A young woman, portrayed by Kim Darby, accepts a teaching position in a remote Southwestern community nestled within the rolling hills. As she settles in, she begins to notice unusual aspects about the locals, such as children who seem reluctant and an atmosphere of secrecy. William Shatner appears as the town doctor, another newcomer to the area. “The People” (1972) draws from Zenna Henderson's 'People' stories, initially published in 1961 ("Pottage" from "Pilgrimage: The Book of the People"). It was originally intended as a pilot episode for an unproduced television series, but it functions well on its own as a gentle, slow-moving rural drama. The film presents a unique premise and accompanying odd occurrences that I’ll refrain from detailing. It's easy to imagine Stephen King drawing inspiration from Henderson's narratives when he wrote “Carrie,” though this isn’t really a horror movie—it does include some peculiar and bizarre elements. It seems likely King may have borrowed concepts from Zenna’s "The People" for his more well-known story. The film evokes the feel of Star Trek’s early episodes, specifically “This Side of Paradise,” along with the forthcoming series Little House on the Prairie. Darby was 24 years old during filming and noticeably slender, but still charming. She had previously collaborated with Shatner in the Star Trek episode "Miri" when she was eighteen. The music was composed by Carmine Coppola, father of Francis Ford Coppola, who also produced the film through his company, American Zoetrope. The movie is brief, running for just one hour and thirteen minutes, and was filmed in Nicasio—a roughly forty-minute drive north of the Golden Gate Bridge (where the schoolhouse scenes were shot)—and San Rafael, approximately twelve to fifteen miles southeast of Nicasio. GRADE: B-/C+

Source on TMDB