Cross of Fire (1989)

Wonderful character development!

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

D.C.Stephenson was the stereotypical Alabama redneck who moved to Indiana and with his racist beliefs as his driving force formed the Hoosier chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. He used thugs to force local businessmen to join his "organization" (or he would wreck their businesses, livelihood and reputations). Stephenson purchased a large home in the east Indianapolis neighborhood of Irvington and had it remodeled to look like a southern plantation home, complete with tall columns in front. In an effort to make the KKK look like a "charitable organization" he funded the building of an orphanage, (which still stands as a school very near the then home of the Oberholzer family).The acting is good in this film and is an effort to tell an important story about a bad chapter in our Nation's history, but IMHO not enough effort was made to show the details of how Klan money had purchased the favors and even membership of local politicians into the Klans' tentacles. Anybody wanting to know things about the Klan should see this film, and understand that in the Twenties, the Klan was in it's zenith and held curb to curb marches even in our Nations' Capitol!

Most three hour movies, other than classics like "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly", tend to be so padded that they become tedious. I recommend "Cross of Fire'" as one of those rarities that maintains interest for the entire 185 minutes. John Heard gives a performance second only to his fantastic character "Alexander Cutter" in "Cutter's Way". This film is easily divided into two parts, the first with megalomaniac Heard rising to power within the Klu Klux Klan. The second, his trial for the rape and murder of an Indianopolis school teacher. The trial ultimately not only decides the fate of Heard, but of the Klan itself. - MERK

John Heard and Mel Harris both shine like new money in this excellent television film about a little known American monster D. C. Stephenson who was the leader of the KKK in 1920s Indiana. This is a man who was like Jim Jones in so many ways. He was utterly evil and without feelings BUT he was very charming and brilliant. I only learned of Stephenson's monstrous crime a few years ago watching a History channel special on the origins of the KKK. It is hard to believe that at one point in the 1920s, there were over 6 million members of the hooded order. Stephenson abducted Madge Oberholtzer (Harris's character) and repeatedly raped and brutalized her. He literally chewed her body like a cannibal. The doctor said it looked like a pack of wolves had mauled her. Heard is so chilling as this monster that you just pray for them to find him guilty. He honestly believes that he is above the law.

"Cross of Fire" tells the story of David C. Stephenson, a megalomaniac who rose to considerable power and notoriety as the head of the Indiana Ku Klux Klan in the early 1920's. A tour-de-force by Heard as Stephenson, this 3 hour journeyman miniseries moves along well laying out the biography and history during the first half and then bogs down in the middle, turning into a courtroom drama, as Stephenson is put on trial for murder. An okay watch for those interested in this footnote in American history which others may find a bit tedious.