Life on Death Row (10 Nov. 1986)

Years before The Green Mile, a murderer on death row finds himself infused with the incredible power to heal by touch. A desperate race to halt his execution builds to a miraculous climax.

Director:

Mick Garris

Writers:

Rockne S. O'Bannon (teleplay), Mick Garris (story)

Stars:

Patrick Swayze, James T. Callahan, Kevin Hagen

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Patrick Swayze	...	Eric David Peterson
James T. Callahan	...	Erhardt
Kevin Hagen	...	Rob Wellan
Hector Elizondo	...	Meadows
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roberto Contreras	...	Trustee
Conrad Dunn	...	Warden's Guard
Paul Eiding	...	Doctor
Alan Fine	...	Inmate
John Hamelin	...	Priest
Hawthorne James	...	Fowler
Arnold Johnson	...	Johnny
Nicholas Love	...	Bradshaw
Jed Mills	...	Marshall
Thomas Rosales Jr.	...	Prisoner
Ray Saniger	...	Prisoner

Storyline

Years before The Green Mile, a murderer on death row finds himself infused with the incredible power to heal by touch. A desperate race to halt his execution builds to a miraculous climax.

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 November 1986 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amblin Entertainment, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Green door what's that secret your keeping

***SPOILERS*** Released 13 years before the far more popular 3 hour and 8 minute movie "The Green Mile" "Amazing Stories" episode of "Life on Death Row" is in many ways far better despite its scanty 23 minutes running time.

Convicted murderer Eric Peterson, Patrick Swayze,is about to face his maker after holding off his execution with legal maneuvers for some four years. Unfeeling and embittered Peterson hardened by his life of crime and prison life now feels that being electrocuted in the state electric chair is the best thing that can happen to him. In that it would finally take him out of his life of violence and misery. It's just the evening before Peterson is to be executed that a miracle happened to him. Not that there was a planned jail brake at the prison that Peterson was to participate in but that he survived a lighting bolt that struck him as he made his unsuccessful escape attempt.

Recovering from his injury at the prison hospital ward Peterson and the sergeant of the prison guard Meadows, Hector Elizondo, soon realize that he somehow obtain the power to heal. Meadows who's suffering from a serious leg injury can suddenly walk without the aid of a cane in him just being touched by a startled Peterson! Realizing that Peterson would be much better off to society in him being alive then dead in paying his debt to it by healing the sick and crippled then being him fried in the hot seat Meadows tries to get Warden Erhardt, Hamilton James, to get the governor to commute Peterson's death sentence.

Erhardt a firm believer in the death penalty has a sudden change of heart when Peterson is able to get his blind 6 year old daughter to regain her sight just by touching her! Now a firm believer in Peterson's miraculous healing powers Warden Earhardt does all he can to prevent Peterson from being executed. While this is going on Meadows does all he could to have Peterson heal as many people,in and out of the prison, he can before his scheduled execution.

***SPOILERS*** With the governor not commuting or even granting a stay of execution for Peterson Warden Erhardt, almost in tears, has no choice but to have him juiced with a 2,000 bolt charge of electricity in the prison's execution chamber. But as things turned out, unlike in "The Green Mile", even the state governor couldn't prevent what fate had in store for Eric Peterson. Not only was Peterson able to cure people with his touch but was now also able to somehow prevent himself from being killed in the state electric chair! And in that be able to pay his debt to society in a way that him being executed for his crimes never would have!