The TV promos for "Scandal in a Small Town" lead viewers to think they were going to see Raquel Welch in something sexy with plenty of action (they touted her character as 'the town tease' and showed the sequence where she holds off an unruly mob on her porch with a gun), however the actual plot touches on much more. Welch is indeed a small-town tramp whom nobody has respect for, but she learns to have respect for herself when she stands up against the best-loved teacher at her daughter's school and accuses him of being anti-Semitic. OK, this isn't what the video-box promotes, but if you can get over that, this is a pretty good flick. Raquel's acting is very solid here and the sequence where she takes the stand in court is exceptionally strong. The townspeople call her dirty names, they attack her past, they terrify her daughter, but Welch sticks to her guns. It's a sincere characterization in a well-intentioned movie. Just don't expect any T&A.
Review of Scandal in a Small Town
Scandal in a Small Town
(1988 TV Movie)
Misleading ads, but a strong, sincere made-for-TV drama...
1 April 2001