Cries Unheard: The Donna Yaklich Story (TV 1994)

Donna Yaklich meets Dennis the policeman and thinks she might have found a good relationship. But Dennis is obsessed with weight-lifting and uses steroids, which make him aggressive and ... See full summary »

Director:

Armand Mastroianni

Writer:

Christopher Canaan

Stars:

Jaclyn Smith, Brad Johnson, Hilary Swank

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jaclyn Smith	...	Donna Yaklich
Brad Johnson	...	Dennis Yaklich
Hilary Swank	...	Patty Yaklich
David Lascher	...	Denny Yaklich - age 18
Carolyn McCormick	...	Susie
Andrew Lawrence	...	Denny Yaklich - age 5
Ramsay Midwood	...	Eddie Greenwell
Jason Kristofer	...	Charlie Greenwell
David Gianopoulos	...	Jerry
David Byron	...	Mike
Lisa Robin Kelly
Gary Hudson
Rosanna Huffman
David Cromwell
Tom Nibley

Storyline

Donna Yaklich meets Dennis the policeman and thinks she might have found a good relationship. But Dennis is obsessed with weight-lifting and uses steroids, which make him aggressive and abusive. Getting out of the relationship isn't easy as Dennis isn't willing to let her go, and Donna's options are narrowed down to one remaining alternative.

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Plot Keywords:

steroids | weightlifting | drug addict | bare chested male | drug addiction | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 February 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Victim of Rage

Filming Locations:

Newhall, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carla Singer Productions, World International Network (WIN)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Donna Yaklich: I need my pillow.
Dennis Yaklich: Get out.
Donna Yaklich: Why, are you talking to me like this?
Dennis Yaklich: I said, get out.
Donna Yaklich: [Asking, with tears in her eyes] What is wrong with you, Dennis?
Dennis Yaklich: I SAID, GET OUT!
[Throws beer can, at Donna's backside]
Donna Yaklich: OWW!
[in pain]

User Reviews

Cries Unheard: The Donna Yaklich Story

I remember my mom telling me a story about a women who was beaten to death by her husband in her hometown in Portsmouth, VA. Folks in the small neighborhood heard the man beating his wife. In fact, the beating was so severe that mom said it sounded as if he was chopping wood. However, it was during the era when people didn't interfere with a man "disciplining" his wife. The man got less than 5 years for the murder. Similar to the facts in the Donna Yaklich Story -- folks who could have made a difference stayed loyal to the old myth that what a man does with his woman is his "business" -- no matter how terrible. I'd like to think we've grown more as a society, however, my perception is that lawsuits against law enforcement agencies has been the main factor in changing laws that affect the abuse of women. As with everything else, it's a matter of money and politics. I wish Donna hadn't felt so helpless, and had taken greater steps to protect her life via the legal system.