Indictment: The McMartin Trial
| Indictment: The McMartin Trial | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Distributed by | mediacs AG |
| Directed by | Mick Jackson |
| Produced by | Diana Pokorny |
| Written by |
Abby Mann Myra Mann |
| Starring |
Lolita Davidovich Shirley Knight Mercedes Ruehl Henry Thomas Sada Thompson James Woods Nicollette Sheridan Roberta Bassin |
| Music by | Peter Rodgers Melnick |
| Cinematography | Rodrigo García |
| Editing by | Richard A. Harris |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Release date |
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| Running time | 135 minutes |
Indictment: The McMartin Trial is a film made for television that originally aired on HBO on May 20, 1995. Indictment is based on the true story of the McMartin preschool trial.
Summary
A defense lawyer (played by James Woods) defends an average American family from shocking allegations of child abuse and satanic rituals. After seven years and $16 million, the trial ends with the dismissal of all charges.
Reception
John J. O'Connor, writing for The New York Times:
| “ | This is a portrait of mass hysteria, fueled by panic-stricken parents, overzealous prosecutors, irresponsible talk shows and an out-of-control tabloid press..."Is Indictment balanced? Is it fair to the other side? No. As Mr. [Abby] Mann puts it, "What other side?" Watch it and shudder."[1] | ” |
Also writing for The New York Times, Seth Mydans said:
| “ | The film makes no pretense at objectivity: There are good guys in the McMartin saga, and there are very, very bad guys..." He adds "Nor does the film try to examine difficult issues. It is a drama not so much about the painful process of assessing children's stories of abuse or about the fear and guilt their parents feel but about the destructiveness of a system run amok.[2] | ” |
Impact
The film is cited as a watershed in the shift of ideas about satanic ritual abuse in the United States, recasting Ray Buckey as a victim of a hysterical conspiracy rather than a child abuser.[3]
References
- ↑ O'Connor, John J. (1995-05-19). "The Horrors Behind The McMartin Trial". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
- ↑ Mydans, Seth (1995-05-14). "A Child-Abuse Case, in the Eyes of the Accused". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
- ↑ Baringer, S (2004). The metanarrative of suspicion in late twentieth century America. Routledge. p. 71. ISBN 0-415-97076-8.
External links
- Indictment: The McMartin Trial at the Internet Movie Database
- Indictment: The McMartin Trial at AllMovie
- Indictment: The McMartin Trial at Rotten Tomatoes
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