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Word of Honor

  • TV Movie
  • 19811981
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
104
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Word of Honor (1981)
  • Thriller
  • Drama
A reporter refuses to reveal his source in the case of the murder of a young girl. As a result, he and his family are shunned by the residents of the small town in which they live. Virtually... Read allA reporter refuses to reveal his source in the case of the murder of a young girl. As a result, he and his family are shunned by the residents of the small town in which they live. Virtually no one comes to his daughter's wedding, and at his office, the police search his desk, an... Read allA reporter refuses to reveal his source in the case of the murder of a young girl. As a result, he and his family are shunned by the residents of the small town in which they live. Virtually no one comes to his daughter's wedding, and at his office, the police search his desk, and his boss threatens to fire him.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
104
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mel Damski
  • Writers
    • David Ackles(screenplay)
    • Douglas Graham(screenplay)
    • I.C. Rapoport
  • Stars
    • Karl Malden
    • Rue McClanahan
    • Ron Silver
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mel Damski
  • Writers
    • David Ackles(screenplay)
    • Douglas Graham(screenplay)
    • I.C. Rapoport
  • Stars
    • Karl Malden
    • Rue McClanahan
    • Ron Silver
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos

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    Top cast

    Edit
    Karl Malden
    Karl Malden
    • Mike McNeillas Mike McNeill
    Rue McClanahan
    Rue McClanahan
    • Maggie McNeillas Maggie McNeill
    Ron Silver
    Ron Silver
    • David Lerneras David Lerner
    Largo Woodruff
    Largo Woodruff
    • Amyas Amy
    Alexa Kenin
    Alexa Kenin
    • Beverlyas Beverly
    Jacqueline Brookes
    Jacqueline Brookes
    • Spinneras Spinner
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    • Dist. Atty. Burkeas Dist. Atty. Burke
    • (as Jeff DeMunn)
    Henderson Forsythe
    • Petersonas Peterson
    John Marley
    John Marley
    • Gordon Ageeas Gordon Agee
    Dan Lounsbery
    John Malkovich
    John Malkovich
    • Garyas Gary
    Betsy Baker
    Betsy Baker
    • Denise McNeilas Denise McNeil
    John Beem
    Carole Morisseau
    Thomas D. Mahard
    Thomas D. Mahard
      Dan Crane
      • Roger Clementsas Roger Clements
      MacIntyre Dixon
      David Regal
      • Director
        • Mel Damski
      • Writers
        • David Ackles(screenplay) (story)
        • Douglas Graham(screenplay) (story)
        • I.C. Rapoport
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
      • All cast & crew

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      Storyline

      Edit
      A reporter refuses to reveal his source in the case of the murder of a young girl. As a result, he and his family are shunned by the residents of the small town in which they live. Virtually no one comes to his daughter's wedding, and at his office, the police search his desk, and his boss threatens to fire him. —Mike Hatchett <hatchetts13@webtv.net>
      • source of information
      • informer
      • murder of a child
      • community
      • wedding of daughter
      • 3 more
      • Plot summary
      • Add synopsis
      • Genres
        • Thriller
        • Drama
      • Certificate
        • Not Rated
      • Parents guide
        • Add content advisory

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        The film begins with a concert in Plymouth's Kellogg park. Originally, the local high school band was to perform, but the director felt that they sounded too "professional". He opted to use a less-polished small community band instead. In fact, this same band performed at the location every Thursday evening during summer months.

      User reviews4

      Review
      Top review
      6/10
      dated
      Karl Malden gives his "Word of Honor" that he won't reveal a source in this 1981 film, also starring Rue McClanahan, John Marley, Ron Silver, Jeffrey DeMunn, Alex Kenin, and John Malkovich. Both Malkovich and Silver were baby-faced kids when this TV movie was made.

      Malden is a newspaperman, Mike McNeill, who gets a line on a pillar of the community, Roger Clements (Dan Crane) from a young woman (Alexa Kenin) who claims that the man is a pedophile and kidnapper. As a result, a search warrant is served on a house he has, and the dead body of a missing girl is found as well as photographs of his victims. He has promised his informant, who has a brand new life with a husband and baby, that he will not reveal her name. However, Clements cannot be convicted without her testimony, or the evidence becomes hearsay and is then thrown out. The Malden character refuses to name his source, is put in jail and ostracized by the entire town.

      Nowadays we are much more used to newspapermen refusing to name their sources so the situation the McNeills find themselves in may seem overly dramatic now. However, it makes a point that can't be driven home too often -- people only have ethics until they have something to lose. It's the rare person who sticks to his ethics in adversity. The acting is good, especially from Malden, and it's great to see the young Malkovich in a small TV role!

      Sadly, the actress who plays the informant, Alexa Kenin, was murdered a few years later by her boyfriend. Alas, that's often the subject of Lifetime TV movies today.
      helpful•4
      0
      • blanche-2
      • Jun 8, 2011

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • January 6, 1981 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • United States
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Der unbekannte Zeuge
      • Filming locations
        • Daily Tribune - Royal Oak, Michigan, USA
      • Production companies
        • 20th Century Fox Television
        • Georgian Bay Productions
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 36 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.33 : 1

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