Alongside the chance to revisit TV series we once grew up
with the invention of the DVD has provided us with a chance to revisit classic
movies from the past that at one time you had to stay awake for to catch on the
late late show. With first video and now disc those days are gone and if you’re
willing to buy or rent a movie you can see some of the best that the past has
to offer. Among those many films there are some smaller pictures, movies that
weren’t blockbusters and others that found an audience on TV rather than
theaters. They’re the diamonds in the rough that can now be rediscovered. THE
INCIDENT is one of those films.
The majority of the movie takes place in a single location,
a subway car in New York City. Before we board the train we’re introduced to
each of our characters. Joe Ferrone (Tony Musante) and Artie Connors (Martin
Sheen) are two young punk on the prowl late at night. Wasted and having beaten
an old man for $8, they head for the subway to find some place to continue
their revelry.
Next we meet Bill Wilks (Ed McMahon), his wife Helen (Diana
Van der Vlis) and their daughter Sally. Constantly complaining Bill refuses to
spend the money on a taxi to get home and insists they take the subway, boarding
a car with one broken door and only a drunk derelict in the same car. Next to
board are a young couple, Alice (Donna Mills) and Tony (Victor Goya). Tony has
complained that Alice won’t put out and she’s about to set her standards aside
to please him. We then meet Sam and Bertha Beckerman (Jack Gilford and Thelma
Ritter), an elderly Jewish couple with Sam angry at his son for not helping
them. Pfc. Phil Carmatti (Robert Bannard) and fellow soldier Pfc. Felix
Teflinger (Beau Bridges) board next on their way after a night with Carmatti’s
parents. Felix has his arm in a cast having broken it recently. Harry and
Muriel Purvis (Mike Kellin and Jan Sterling) get on next, a middle aged couple
where Harry is concerned about being a normal middle class worker and Muriel
wants a life of partying and glamor. Recovering alcoholic Douglas McCann (Gary
Merrill) hoping for a job boards the train to head to a potential interview the
next day. Kenneth Otis (Robert Fields), a homosexual who was attracted to
McCann and has followed him boards at the same time. And last to board the
train are black couple Arnold and Joan Robinson (Brock Peters and Ruby Dee).
Arnold is a frustrated bigot with plenty of hatred on hand while Joan sits
submissively. This cast of characters is assembled on board and together when
Joe and Artie board last.
From there the terrible twosome begin to intimidate and
harass all on board, moving from one to another as they shame each one. And
surprisingly no one stands up to them, instead each cowering in fear. Those who
do make a small attempt are shut down with the threatening menace both
antagonists let loose on them. Rather than band together each one backs down
and no one comes to help. Instead they ride the train, locked inside when Artie
jams the door preventing anyone from leaving. For Artie and Joe this is a joy
ride, a chance to make themselves feel superior to those involved. For the rest
it is a night of terror.
One thing of note that most will need reminded of is that
when this movie came out it was shortly after the events that took place in New
York City when twenty‐eight‐year‐o1d Catherine Genovese was murdered in the
courtyard of her apartment complex. Even though she screamed for help
repeatedly not one single person in the building came to her rescue or even
bothered to call the police during her attack which lasted some time. That
sense of being unwilling to help your fellow man permeates this film as the two
punks continue to push the buttons of each person on board.
The film works as social commentary and high drama. It holds
your interest from beginning to end, displaying the various characters who will
be riding the train and allowing you to either root for or against each of
them. The amount of time spent with each is minimal but provides enough of a
depiction of each to gather what they’re like. That’s a skilled item to note
for the writer of this film, Nicholas Baehr who worked on a large number of TV
series.
Director Larry Peerce also made his name in TV before taking
on several successful feature films. Those include GOODBYE COLUMBUS, A SEPARATE
PEACE, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN 1 & 2, THE BELL JAR and TWO-MINUTE
WARNING. His skill working with a variety of actors here is displayed quite
well. Getting each to provide a solid performance is testament to his
abilities.
What’s even more interesting to note here is the early
appearances of several actors who went on to bigger things combined with others
who were still around but less prominent. Tony Musante would go on to create
the TV series TOMA that lasted only one season before a name change and new
actor Robert Blake would make it the successful show BARETTA. Martin Sheen had
only done TV episodes prior to this but would become a major Hollywood star.
Donna Mills would go on to find fame and fortune on TV’s KNOTS LANDING. And
Beau Bridges would move on to a string of hit feature films including THE
LANDLORD, THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS and again with Larry Peerce THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE MOUNTAIN 1 and TWO-MINUTE WARNING.
Know going in that this isn’t a fun filled romp or enjoyable
ride on the NYC subway system. The film is a gritty depiction of life in the
city at that time and builds a nervous tension as the car rolls down the
tracks. Filmed in black and white, the use of which adds to the film rather
than detracts, the movie has that feeling of being somewhere you’d rather not
be but feel compelled to watch until the end of the ride. If you do you’ll find
you’ve made the right choice and hope you never find yourself in a similar situation.
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