Billionaire Boys Club (film)

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Billionaire Boys Club is a two-part TV movie that aired on NBC in 1987. It told the story of the Billionaire Boys Club, and its founder, Joe Hunt, who was convicted in 1987 of murdering con-man Ron Levin. The film was written Gy Waldron and directed by Marvin J. Chomsky.

Cast

The film starred Judd Nelson as Hunt, Brian McNamara as Dean Karny, and Ron Silver as Ron Levin. Other cast members included Frederic Lehne, John Stockwell, Barry Tubb, Raphael Sbarge, Jill Schoelen, Stan Shaw, John Dye, and James Sloyan. Since criminal charges were pending against other Billionaire Boys Club members, the film changed their names.

Controversy

Hunt sued NBC in attempt to block the network from airing the film, alleging that it would prejudice potential jurors in his upcoming second murder trial.^[1] Hunt's suit was unsuccessful, and the film was broadcast. NBC's promos for Billionaire Boys Club called it "the show Joe Hunt doesn't want you to see."^[2] Brandon Tartikoff, the head of NBC entertainment, said that while he did not regret airing the film, the promos for it were indeed poor in taste.

Connection to the Menendez murder case

Erik Menendez and Lyle Menendez watched a rebroadcast of Billionaire Boys Club in 1989, and it may have inspired them to murder their parents.^[3]

Awards

Billionaire Boys Club was nominated for four Emmys: Outstanding Miniseries, Outstanding Directing in a Miniseries or Special, Outstanding Writing in a Miniseries or Special, and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Special for Ron Silver.

It was nominated for two Golden Globes: Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie (Judd Nelson) and Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie (Brian McNamara).

DVD

A&E Entertainment has released the film on DVD.

References

External links

• Billionaire Boys Club at the Internet Movie Database