Shame (1962)

Director: Roger Corman
Producer: Roger Corman
Production Company: Roger Corman Productions
Runtime: 01:22:00



Shame also known as "I Hate Your Guts" "The Intruder" is a 1962 film directed by Roger Corman starring William Shatner as a racist mystery man sent to stir trouble in a southern town that is about to integrate its high school.


* Synopsis :



The credits are shown as the camera follows Californian Adam Cramer (William Shatner), a member of a northern segregationist movement known as The Patrick Henry Society, as he arrives by bus in the small, fictitious town of Caxton, Missouri. Cramer moves into the local hotel, making friends with traveling salesman Sam Griffin (Leo Gordon) and his wife, the only other regular residents of the hotel. He also flirts with Ella McDaniels, a high school student and daughter of the editor of the town paper.


School integration is due to start that week in Caxton, and Cramer sounds out the feelings of the local residents about the issue. Many oppose the idea, but accept it as the law. Cramer urges organized resistance and starts working with Vern Shipman (Robert Emhardt), the town’s leading citizen. After a series of racist speeches, Cramer riles up the general populace. He joins the local Ku Klux Klan when they drive through the black section of town to burn a cross. When Sam Griffin is out of town, Cramer seduces his wife.


Events spiral out of Cramer’s control when a black church is bombed and the minister is killed. Accused of provoking the incident, Cramer is jailed, but the locals rally to his defense and he is released. Editor Tom McDaniels (Frank Maxwell) is incensed. When the local black students decide to pull out of the high school, McDaniels goes to them and urges them to continue. He personally escorts them to the school. Later, the editor is beaten by outraged citizens and hospitalized. Cramer knows that violence will hurt his cause, but he concocts a scheme that might help him to achieve his goal. He persuades Ella that her father will be killed unless she accuses one of the black students of trying to molest her. She fakes an attack in the supply room of the high school, and the accused young man is brought before the principal.


A mob gathers when news of the incident spreads. Cramer urges that the accused student be escorted to the police station, but the mob, led by Shipman, intends to lynch him instead. Griffin turns up with Ella McDaniels, who reveals her false accusation to be one invented by Cramer. Shocked at the crime they were about to commit, the crowd disperses, and Shipman strikes Cramer, knocking him down. Griffin helps the racist up, telling him that he is through in Caxton and offers to drive him to the bus depot.




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