A Stranger in Town

A Stranger in Town is a 1998 drama television movie featuring Harry Hamlin, Rebecca Jenkins, and Graham Greene. At its core, the film explores themes of mystery, intrigue, community relationships, and the clash between urban and rural sensibilities.

Harry Hamlin stars as Jack Steward, a successful big-city lawyer who, feeling disillusioned with his corporate life, decides to venture into the tranquillity of the rural countryside. He is tired of defending wealthy corporations against the little guys and needs a change of scenery and pace. Throughout the story, we see this character grapple with the struggle between traditional city life and the much slower, close-knit community-oriented lifestyle of a small town.

Rebecca Jenkins plays Ruth Simmons, a proud, independent, single mother who runs the town diner. Ruth struggles with trust, especially towards out-of-towners, as she fears they bring with them the chaos and troubles of city life she has intentionally avoided. However, her character is also dynamic and deeply compassionate, showing resilience in the face of adversity. The complex relationship she builds with Jack drives much of the film's tension and emotional depth.

Graham Greene portrays a quietly wise character named Will, the town's mechanic. Will is a prime example of the typical small-town individual - he knows everyone and everything that happens in the town. However, he retains an aura of mystery about him, and his past is only known in bits and pieces, adding suspense to the narrative.

The film's title, A Stranger in Town, aptly represents Jack, who upon his arrival, finds himself a fish out of water in the small community. The story unfolds as Jack adjusts to life in the small town, growing to appreciate the tight-knit community's dynamics and the simple pleasures of rural living. There are alcohol-infused nights at the local pub, charming potluck dinners, pancake breakfasts, and high school football games. Yet, even as Jack begins to acclimate, he ends up attracting a fair amount of suspicion and hostility from the town's folk, who resist change and fear what the "stranger" might bring with him from the city.

A Stranger in Town takes its time to build its narrative, choosing to focus on developing strong, realistic characters. Each character holds a complex history and distinct personality traits that influence the unfolding events. This allows viewers to become emotionally invested in their stories, amplifying the impact of the plot's more dramatic moments.

While on the surface, A Stranger in Town seems to be a slow-paced story about a city professional in a rural environment, the plot becomes incrementally imbued with a series of undercurrents involving intrigue, secrets, corruption, and redemption. This expert weaving of different genres creates a unique watching experience that captures the viewer's attention from beginning to end.

Director Stuart Margolin does an outstanding job in his portrayal of small-town America. He artfully dramatizes the genuine idiosyncrasies and charm of small-town living while maintaining enough reality to ground the viewers in the storyline. The film aesthetic is filled with natural light, serene landscape shots, and rustic cityscapes that emphasize the organic beauty of the town and its form of life.

A Stranger in Town is a thoughtful exploration of the urban-rural divide, sprinkled with humor, warmth, and a dash of mystery. The performances, led by Harry Hamlin's effective portrayal of a man wrestling with his conscience and searching for a more meaningful existence, are compelling. Rebecca Jenkins, Graham Greene, and the supporting cast also contribute significantly to the film's charm.

In the end, A Stranger in Town captures the struggles, joys and unexpected turns of life in a small town while offering a perspective on the societal dynamics that can form in such cozy environments. With its heartwarming charm and thoughtful execution, this drama makes for an engaging watch that leaves viewers contemplating their sense of community and the contrasting ways of life in urban and rural settings.