My Father's Shadow: The Sam Sheppard Story (TV 1998)

Fact-based story about the controversial conviction of Dr. Sam Sheppard (Peter Strauss) for the murder of his wife in Cleveland. The story picks up with his conviction and concentrates on ... See full summary »

Director:

Peter Levin

Writers:

Cynthia L. Cooper (book), Sam Reese Sheppard (book),

Stars:

Peter Strauss, Henry Czerny, Lindsay Frost

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Strauss	...	Dr. Sam Sheppard
Henry Czerny	...	Sam Reese Sheppard (segment "Chip")
Lindsay Frost	...	Marilyn Sheppard
John Colicos	...	Richard Eberle, in jail
John Bourgeois	...	Dr. Robert Sheppard
Bradley Reid	...	Sam Reese - Age 7 / Age 10
Jonathan Kroeker	...	Sam Reese - Age 17
Janet-Laine Green	...	Ariane - Age 25 / Age 64
Ralph Small	...	Terry Gilbert
Madhuri Bhatia	...	Cayahoga County Coroner
Philip Craig	...	Prosecutor Mahon
Nicole Crozier	...	Alisa
James B. Douglas	...	R.A. Sheppard
Roger Dunn	...	Corrigan
Norma Edwards	...	Ethel Sheppard

Storyline

Fact-based story about the controversial conviction of Dr. Sam Sheppard (Peter Strauss) for the murder of his wife in Cleveland. The story picks up with his conviction and concentrates on his son's (Henry Czerny) efforts 40 years later to find evidence that his father was innocent of the crime. The story was the basis for the film and TV series of "The Fugitive".

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Plot Keywords:

remake | based on book | character name in title

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 November 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Death in the Shadows

Filming Locations:

Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jaffe/Braunstein Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite the optimistic ending to this supposedly true account, a 2000 Ohio civil trial concluded that Sam Sheppard did in fact murder his wife. The trial is detailed in the nonfiction book "Dr. Sam Sheppard on Trial" by Jack DeSario and William Mason.

User Reviews

tragic

Henry Czerny and Peter Strauss both give excellent performances as the Sheppards. After almost fifty years this case still inspires debate and controversy. This movie shows us as well the tragedy for this poor family. I feel it can be said with a fair degree of certainty that Doctor Sam was indeed innocent and the Richard Eberling was the real culprit as they profess in this movie. He confessed to several people that he really did kill Marilyn (he confessed to a fellow inmate on his deathbed as a matter of fact). Strauss is great as he shows Sheppard being reduced to a pathetic shell of a man by his hellish experience.