Product Details

• Actors: Andy Griffith, Sam Bottoms, Noah Beery Jr., James Best, Robb White
• Directors: Lee H. Katzin
• Format: Color, NTSC, Full Screen
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Prism Entertainment
• Run Time: 72 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0001HAEEY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,411 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Ben Campbell, a 22 year old gas station attendant in a small desert town, is looking to make some extra money. He is surprised when Madec, a wealthy lawyer, asks him to be his guide in a hunting trip in the desert. When Madec accidentally shoots a prospector, he is fearful of what it will do his reputation, and decides to eliminate the only witness, Ben, who is forced to go on the run. In addition to being hunted by Madec, Ben must also contend with the harsh desert elements. But if he does make it back to town alive, will anyone believe his story? (1974) (TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unusual Griffith Role, December 8, 2005

By 

Dana R. Arbeit "History Nut" (Red Mountain, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Savages (1974) (VHS Tape)

I saw this one a long time ago. It is a good drama with excellent acting that has a nice twist in the end. Andy Griffith played a bad guy in this one which is an unusual role for him. He did it well. Some accomplished character actors play supporting roles including Noah Berry Jr. The action is fairly low-key. There is violence but the movie emphasizes the malevolence of Griffith's character and his cynicism over blood and gore. It is a character piece and a bit of a survival tale.

One reason that this movie so interests me is that I now own the old gas-station building that was used in the beginning and ending scenes. If you are a Griffith fan, you will be surprised with him in this one but impressed. It was probably shot on a low budget but it came through well.

4.0 out of 5 stars Campare to novel, Deathwatch, October 16, 2011

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Twincerely - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Savages (1974) (VHS Tape)

I purchased this movie to go along with the novel, Deathwatch, by Robb White, in my 9th grade classroom. The movie is what I expected, including the slow pace. It was not filmed in a desert with buttes, but it is in a dry desert, most likely the Mojave as in the book. Sadly, the entire middle part of the novel is omitted from the movie as well as stripping the protagonist (Ben) down to his underwear (in the film he gets to keep his jean shorts on).

The ending is also different as to where Madec hides the sling shot in order to make Ben seem guilty of killing the old prospector. As for the old prospector, in the novel, Ben does not know the old man; in the movie, the old man was supposed to have been Madec's guide for the week, and a good friend and mentor to Ben.

If you are looking for a film to coincide with the novel, Deathwatch, this is as good as you are going to get and why this rating gets a 4 out of 5. A great lesson idea for students is to compare and contrast the novel to the movie (or visa versa). The theme and basic story are the same...love the demonstration of Ben buried in the sand and also the tent explosion! Andy Griffith as the bad guy is only difficult for us old folks who recall him as the good guy in the Andy Griffith Show, etc. These young wipper snappers do not know the actor's career, and thus have no problem with Andy playing the antagonist, Madec.
Read the book, enjoy the film.