Jeanskynebu
the audience applauded
Stellead
Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful
Mathilde the Guild
Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.
bcrd500
There are two versions of the original mini-series and one cuts out the Jay Smith trial(DVD version). The VHS version includes the Smith murder trial and is about 90 minutes longer than the DVD. Sometimes, Amazon sells copies of the movie, on VHS, but obtaining a VCR to watch it might be a problem.The movie is true to the book except it cuts out one important character: Rachel (Her real name is Joanne Aiken). Aiken was the only Bradfield girlfriend that did not turn on him. She testified in both of Bradfield's trials but for some reason, she does not appear in the mini-series.The only problem with the movie is the story did not end with Jay Smith's murder conviction, in the mid-1980s. In 1990, evidence from Jack Holt's garage was discovered that led the Pa. state supreme court to overturn Smith's conviction and declare double jeopardy because the police and DA had suppressed evidence that would have probably led to a not guilty verdict, in Smith's murder trial.The movie is truthful to the facts of the case but it left out things like the author of the book paying Holt $ 50,000.00, if Smith and Bradfield were convicted of murder.It is an additive story and to know the whole story, one needs to read a book called "Principle Suspect" by Smith's second lawyer. There are four books about the murders and each provides a unique view of the case that make them worth reading.
udar55
I remember seeing this when it debuted on TV (well, the first part at least) and finally got to catch up with it again. This is an epic miniseries (a 2 nighter) about English teacher William Bradfield (Peter Coyote) who is suspected of murdering his fellow teacher/secret lover Susan Reinart (Stockard Channing) and her two children. Policemen Joe Van Nort (Peter Boyle) and Jack Holtz (Gary Cole) spend nearly 6 years trying to get info on the guy. Based on the true crime novel by former cop Joseph Wambaugh (THE NEW CENTURIONS, THE ONION FIELD), this one really packs a punch with the multiple twists and turns. Coyote is excellent as the eccentric Bradfield. One has to wonder how so many people could fall under this guy's spell in real life, but Coyote gives a performance with such conviction that you begin to see why. The supporting cast, which also includes Treat Williams and Robert Loggia, is great with Gary Cole giving a really good performance.
Allison
I live in the town and attended the school where this took place around the time when it occurred. the frame work of the story is true, and the names of the people are true, but little else is true. Upper Merion is not on the Main Line, we did not go to school in a Gothic cathedral. Many of the people portrayed in the story are portrayed poorly and maliciously. These events permanently have harmed them, and this movie has not helped. These events did occur and affected the school and the people involved. However, this does not reflect the real stories behind the people and the school. This is a fine movie for entertainment value, but please do not believe everything portrayed in it.
yellowroselgk
My step-father was Ken Reinert, and Karen and Michael were my step-brother and step-sister. My mother married Ken in the early/mid 70's and we became a family, with Karen & Michael spending the weekends and holidays with us. This movie was intense, very emotional, yet ran smoothly, and I still remember sitting in the TV room with Ken, Lynn, my little brother, Wayne, and myself week after week, watching the story of our lives played for all the world to see. It was very hard on my now X-step-father, Ken, and it took many years, a divorce,growing close with my brother,and a new loving girlfriend for him to find true happiness. I know from monthly communicating and seeing him for many years (since his divorce from my mother), that he died happy and in peace with his life finally after all of these years. My brother and I still speak of him often and the one question we don't know that will ever be answered is: "What did Dad marinate his porkloins in that made them taste so good (he was a chef)???"It was a very impressively directed movie. It was kept clean, as opposed to the graphics that Joseph Wambaugh wrote about in his book. Like my mother stated above in her comment, feel free to contact myself if you have any questions. I actually didn't know there were websites concerning the murders. Thanks for reading this & have a great day! Thanks for caring about our family.
