The Preppie Murder (1989) (TV)

Director:

John Herzfeld

Writers (WGA):

Irv Roud (story)
John Herzfeld (teleplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 September 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

This is the story of a young woman who was found dead. Now the police investigate, and evidence points to a man she was seen leaving a party with...

Plot Keywords:

Death | Sex | Trial | Murder | Police

Cast

Danny Aiello	...	Det. Mike Sheehan
William Baldwin	...	Robert Chambers
Joanna Kerns	...	Linda Fairstein
Lara Flynn Boyle	...	Jennifer Levin
Dorothy Fielding	...	Phyllis Chambers
James Handy	...	Detective Joe Brady Quinn
William Devane	...	Jack Litman
Allan Arbus	...	Arnold Domenitz, Grandfather
Christine Healy	...	Ellen Levin, Mother
Herb Mitchell	...	Robert Chambers Sr.
J.C. Quinn	...	Jack Dorrian
Alan Blumenfeld
Thalmus Rasulala	...	Judge Bell
Alan Rosenberg	...	Dan Levin, Uncle
David Spielberg	...	Steven Levin, Father
Mike Girard Sheehan	...	Lt. John Doyle (as Mike Sheehan)
Rafael Abramovitz	...	Himself
Diedrich Bader	...	Peter
Sandra Bullock	...	Stacy
Steve Dunleavy	...	Himself
Lisanne Falk	...	Alex LaGatta
Amanda Foreman	...	Larissa
Tuesday Knight	...	Shawn Kovell
Emily Kuroda	...	Reporter
Andrew Lauer	...	Josh
Maya Lebenzon	...	Missy
Noelle Parker	...	Betsy
Tony Polone	...	Casey
Perrey Reeves	...	Lauren (as Perry Reeves)
Suzanne Snyder	...	Kim
Leonard Termo	...	Griggs
Dierk Torsek	...	Dr. Spitz
Kim Walker	...	Candace
Rick Aiello	...	Policeman (as Ricky Aiello)
Alvin Alexis	...	David Fillyaw
Kurt Andon	...	Polumbo
John Apicella	...	Dr. Kornblum
Michael Becker	...	Reporter
Josh Devane	...	Young Reporter
Rodney Eastman	...	Jersey
David Goldstein	...	Howe
Francis Guinan	...	Kendris
Yolanda Jilot	...	Foreign Journalist
DeWitt Kirk	...	Court Clerk
Ava Lazar	...	Reporter
Mary Mara	...	Susan Bird
Paula McClure	...	TV Reporter
Michael Melon	...	Reporter
Michael Miller	...	Reporter
John Mullally	...	Nightwatch Det.
Bryan Shane	...	Reporter
Lisa Specht	...	Reporter
Kim Terry	...	Arlene Levin (as Kim Terry-Costin)
Joe Wizan	...	Mr. Maitland
Lauren Scionti	...	Chambermaid #1
Nicole Hansen	...	Chambermaid #2
Lisa Petruno	...	Chambermaid #3 (as Lisa Patruno)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maury Povich	...	Himself (uncredited)

Directed by
John Herzfeld

Writing credits (WGA)
Irv Roud		(story)
John Herzfeld		(teleplay) and
Irv Roud		(teleplay)

Produced by
Sydell Albert	....	producer
Jack Grossbart	....	executive producer
Paul Pompian	....	producer

Original Music by
Chris Isaak
Simon Rogers

Cinematography by
Steven Shaw		(as Steve Shaw)

Film Editing by
Janet Bartels-Vandagriff		(as Janet Bartels)

Casting by
Judith Weiner

Production Design by
Michael Helmy

Set Decoration by
Timaree McCormick

Costume Design by
Hilary Wright

Makeup Department
Ma Kalaadevi Ananda	....	makeup artist: New York (as Marilyn Carbone)
Deborah Figuly	....	makeup artist
Susan J. Kelber	....	hair stylist (as Susan Kelber)
Ann Pala	....	makeup artist
Anthony Sorrentino	....	hair stylist: New York

Production Management
Scott Maitland	....	production manager: New York
Robert Bennett Steinhauer	....	production manager: Los Angeles

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dana J. Kuznetzkoff	....	second assistant director: New York (as Dana Kuznestzkoff)
Scott Maitland	....	first assistant director
Patrick Regan	....	second assistant director (as Pat Regan)

Art Department
Jay Jergensen	....	construction coordinator
Kevin Milburn	....	property master
Scott Moore	....	property master: New York

Sound Department
Walter Goss	....	sound re-recording mixer
Larry Hoff	....	production sound mixer: New York
Frank Jones	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Kirschner	....	production sound mixer
Rex Slinkard	....	sound re-recording mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Randall Burak	....	gaffer
Peter Chrimes	....	key grip
Paul M. Pollard	....	camera operator
Paul Villandry	....	best boy grip

Casting Department
Betsy Cohen	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barbara Hause	....	wardrobe supervisor: New York
Julie Rhine	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Mark Gerstein	....	apprentice film editor
Melissa Wye	....	additional film editing

Transportation Department
Harry J. Leavey	....	transportation captain: New York (as Harry Leavey)
James 'Obee' Oberman	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Moshe Bardach	....	location manager: : New York (as Moe Bardach)
Eva Z. Cabrera	....	script supervisor: New York (as Eva Cabrera)
Lisa Etherington	....	production accountant
Tom Farmer	....	location manager
Krista Larson	....	assistant production accountant
Deborah Lee	....	location manager: New York
Soomi Marano	....	production coordinator: New York
Vera Martin	....	production coordinator
Lauren Scionti	....	assistant production coordinator
Mike Girard Sheehan	....	technical advisor (as Mike Sheehan)
Jules Stewart	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Jack Grossbart Productions
• Preppie Productions
• Spectacor Films
• Sydell Albert Productions (executive producer)

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1989) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Other Companies

• Complete Post  telecine transfer
• David Hale Associates  title design
• Makimar Films  post-production sound services
• Oberman, Tivoli, Miller & Low  accounting firm
• Title House  opticals (as Title House Inc.)
• Windsong Productions  music editing

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M

Company:

Jack Grossbart Productions

Goofs:

Anachronisms: "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak is featured in several scenes, including discos and Robert playing it in his bedroom, but the song was not released until 1989, 3 years after the murder.

Movie Connections:

Features "A Current Affair" (1986)

Soundtrack:

You've Got It All

An Unforgettable Crime in a Forgettable Movie!

Okay, the film was not that great but the story of the preppy murderer, Robert Chambers, played by William Baldwin in a chilling performance. Lara Flynn Boyle plays Jennifer Levin, the victim of the crime. Chambers was the son of a New York City nanny/housekeeper of prominent East Side families who wanted her son to have the same advantages as John F. Kennedy Jr. and Jennifer Levin was a true New Yorker from a family who was well-to-do. He was from the wrong side of the tracks while she was from the right side of the tracks. Her life would end tragically one night in Central Park. Joanna Kerns took a break from her role as Maggie Malone Seaver on Growing Pains to play Linda Fairstein, the prosecutor, and I believe she did a service to the role. The case itself was on the cover People magazine and the New York City tabloids. Of course, Robert Chambers was a good looking man and too nice to be a killer but I think that was why the case brought so much attention. If you have attractive people like Chambers and Levin, you want to know why. If they were unattractive, I think that we would not care for it.