Fatal Vision | |
---|---|
Based on | Fatal Vision by Joe McGinniss |
Screenplay by | John Gay |
Directed by | David Greene |
Starring | |
Composer | Gil Mellé |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of episodes | 2 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Producer | Richard L. O'Connor |
Cinematography | Stevan Larner |
Editors |
|
Running time | 181 minutes |
Production company | NBC Productions |
Original release | |
Network | NBC |
Release | November 18 – November 19, 1984 |
Fatal Vision is a 1984 American true crime drama television miniseries directed by David Greene from a teleplay by John Gay, based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Joe McGinniss. The miniseries stars Karl Malden, Eva Marie Saint, Barry Newman, Gary Cole, and Andy Griffith. It recounts the celebrated case of Jeffrey R. MacDonald, the former Green Beret physician who was convicted of murdering his pregnant wife and their two small children. [1]
The miniseries received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special, with Malden winning Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special for his performance as MacDonald's father-in-law, Freddy Kassab. [2]
NBC paid $130,000 for the rights to the book, according to McGinniss, a transaction that was complicated by a prior contractual claim by Dell publishers. [3] The miniseries was filmed in Santa Clarita and Pasadena, California, as well as at NBC Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
John J. O'Connor of The New York Times called the story "chilling" and the miniseries "certainly compelling", but stated it was not "as overwhelming as Mr. McGinniss's book." O'Connor also praised the cast, writing that Cole, Malden, and Saint "contribute outstanding performances." [4] Howard Rosenberg of the Los Angeles Times lauded Fatal Vision for its "superb, meticulous storytelling that will have you on the edge of your seat, with Greene managing to convey the brutality of the crime in a surreal way without showing actual violence." Rosenberg also named it "the highest-rated miniseries of the 1984-85 season." [5]
Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
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1985 | 35th ACE Eddie Awards | Best Edited Episode for a Television Mini-Series | "Part II" Parkie L. Singh, William B. Stich | Won |
39th Edgar Awards | Best Television Feature or Miniseries | John Gay | Nominated | |
1st TCA Awards | Program of the Year | Fatal Vision | Nominated | |
Outstanding Achievement in Drama | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Achievement in Specials | Nominated | |||
37th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special | Mike Rosenfeld, Dan Wigutow, Richard L. O'Connor | Nominated | |
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special | Karl Malden | Won | ||
Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special | David Greene | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or a Special | John Gay | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Achievement in Makeup | Stephen Abrums | Nominated | ||
1st Artios Awards | Mini-Series or Movie of the Week Casting | Karen Hendel | Won | |
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