The O. J. Simpson Story

Last updated
The O. J. Simpson Story
GenreBiography
Sport
Written byStephen Harrigan
Directed byJerrold Freedman [1]
Starring Bobby Hosea
Jessica Tuck
David Roberson
James Handy
Kimberly Russell
Harvey Jason
Composer Harald Kloser
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producer Robert Lovenheim
ProducerBob Lemchen
CinematographyJeffrey Jur
EditorKimberley Bennett
Running time90 minutes
Production companies 20th Century Fox Television
National Studios Inc.
Original release
Network Fox
ReleaseJanuary 31, 1995 (1995-01-31)

The O. J. Simpson Story is a 1995 American drama film directed by Jerrold Freedman and written by Stephen Harrigan. It stars Bobby Hosea, Jessica Tuck, David Roberson, James Handy, Kimberly Russell and Harvey Jason. It premiered on Fox on January 31, 1995. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Plot

O. J. Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown is found murdered along with her friend Ron Goldman, outside Brown's Brentwood townhouse. Simpson is brought to the police station as a suspect. As he struggles with police interrogation and the focus of the media, Simpson's life unfolds via flashbacks, from his first meeting with Brown in 1977, to growing up in San Francisco in the 1960s, to Simpson's and Brown's romance and marriage in 1985. The pair gradually descend into domestic squabbles over Simpson's selfish and controlling behavior, with Brown suffering depression and drug use. Aspects of Simpson’s life are shown, 1964, 1970, 1975, 1979, 1985 and 1989.

Charged with the murders, Simpson panics and flees with his friend A. C. Cowlings, finding himself flashing back to a childhood meeting with baseball great Willie Mays. The bronco chase is filmed by media. Simpson ultimately turns himself in, as his life of his prime flashes before his eyes; his friends, children, fame, and Brown. [5]

Cast

Production

The film was reported conceived while the infamous bronco chase was taking place.https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-08-10-ca-25382-story.html Simpson is portrayed by Bobby Hosea. [6] [7] [8] Hosea was advised by fellow black actors not to take the part but ignored them, keen to portray Simpson, who was an influence on his life, in a non-judgmental fashion. [9]

Conceived by Rupert Murdoch who saw the biopic as a promotional platform for NFL telecasts, the movie was originally scheduled to air the week before Simpson’s trial began. However, after Shapiro raised concerns about the jury pool being tainted, the FOX network agreed to delay the telecast until after the trial had started. It eventually aired on January 31st 1995, one week after the trial began. [10] [11]

Reception

The film was successful upon release, though there was criticism that the film was capitalising on the forthcoming murder trial. [12] The site The Biopic Story gave a one-star review of the biopic: [13] [14]

Conceived by Rupert Murdoch who saw the biopic as a promotional platform for NFL telecasts, the movie was originally scheduled to air the week before O.J. Simpson’s trial began. However, after Shapiro raised concerns about the jury pool being tainted, the FOX network agreed to delay the telecast until after the trial had started. It eventually aired on January 31st 1995, one week after the trial began…the film gives the impression the abuse that occurred on the morning of New Year’s Day 1989 was preceded by an argument over O.J. Simpson’s upcoming role in “The Naked Gun”, whereas the movie opened the month beforehand. The scene that shows O.J. beating Nicole on New Year’s Day was originally much more violent than the final version that aired...

“[The police report] included details of punching her, hitting her on the kitchen floor, kicking her in the ribs… and when we shot that scene, I was standing there along with two other researchers making sure that everything was done exactly as reported.” Robert Lovenheim (executive producer)

Bobby Hosea said in an interview that he felt his portrayal of Simpson ruined his career, stating that nobody wanted to hire him after. [15] The 2022 book Women in True Crime Media praised Tuck's performance as Brown as well as the portrayal of Brown as a human being. [16] Hosea reacted to Simpson's death in 2024 with "a mix of emotions and balances". [17]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ TV Guide
  2. ↑ O'Connor, John J. (1995-01-31). "TELEVISION REVIEW; Now a Film About You-Know-What". The New York Times . Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  3. ↑ Tim Gray (1995-01-30). "The O.J. Simpson Story". Variety.com. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  4. ↑ "The Oj Simpson Story Movie | Fox's 'O.J. Simpson Story' is docudrama at its worst". Articles.baltimoresun.com. 1995-01-31. Archived from the original on 2018-03-21. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  5. ↑ Watch ‘The OJ Simpson Story,’ the 1995 TV Movie, in Its Entirety (Video) - Yahoo Entertainment
  6. ↑ "Bobby Hosea Takes a Risk with O.j. Simpson Role". Chicago Tribune . 21 September 1994.
  7. ↑ "FOX MOVIE CASTS O.J. IN BAD LIGHT". ipg.vt.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  8. ↑ "Did Simpson Kill Ex-Wife? Don't Ask Bobby Hosea". 28 January 1995.
  9. ↑ Jet (6 Feb. 1995) - Google Books (pg.62)
  10. ↑ "TELEVISIONO.J. Simpson Film Gets Date: Fox has". Los Angeles Times . 18 January 1995.
  11. ↑ "To Bankroll His Defense, the Accused Expands the Lucrative O.j. Industry with a Self-Justifying Book". 6 February 1995.
  12. ↑ O'Connor, John J. (31 January 1995). "TELEVISION REVIEW; Now a Film About You-Know-What". The New York Times.
  13. ↑ The Biopic Story
  14. ↑ https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/o-j-movie-reveals-much-about-fox-3047391.php
  15. ↑ Actor Who Played O.J. in Forgotten 1995 Movie Recalls Their Cold Encounter, Yahoo News UK (23 March 2016).
  16. ↑ Women in True Crime Media - Google Books (pg.154)
  17. ↑ "Coach Bobby Hosea on LinkedIn: Brain injuries have been and will continue to be taught into the sport of…".
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