Lawman Without a Gun

"Alabama's First Black Sheriff. America's Most Dangerous Job."

1979 1h 30m EN

🤯

9.0

MASTERPIECE

★9.0TMDB · 1

DramaTV Movie

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

During the 1960s' civil rights movement, a black civil rights worker returns to his small Southern town and runs for sheriff against the incumbent, a popular segregationist.

“Alabama's First Black Sheriff. America's Most Dangerous Job.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Cast

Louis Gossett Jr.
Tom Hayward
Clu Gulager
Marvin Tayman
Mary Alice
Minnie Hayward
Barry Brown
Fred Tayman
Barton Heyman
George Tayman
James McEachin
Harris McIntyre
Lonny Chapman
Sheriff Harvey Johnson
James McEacheon
Harris McIntyre

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jerrold Freedman
Writers: Jerrold Freedman
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

47 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Directed by Jerrold Freedman, shot by Tak Fujimoto. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Fred Karlin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor John F. Link shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Louis Gossett Jr. and Clu Gulager and Mary Alice carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Alabama's First Black Sheriff. America's Most Dangerous Job.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0076303 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jerrold Freedman directs. Tak Fujimoto behind the camera. Fred Karlin scores. John F. Link cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
247 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Jerrold Freedman, shot by Tak Fujimoto. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Fred Karlin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor John F. Link shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Louis Gossett Jr. and Clu Gulager and Mary Alice carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Alabama's First Black Sheriff. America's Most Dangerous Job.".
8IMDB entry: tt0076303 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.