Dark Forces

Rating:
Summary: Robert Powell as a Harlequin with special powers.
Review: Alex (Mark Spain) is a nine-year old who is ill with Leukemia. Robert Powell (Jesus of Nazereth [1977]) plays a clown at his birthday party and tries to cheer him up. Alex's father, Nick (David Hemmings) is a Senator who could become the next Deputy Governor. The clown also known as a Harlequin while he has a gift of performing magic for children and is able to produce thunder from the sky at will, the boy has become quite taken by the clown. After paying a surprise appearance to the sick boy with clown make-up, the family soon realizes this man, "Gregory", has special healing powers for the boy. However he has evil powers for others.
Released in 1980. Original Title: HARLEQUIN

Rating:
Summary: Robert Powell as a Harlequin with special powers.
Review: Alex (Mark Spain) is a nine-year old who is ill with Leukemia. Robert Powell (Jesus of Nazereth [1977]) plays a clown at his birthday party and tries to cheer him up. Alex's father, Nick (David Hemmings) is a Senator who could become the next Deputy Governor. The clown also known as a Harlequin while he has a gift of performing magic for children and is able to produce thunder from the sky at will, the boy has become quite taken by the clown. After paying a surprise appearance to the sick boy with clown make-up, the family soon realizes this man, "Gregory", has special healing powers for the boy. However he has evil powers for others.
Released in 1980. Original Title: HARLEQUIN

Rating:
Summary: Yea! This undiscovered gem gets the treatment it deserves!
Review: Known in the rest of the world as HARLEQUIN, this modern mystical "Svengali" story with a twist has never had a decent home video release. Shot in expressive widescreen Panavision it doesn't translate well to indifferent pan & scan jobs, like the OOP VHS and U.K. cheapie DVD. Elite has issued a very nice looking 16X9 enhanced scope version with Director and Producer commentary, a nice and informative touch.

David Hemmings, a political hotshot, has a terminally ill son who seems to magically improve under the (seemingly) benign influence of a modern "court jester", (Robert Powell) who appears at his son's birthday party as a clown and ends up insinuating his way into a position of influence with his wife and child. If this sounds very Rasputin-like it is, but the story has a few surprises along the way.

If you've never seen this gem and like subtle and tense supernatural / suspense stories give it a try.