The real-life story of the Peoples Temple cult led by Reverend Jim Jones and the events involving its move to Guyana and its eventual mass suicide.
Christian Bale is a bonafide A-list star, but he missed out on plenty of huge roles along the way. So what were they?
Related News
-
Darren Criss and Jesse Plemons are vying to be the second youngest Best Limited Series/TV Movie Actor Emmy champ
13 July 2018 | Gold Derby -
Darren Criss (‘Versace’) would be second youngest Best Movie/Mini Actor Emmy winner
05 July 2018 | Gold Derby -
The Miskatonic Institute announces “Manson Family” themed event
26 April 2018 | Blogomatic3000
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (TV Movie 1980)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
More Like This
Documentary
|
History
Director:
Stanley Nelson
Stars:
Rebecca Moore,
Janet Shular,
Tim Carter
Jonestown
(2013)
Short
|
Drama
|
History
Director:
David B. Berget
Stars:
Kym Jackson,
Leandro Cano,
William Russ
Guyana: Cult of the Damned
(1979)
Drama
|
Thriller
Director:
René Cardona Jr.
Stars:
Stuart Whitman,
Gene Barry,
John Ireland
Jonestown
(2017)
Short
|
Thriller
Director:
Felix Tonio Stintzing
Stars:
Brendan Michael O'Malley,
Yaret Lora,
Jess Matney
Macabro
(1980)
Horror
Director:
Lamberto Bava
Stars:
Bernice Stegers,
Stanko Molnar,
Veronica Zinny
Max Headroom
(TV Movie 1985)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Sci-Fi
Directors:
Annabel Jankel,
Rocky Morton
Stars:
Matt Frewer,
Nickolas Grace,
Hilary Tindall
George and Mildred
(1980)
Comedy
Director:
Peter Frazer-Jones
Stars:
Yootha Joyce,
Brian Murphy,
Stratford Johns
Whoops Apocalypse
(1986)
Comedy
Director:
Tom Bussmann
Stars:
Stuart Saunders,
Graeme Garden,
Marc Smith
Brave New World
(TV Movie 1980)
Drama
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Burt Brinckerhoff
Stars:
Julie Cobb,
Bud Cort,
Keir Dullea
The Victors
(1963)
War
|
Drama
Director:
Carl Foreman
Stars:
Vince Edwards,
Albert Finney,
George Hamilton
Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story
(TV Movie 1981)
Biography
|
Drama
Director:
Gabrielle Beaumont
Stars:
Jamie Lee Curtis,
Bruce Weitz,
Robert Reed
Tarzan Triumphs
(1943)
Certificate: Passed
Action
|
Adventure
|
War
Director:
Wilhelm Thiele
Stars:
Johnny Weissmuller,
Frances Gifford,
Johnny Sheffield
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Powers Boothe | ... | Rev. Jim Jones | |
| Ned Beatty | ... | Rep. Leo Ryan | |
| Irene Cara | ... | Alice Jefferson | |
| Veronica Cartwright | ... | Marceline 'Marcy' Jones | |
| Rosalind Cash | ... | Jenny Hammond | |
| Brad Dourif | ... | David Langtree | |
| Meg Foster | ... | Jean Richie | |
| Michael C. Gwynne | ... | Larry King | |
| Albert Hall | ... | Otis Jefferson | |
| Linda Haynes | ... | Karen Bundy | |
| Diane Ladd | ... | Lynette Jones | |
| Ron O'Neal | ... | Col. Robles | |
| Randy Quaid | ... | Clayton Ritchie | |
| Diana Scarwid | ... | Sheila Langtree | |
| Madge Sinclair | ... | Mrs. Jefferson | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (54) »
Storyline
Based upon the real life story of Reverend Jim Jones, a self-proclaimed prophet who founded the Peoples Temple. In the 1960s, he began as an idealist helping minorities and working against racism. After a move to San Francisco and increased power and attention, Jim Jones became focused on his belief in nuclear holocaust. He had a loyal following of over 1000 people, who had donated their entire life savings to him and to join his commune, before moving them to Guyana. When possible illegal activities came to the attention of the authorities, and once notified that some individuals are being held against their will, they began to investigate. Rather than face the charges against him, Jim Jones committed suicide, and convinced virtually most of his followers to do the same. Written by Brian W Martz <B.Martz@Genie.com>
Plot Keywords:
people's temple | mass suicide | no survivors | mind control | brainwashing |Taglines:
The shocking true story written in blood!! See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
5 January 1982 (Sweden) See more »Also Known As:
Guyana Tragedy: The Jim Jones Story See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (CFI)Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1
Edit
Father Divine: We were becoming too strong. They were frightened.
Rev. Jim Jones: How do you sustain a movement like this one?
Father Divine: How did Moses sustain his flock?
Rev. Jim Jones: What of the cost?
Father Divine: Ask and you shall receive, my son.
Rev. Jim Jones: And as for worldly possessions?
Father Divine: Sustenance of whatever kind our Heavenly Father requires.
Rev. Jim Jones: ...Sometimes, the women in my flock tempt me. What shall I do about that?
Father Divine: It's your duty - your religious obligation - to bring such desires to the surface, so that you can ...
[...]
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The dialogue in the mass suicide/murder scene was taken almost word-for-word from an audiocassette found in a portable tape recorder under Jim Jones' chair. The tape recorder's batteries were run down, so it ran much slower than normal, recording the entire 40-minute event. See more »Goofs
The guards' AK assault rifles have blank firing adapters attached to the muzzles. See more »Quotes
Rev. Jim Jones: ...Father, you were forced to leave New York. Why?Father Divine: We were becoming too strong. They were frightened.
Rev. Jim Jones: How do you sustain a movement like this one?
Father Divine: How did Moses sustain his flock?
Rev. Jim Jones: What of the cost?
Father Divine: Ask and you shall receive, my son.
Rev. Jim Jones: And as for worldly possessions?
Father Divine: Sustenance of whatever kind our Heavenly Father requires.
Rev. Jim Jones: ...Sometimes, the women in my flock tempt me. What shall I do about that?
Father Divine: It's your duty - your religious obligation - to bring such desires to the surface, so that you can ...
[...]
See more »
Crazy Credits
"The film you are about to see is a dramatization of the life of Jim Jones. Born - May 13, 1931 Lynn, Indiana - Died - November 18, 1978, Jonestown, Guyana. This is his story." See more »Connections
Referenced in Join or Die with Craig Ferguson: History's Craziest Cult (2016) See more »Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.Contribute to This Page
Watch Hollywood hits and TV favorites for free with IMDb Freedive. Start streaming on IMDb and Fire TV devices today!
Enjoy a night in with these popular movies available to stream now with Prime Video.
"Guyana Tragedy" is one of the best miniseries about religious cults I have ever seen! Powers Boothe gave Jim Jones a charisma that made you understand why so many people basically followed this man to hell. The young actor who played Jim Jones as a boy was very good as well! I liked the back stories of the characters who followed Jones to their doom. I felt sympathy for Brad Dourif's naive doctor character who was brain washed by Jones. I also felt bad for LaVar Burton as Richard who saw what kind of monster Jones truly was and couldn't help anyone. The only criticism I had was the hiring of brown-haired Ned Beatty to play the white-haired senator, Leo Ryan. The real Ryan's assistant was a woman senator. Another semi-criticism I have is the fact that Stephan Jones, Jim and Marceline's biological son was left out of the movie, and so were Stephan's adopted siblings. On a personal note: I will miss Powers Boothe's compelling performances in every TV and movie project he has done since "Guyana Tragedy.". All of his fellow performers and I think all of us who have posted a review for his performance in this compelling movie will miss this great actor!