Indictment: The McMartin Trial Movie Review 1995

Woods stars as attorney Danny Davis, who has the unenviable task of providing a defense in the notorious McMartin child molestation trial. In 1983, Manhattan Beach, California was rocked by reports that some 60 preschoolers had been abused at a day-care center. Seven defendants were accused thanks to lurid videotaped interviews with the children. The trial lasted six years (the longest and most expensive on record) and all charges were eventually dismissed. It's clear from this telepic that public hysteria and media hype lead to a grave miscarriage of justice that put the legal system on trial as well.

Distribution

HBO, 1100 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, Phone: (212)512-7400, Fax: (212)512-7498, URL: http://www.hbo.com, Remarks: Online sales through www.store.hbo.com

Available on VHS
Running time 132 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

True Stories, Order in the Court, Justice Prevails...?, Child Abuse, Mass Media, Day Care/Nursery School

Screenplay

Abby Mann, Myra Mann

Cast

James Woods, Henry Thomas, Mercedes Ruehl, Shirley Knight, Sada Thompson, Mark Blum, Alison Elliott, Chelsea Field, Richard Bradford, Lolita (David) Davidovich

Cinematography

Rodrigo Garcia

Director

Mick Jackson

Music

Peter Melnick

Producer

Diana Pokorny, Oliver Stone, Janet Yang, Abby Mann, Abby Mann Productions, Ixtlan Production, Breakheart Films, HBO Pictures