A Death in California (1985) (TV)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Delbert Mann

Writers:

Joan Barthel (book)
E. Jack Neuman (writer)

Release Date:

12 May 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A Beverly Hills socialite embarks on a love/hate relationship with a psychotic businessman who murdered her fiance and then raped and terrorized her which leads to a bizarre trial. |

Plot Keywords:

Trial | Socialite | Beverly Hills California | Sociopath | Murder

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Cheryl Ladd	...	Hope Masters
Sam Elliott	...	D. Jordan Williams
Alexis Smith	...	Honey Niven
Fritz Weaver	...	Van Niven
John Ashton	...	Det. Bob Swalwell
Barry Corbin	...	Asst. Dist. Atty. Jim Heusdens
Jim Haynie	...	Dob Fowler
Kerrie Keane	...	Shannon Foley
William Lucking	...	Dan Ward
Joel Polis	...	Tom Breslin
George Wyner	...	Joe Haley
Granville Van Dusen	...	Richard Morgan
Liam Sullivan	...	Ned Nelson
Chad Allen	...	Glenn
John McLiam	...	Judge Carter

Also Known As:

Psychopath (USA) (video title)

Runtime:

240 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16

Company:

Lorimar Telepictures

Movie Connections:

Features "Lassie" (1954)

Hope's motivation

I know very well what Hope's motivation was in cooperating with Walker, since I worked with her for months on this story.

She was most of all concerned for the welfare of her children, whom Walker had threatened, as well her own safety.

Since he was demonstrably a killer -- a shot in her boyfriend's head proved that -- she had every reason to believe he'd fulfill his threats to her and her kids. She cooperated the same way any prisoner does with terrorist captors: do what it takes to survive.

She wasn't some unwitting or dimwitted airhead. Survival was her motivation and she succeeded. How well or how poorly the film showed that is for others to say.