| Small Sacrifices | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | David Greene |
| Written by | Ann Rule (book) Joyce Eliason |
| Starring | Farrah Fawcett Ryan O'Neal John Shea Gordon Clapp Emily Perkins |
| Release date(s) | November 12, 1989 |
| Running time | 159 mins |
Small Sacrifices is a 1989 made-for-TV movie based on the best-selling true crime book by Ann Rule of the same name. The film is about Diane Downs and the murder and attempted murder of her three children. It stars Farrah Fawcett, Ryan O'Neal, Gordon Clapp, John Shea and Emily Perkins. The film premiered on ABC on 12 November 1989.[1]
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On 19 May 1983 at approximately 10:48 p.m, Downs (portrayed by Fawcett) drove to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in Springfield, Oregon with a gunshot wound to her arm.[2] She claimed that an unknown assailant attempted to carjack her and shot her three children: Karen, 8 (real name Christie Ann); Shauna, 7 (Cheryl Lynn); and Robby, 3 (Stephen Daniel). Shauna was dead on arrival at the hospital. Eldest daughter Karen was badly injured, but survived suffering a temporary loss of speech due to a stroke after the shooting, but recovered sufficiently to serve as a witness in court against her mother. Diane's son was paralyzed from the chest down. Downs was eventually tried and convicted of murder, attempted murder, and assault.
The film shows that Downs started a romance with a man, but he discontinued the relationship as he did not want children. Downs planned to kill her children to be free to pursue this relationship.
Diane Downs is sentenced to life in prison, and her two surviving children are adopted by the prosecutor Frank Joziak and his wife Lola (the real life couple were named Fred and Joanne Hugi). The children are depicted being reunited with their mother for the first time, fifteen years after the shooting. In reality the children have not seen their mother since the shooting, with the exception of the surviving daughter's court appearance.
Downs' children Christie, Cheryl and Danny were renamed Karen, Shauna and Robbie for the film. The prosecutor and his wife who later adopted Christie and Danny were also renamed.
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