The Whole World Is Watching (1969) (TV)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Richard A. Colla

Writers:

Richard Levinson (writer)
William Link (writer)

Release Date:

11 March 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Burl Ives	...	Walter Nichols
Joseph Campanella	...	Brian Darrell
James Farentino	...	Neil Darrell
Hal Holbrook	...	Chancellor Graham
Steve Ihnat	...	Officer Platt
Stephen McNally	...	Governor
Richard Ely	...	Gil Bennett
Dennis Olivieri	...	Ed Shepp
Roy Poole	...	Jim Church
Dana Elcar	...	Huston
Carrie Snodgress	...	Megan Baker
Eileen Wesson	...	Debbie
Kermit Murdock	...	Second Judge
Juanita Moore	...	Mrs. Harberson
Charles Brewer	...	Student Witness

Runtime:

Sweden:105 min | USA:97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Movie Connections:

Follows The Sound of Anger (1968) (TV)

Great Period Piece of 1969

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This made for television movie was the pilot for "The Lawyers" segment of the series "The Bold Ones". It's a nifty whodunit set at a university during a student takeover of the administration building. The university is unnamed, but some of the exteriors were filmed at USC.

Officer Platt (Steve Inhat) has a confrontation with student leader Gil Bennett (Rick Ely) on the administration building's roof, then falls (or is pushed) to his death. Against their better judgment, Burl Ives' law firm takes his case. Lawyers (and brothers) James Farentino and Joseph Campanella fight the prosecution (and each other) trying to prove Gil's innocence. Various witnesses recollect the roof confrontation differently (shown via flashbacks). Gil's best friend (played by Dennis Olivieri) is a radical who looks something like Che Guevara -- does he have an ulterior motive for telling a different version than Gil's?

Meanwhile, the students stage a sit-in on the steps of the courthouse where Gil is being tried. Carrie Snodgress (in a good turn as Gil's girlfriend) even gets to sing a hippie ballad ("The Sum of One") to the protesting students! Hal Holbrook has a great turn as the beleaguered university chancellor (earning him an Emmy nomination). Excellent performances and plot, and a real "period piece" of the Late Sixties! Watch it if you can find it on TV!