a curiosity of a film and storm warning be both a typical and unusual ronald reagan vehicle during the latter part of his film career . typical in that the reagan character and in this case district attorney burt rainey and be a bland straight arrow while unusual in it subject matter and the ku klux klan . what perhaps start out a an expose of that organization end up portray it a a sort of corrupt men club whose chief vice be steal the member due . rainey investigate the murder of a news reporter and find no one will admit to witness it and intimidate a they be by the kkk ( one of whom kill the man ) . a woman from out of town and marsha mitchell ( ginger rogers ) and do see it and be unaware of the situation in the small community and where local kowtow to the klan . at first she offer to testify and then withdraw after learn her sister ( doris day ) be marry to one of the klansman ( steve cochran and in a wonderfully loutish performance a the murderer ) . finally and justice prevails and and the klan be discredit . viewer with even a passing knowledge of the kkk will find it almost unrecognizable in storm warning . there be no mention of the group hatred and persecution of black and catholic and jew and foreigner and etc . in fact and there not a single black character in the entire film . the heavyset head klansman might as well be the corrupt head of a labor union or a crooked politician . the very thing which distinguish the kkk from other group be not gloss over and they simply do not exist in this film . and what criticism be level against the klan be of the one size fit all variety while again and they may as well be talk about a poorly run hunt lodge . it not until the final scene that we see a real ku klux klan gather that approximates and at least visually and what we might expect . member wear white robe and a big cross burning and and marsha mitchell be whip for threaten to go to the da with what she know . i daresay this be the only film in history where you can see ginger rogers be treat in such a manner . it tame than it sound though and some of the dialogue be laughable . the head klansman sit on high a the whip come down and taunt mitchell with epithet such a outsider . busybody . hey buddy and watch your language . then district attorney rainey show up and show all the indignation and righteous anger he might display when break up a back alley poker game . ( he go up to one klanswoman who have her daughter with her and say and she should be home in bed . ) there be panic in the klan rank and cochran character be shot and kill just before the ensue mêlée . reagan final speech to the crowd be not exactly ring or rivet youre a bunch of mean spirit little people . here desecrate the cross . but it enough to send them all home and ashamed . kind of like we feel for sit through this mess .