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:

Children | Trial | Child Molestation | Law | School

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
Gabrielle Boni	...	Tara
Kathy Brock	...	Sybil Brand Deputy (as Kathryn Brock)
Betsy Brockhurst	...	Angry Parent
Dennis Burkley	...	George Freeman
Katsy Chappell	...	Denise
Richelle Churchill	...	Rubin's Secretary
Blake Molino Clausen	...	Kid #5
Bob Clendenin	...	Soundman (as Robert Clendenin)
Sally Crawford	...	Betty Raidor
James Cromwell	...	Judge Pounders
Leigh Curran	...	Faye
Gregg Daniel	...	T.V. Reporter
Kadina de Elejalde	...	Sandy (as Kadina Delejalde)
Betty Donner	...	Mary Ann Jackson
Zack Eginton	...	Sam (as Zachary Eginton)
Cassidy Ellis	...	Heather
Ramsey Ellis	...	Jonathan
Sean Emslie	...	Bailiff
Jack English	...	Chuck Buckey
Nicole Feenstra	...	Girl
Miriam Flynn	...	Judge Bobb
Mark Folger	...	Bald Guard
Cherie Franklin	...	Deputy Nell
Kate Fuglei	...	Parent
Avner Garbi	...	Fadeel
Taylor Gilbert	...	Reporter #1
Castulo Guerra	...	Martinez
Michael Haney	...	Reporter #14
Seth Isler	...	Male Parent
Denise Johnson	...	Jennifer
Austin Kottke	...	Kid #4
Annie LaRussa	...	Reporter #11
Greg Lauren	...	Reporter #7
Richard Lemberger	...	Concession Vender (as Richard B. Lemberger)
Josefina Lopez	...	Female Inmate
Colin Patrick Lynch	...	Fireman
Michael C. Mahon	...	Bailiff
Kevin Malaro	...	Kid #3
Mary Mara	...	Detective Jane Hoag
Sandy Martin	...	Deputy Phyllis
Courtland Mead	...	Malcolm Johnson
Adam Meadows	...	Kid #8
William Mesnik	...	Dr. Merrick
Rolando Molina	...	Court Clerk
Michael Monks	...	Juror #3
Jessica Needham	...	Kid #1
Tom Nolan	...	Courthouse Deputy
Jocelyn O'Brien	...	Babette Spinler
Sarah O'Nan	...	Kid #6
Vic Polizos	...	Jack Andrews
Richard Portnow	...	Judge George
Jack Rader	...	Sergeant Noble
Heather Ramsey	...	Kid #9
Kerry Remsen	...	Female Parent
June Saruwatari	...	Reporter #9
Danny Schmittler	...	Aaron
Eileen Seeley	...	Pamela Bozenich
Arthur Senzy	...	Reverend Parker
Tony Simotes	...	Reporter #13
J.W. Smith	...	Male Inmate
Charlie Stavola	...	Juror #2
Shane Sweet	...	Kid #2
Kevin Symons	...	Reporter #12
A.C. Weary	...	Reporter #8
David Whalen	...	Reporter #5
Bernard White	...	Reporter #10
Kenneth White	...	Chief Kuhlmeyer
Clayton Whitfield	...	Knudsen (as Clayton C. Whitfield)
Sanders Witkow	...	Kid #7
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Matthew Abe	...	Camera Operator (uncredited)
Trevor Coppola	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Susan Jordan	...	Parent (uncredited)
Scarlett Pomers	...	(uncredited)
Sam Sarpong	...	Bailiff (uncredited)
Nicollette Sheridan	...	Grace (uncredited)
Wendy Goodman Thum	...	Juror (uncredited)

Directed by
Mick Jackson

Writing credits (WGA)
Abby Mann		(written by) &
Myra Mann		(written by)

Produced by
Abby Mann	....	executive producer
Diana Pokorny	....	producer
Oliver Stone	....	executive producer
Janet Yang	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Peter Rodgers Melnick

Cinematography by
Rodrigo García

Film Editing by
Richard A. Harris

Casting by
Mali Finn

Production Design by
Howard Cummings

Art Direction by
David Lazan

Set Decoration by
Susan Emshwiller

Costume Design by
Shay Cunliffe

Makeup Department
Andre Blaise	....	hair stylist: James Woods
Debra-Lee Davidson	....	makeup artist

Production Management
C. Cory M. McCrum-Abdo	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Aaron Barsky	....	first assistant director
Seth Edelstein	....	dga trainee
Andrew M. Flinn	....	second second assistant director
Barbara M. Ravis	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Darien N. D'Alfonso	....	scenic artist
Darien N. D'Alfonso	....	scenic painter
Chris Forster	....	construction coordinator
Michael E. Goldman	....	assistant art director
Lori Mazuer	....	assistant art director
Katie Rixon	....	art department coordinator
Michael Rixon	....	set dresser
Stoney Emshwiller	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Roger V. Stevenson	....	boom operator
Mark Weingarten	....	sound mixer

Stunts
Linda Fetters	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Christof Bove	....	videographer
Dante Cardone	....	gaffer
Ellsworth Chou	....	electrician
Andre Martinez	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Stephen Mullen	....	best boy electric
Albert Salsich	....	second assistant camera

Casting Department
Kate Kennedy	....	location casting
Emily Schweber	....	casting associate

Music Department
Peter Rodgers Melnick	....	musical director
Peter Rodgers Melnick	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Paul Burlin	....	driver
Bruce Callahan	....	driver
Derek Raser	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Sonia Apodaca	....	assistant production coordinator
Susannah Brengel	....	production accountant
Jennifer Campbell	....	production coordinator
Kevin Collins	....	assistant location manager
Stan J. Katz	....	technical advisor (as Dr. Stan J. Katz)
Andrew C. Keeter	....	location manager
Stacy Layne Kramer	....	assistant accountant
Mary McCusker	....	acting coach
Azita Zendel	....	assistant: Oliver Stone (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Abby Mann Productions
• Breakheart Films
• Home Box Office (HBO)
• Ixtlan

Distributors

• Argentina Video Home (1995) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1995) (USA) (TV)
• Telefilm Hellas (1996) (Greece) (VHS)
• mediacs AG

Other Companies

• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Elizabeth Bardsley & Associates  script annotation

Also Known As:

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.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When the lawyer meets with Ray Buckey for the first time in jail, the door is heard slamming shut before the door actually closes.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1995) (TV)

Relentless, terrifying tale of legal power and emotion gone amuck.

This is a frightening revelation, a case history of the public immolation of an innocent Los Angeles family that is suddenly overwhelmed by mindless evil. Early on, we are schooled to believe in the innate ideals of American justice. Yet the McMartin family, which operated a small child-care facility not unlike those we've ourselves seen in our own neighborhoods, one day becomes caught up in the gears of a monstrous machine powered by unreasoning vengeance. One can only imagine the McMartins' horror as their world instantly turns into a helpless, waking nightmare of slander and violence. Almost totally friendless as they become engulfed by the evil that has found them, they face national hatred and vilification, prison, and personal ruin. "Indictment" has become a classic textbook study of the McMartins' ghastly descent into the dark side of American jurisprudence and media hysterics. As such, it transcends entertainment, and stands as a warning.

This was written on January 18, 2000. It was on this day ten years ago that Raymond Buckey and his mother Peggy McMartin Buckey were finally cleared of the 52 criminal charges of which they had been accused since 1984.

See this film.