectly balanced characterization of a strong and steady man, who must focus on sanely escaping from the trap he drove into. Keach is as good as the role gets. Ms. Eggar and Mr. Savage respond in kind. And, Mr. Benson wisely plays his character as endearingly dimwitted, which is exactly how to handle the scripted part; his singing of the title song "All the Kind Strangers" hits a sour note, however. The lower credited kids are good.
Burt Kennedy's direction and Clyde Ware's script set a good pace. Indeed, the events on-screen seem to add up to more than what actually happens; which is not much, actually. Mr. Ware writes quite tightly; for example: note how smoothly the biscuit argument between Savage and Tim Parkison (as Gilbert) fits into a later event. And, Savage's digressions about life off the farm fit, also. Moreover, Arlene Farber (as Martha) is directed to show some attraction to Keach; this, and the pick-up of young Parkison, helps multiply the underlying uneasiness.
****** All the Kind Strangers (11/12/74) Burt Kennedy ~ Stacy Keach, Samantha Eggar, John Savage, Robby Benson
