Fatal Vision (TV 1984)

A retiree spends nine years relentlessly seeking to prove that his son-in-law, a former Green Beret Army doctor, murdered his pregnant wife and two children.

Director:

David Greene

Writers:

John Gay (teleplay), Joe McGinniss (based upon the book by)

Stars:

Karl Malden, Eva Marie Saint, Barry Newman

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Karl Malden	...	Freddy Kassab
Eva Marie Saint	...	Mildred Kassab
Barry Newman	...	Bernie Segal
Gary Cole	...	Capt. Jeffrey MacDonald, MD
Andy Griffith	...	Victor Worheide
Gary Grubbs	...	James Blackburn
Joel Polis	...	Brian Murtagh
Mitch Ryan	...	Paul Strombaugh
Wendy Schaal	...	Colette MacDonald
Scott Paulin	...	William Ivory
Barry Corbin	...	Franz Grebner
Albert Salmi	...	Judge Dupree
Alexandra Johnson	...	Helena Stoeckley
Paddi Edwards	...	Mrs. Perry MacDonald
Frank Dent	...	Joe McGinniss

Storyline

Captain Jeff MacDonald, a renowned and an ambitious surgeon at Fort Bragg army base, appears to be a happily married father of two. When the MP enter MacDonald's house in response to his desperate emergency call they find him injured and his wife and daughters murdered. He reports a gang of drugged 'hippies' raided the house and attacked the family. As a massive search for the suspects yields no leads, investigators focus on some inconsistencies in MacDonald's account and he becomes their prime suspect.

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Plot Keywords:

father in law | murder | two part tv movie | ice pick | flashback | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Död i dimma dold

Company Credits

Production Co:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

200 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jeffrey MacDonald hoped/assumed that the novel 'Fatal Vision' would support his innocence. However, when the book was published, MacDonald realized that the author, Joe McGinniss, had concluded that he was, in fact, guilty. MacDonald sued McGinniss for fraud and the case was settled out of court. He and his supporters still blame the novel and resulting movie for tainting the public's image of MacDonald and the murders.

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Connections

References Easy Rider (1969)

User Reviews

Have to vote for acquittal

There has been so much written about the MacDonald case that it's hard to find an objective opinion. There is indeed circumstantial evidence to convict MacDonald, but there are many troubling aspects of the case, including the lack of any coherent motive.

Those who believe in his guilt claim he's a sociopath, but this is largely based on Joe McGinniss' book, "Fatal Vision" and the TV movie. However his (McGinniss) credibility has been severely compromised through the years, the most recent example being his book on Sarah Palin, which has been condemned even by those hostile to her. There has been no psychological evaluation proving MacDonald capable of such a brutal murder, and his actions before and after the murders likewise do not support that theory.

DNA hair evaluation has been inconclusive, showing hairs with MacDonald's DNA but also showing that others were in the apartment.

Did MacDonald murder his family? He could have . . . but I would not judge him on the basis on a TV-movie obviously biased against him, and written by an author whose objectivity has been discredited.

Based on what I know, I would have to find MacDonald innocent. The prosecution simply has not proved his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, as it must do according to our laws.