This well-made TV miniseries suffers a bit from the restrictions that are inherent in made-for-network fare, but is thoroughly watchable due to excellent period detail and interesting early performances by many of today's recognizable TV and film stars. The story is set in the fictional southern town of Delano, and depicts the horrific (and, unfortunately, believable) goings-on in a backward and racist young American city. The ensemble cast includes, among others, Stephen Collins (noble and understated), Brad Davis (terrifically villainous), and Charlton Heston (as the narrator and symbolic conscience of the film). John Goodman appears as a clueless officer who gets his comeuppance in a played-for-laughs scene involving mistaken identity. The main problem with the plot line of "Chiefs" is that most of the exposition is devoid of suspense. Many "red herrings" are revealed along the way, and thus the viewer is left to watch a thoroughly predictable (and yet , frankly, quite enjoyable) tale of a fledgling community's struggles between a vicious, callous "old guard" and a newer, enlightened community. 3-and-a-half (out of 5) on the Corkymeter.
