"The Atlanta Child Murders" (1985) TV mini-series

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

John Erman

Writer:

Abby Mann (writer)

Release Date:

10 February 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

The city of Atlanta, Georgia, is terrorized by a rash of child murders occurring in its black community...

Plot Keywords:

Atlanta Georgia | Child Murder | Murder | Serial Child Killer | Evidence

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win

Cast

Calvin Levels	...	Wayne Williams
Morgan Freeman	...	Ben Shelter
James Earl Jones	...	Major Walker
Rip Torn	...	Lewis Slaton
Jason Robards	...	Alvin Binder
Lynne Moody	...	Selena Cobb
Ruby Dee	...	Faye Williams
Gloria Foster	...	Camille Bell
Paul Benjamin	...	Homer Williams
Martin Sheen	...	Chet Dettlinger
Andrew Robinson	...	Jack Mallard
Christopher Allport	...	Larry Peterson
Guy Boyd	...	Mike Edwards
Gary Graham	...	Ken Lawson
Bill Paxton	...	Campbell

Runtime:

245 min | 60 min (4 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 (episodes 1-2) | Iceland:L (episode 3-4)

Company:

Finnegan/Pinchuk Productions

Trivia:

These murders prompted the first extensive use of serial killer profiling and forensic fiber analysis.

a good film, but Wayne Williams is guilty!

This was a very gripping and well-made tv film about the real life serial murder case that rocked Atlanta in the early 1980's. A deranged killer held the whole city in the icy grip of fear like the Son of Sam did in New York. This film is like Dragnet in its no-nonsense telling of the murders and the horror that rocked a nation. It has an unusually distinguished cast that all give fine performances. Morgan Freeman, Rip Torn, Jason Robards and Andrew Robinson (who was the killer in Dirty Harry). However, this film falls into an all familiar Hollywood liberal trap after Wayne Williams arrest and its depiction of his trial. It tries to convince you that Wayne Williams was like an innocent little boy who was railroaded and put away. It tries to convince you that he was innocent. To this day, he is appealing his sentence. I want to tell all of you something right here and now. WAYNE WILLIAMS IS WHERE HE BELONGS!!!HE IS THE ATLANTA CHILD KILLER!!!!HE DID IT CASE CLOSED!!!There is a brilliant book that I read recently called Mindhunter by John Douglas who is a retired FBI Agent. Mister Douglas was a pioneer in profiling of serial killers, creating a psychological profile of the monsters who deal in mass murder. He helped the prosecution in the trial of Wayne Williams. First of all, Williams fit the profile of the Atlanta killer like a glove. He was a police buff who tried to get himself involved in the investigation. These sick guys subconsciously want to get caught you know. There were hair and fibers found in his automobile that matched the victims exactly. I mean people, if there is that kind of evidence against you THAT IS IT!!!I will tell you something else from Wayne William's trial that is not generally well known. PLEASE PASS IT ON!!!John Douglas conferred with the prosecutor before he cross examined Williams and he told him how to do it. He said to hit him hard and stand close to him. The prosecutor followed this strategy and at one point, he said to Williams "What was it like when you wrapped your hands around their throats Wayne? What was it like? Did you panic?" Before he could catch himself, Williams stammered out "NO". Did you get this folks? HE CONFESSED ON THE STAND THAT HE DID IT!!!!Then Williams went as and started screaming at the prosecutor. The jury couldn't believe it! They said afterwards that was the turning point. Wayne Williams made a full confession as far as I am concerned. The bastard did it and he is lucky to have escaped with a life sentence CASE CLOSED!!!!However, this is a fine film. Jason Robards gives a fine performance as the defense attorney. He almost reminds me of Clarence Darrow. He was a hero in real life as well. He was in the Pearl Harbor attack and won the Navy Cross for bravery. God bless you Mister Robards and sleep well.