Indictment: The McMartin Trial (1995) (TV)

Director:

Mick Jackson

Writers (WGA):

Abby Mann (written by) &
Myra Mann (written by)

Release Date:

20 May 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

The McMartin family's lives are turned upside down when they are accused of serious child molestation...

Plot Keywords:

Trial | Child Molestation | Children | School | Law

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 5 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

James Woods	...	Danny Davis
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Lael Rubin
Lolita Davidovich	...	Kee McFarlane
Sada Thompson	...	Virginia McMartin
Henry Thomas	...	Ray Buckey
Shirley Knight	...	Peggy Buckey
Mark Blum	...	Wayne Satz
Alison Elliott	...	Peggy Ann Buckey
Chelsea Field	...	Christine Johnson
Joe Urla	...	Glenn Stevens
Scott Waara	...	Dean Gits
Valerie Wildman	...	Diana Sullivan
Richard Bradford	...	Ira Reiner
Roberta Bassin	...	Judy Johnson
Patricia Belcher	...	Juror #1

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic language and disturbing visuals related to a trial.

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | USA:R | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Abby Mann Productions

Trivia:

The real-life Peggy McMartin Buckey, imprisoned for two years while awaiting the outcome of the most protracted U.S. criminal molestation case targeting her family's preschool, died December 15, 2000. She, her mother Virginia McMartin and her son Ray Buckey were charged, with four others, with 100 counts of child molestation in 1983. The case lasted seven years and cost Los Angeles County $13 million. Peggy was acquitted in 1990 after a three-year trial; Ray, incarcerated for five years, was acquitted of 40 counts. Critics said the case pinpointed the danger of basing criminal charges solely on the testimony of young children.

Movie Connections:

Features "60 Minutes" (1968)

A study of human nature.

This movie reveals the nature of man so well. It is a portrait of us human beings under pressure, psychologically, socially, economically and egoistically. It is mindboggling in this movie to see how we demand scapegoats, even in the name of justice. There's one line in the movie that sums the problem up, 'People doesn't listen to God. People listen to TV.' The power of media is being displayed like never before and we get an insight in how the justicesystem is influenced by this. The movie deals with one of the most difficult subjects there is to the modern day american, childrape, and in the light of this we get to follow how blinded we become in the search of someone to release our fears, angers and frustrations on. The McMartin Trial should be mandatory in psychology and socialpsychology classes. It is brilliant, tremendously touching and after the film is over you might have some serious pondering ahead of you. This is not entertainment, this is real life!