KILL ME IF YOU CAN (TV)
Summary
This drama film depicts the story of Caryl Chessman, who was convicted of robbery, kidnapping, and sexual assault in 1948 and sentenced to death. The movie opens with a police car-chase, the arrest of Chessman, and his identification by various victims as the "red-light bandit." Chessman chooses to defend himself, a course from which Judge Fricke and prosecuting attorney J. Miller Leavy try to dissuade him. Testimonies of victims are interspersed with flashbacks to the crimes. Chessman is convicted and sentenced to death. The remainder of this part of the movie concerns the efforts of Chessman's new attorneys, Rosalie Asher and Ben Rice, to free him; the sensation caused by the publication of his book, "Cell 2455, Death Row"; and several stays of execution requested and granted pending further legal efforts on Chessman's behalf.
Chessman narrates his thoughts on the gas chamber; Asher and her mother receive anonymous threats. His writing privileges revoked, Chessman writes his next book, "Trial by Ordeal," in code. He learns that another death-row inmate has cut his own throat. Chessman's third book, "The Face of Justice," dedicated to Asher, is published. In 1957 Chessman has an opportunity to question prosecuting attorney Leavy and Judge Fricke about aspects of his trial. Asher tells Chessman that their motions have been denied. In 1959, Asher advises Chessman to request clemency from the governor. Chessman has Asher choose a coffin and discusses his case with foreign journalists. Demonstrations are held for and against Chessman. His scheduled date of execution approaching, Chessman requests another stay from Judge Goodman, is put in a cell near the gas chamber, and learns that the California Supreme Court has denied a petition for a stay on May 2, 1960, hours before the execution is to take place. Rushing to Judge Goodman, Asher and Davis obtain a stay, but the Judge's secretary is unable to reach the prison warden by phone before Cheesman is executed. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: September 25, 1977 Sunday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:37:31
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T87:0416
- GENRE: Drama, legal
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, legal; Capital punishment; Crime and criminals
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV, 1977
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Peter Katz … Producer
- Buzz Kulik … Director
- John Gay … Writer
- Bill Conti … Music by
- Alan Alda … Cast, Caryl Chessman
- Talia Shire … Cast, Rosalie Asher
- John Hillerman … Cast, George Davis
- Barnard Hughes … Cast, Judge Fricke
- Virginia Kiser … Cast, Virginia Gibbons
- Edward Mallory … Cast, Warden Teets
- Walter McGinn … Cast, J. Miller Leavy
- Ben Piazza … Cast, Bill Edmunds
- John Randolph … Cast, Judge Lewis Goodman
- John P. Ryan … Cast, Johnson
- Rose Portillo … Cast, Sarah Loper
- Maxine Stuart … Cast, Mrs. Asher
- Brian Byers … Cast, Harris
- James Sikking … Cast, Mr. Lea
- George Sperdakos … Cast, The Court Clerk
- Joe E. Tata … Cast, Kelton
- M.P. Murphy … Cast, Sgt. Grant
- James Keach … Cast, Officer #1
- Carmen Argenziano … Cast, The Lieutenant
- Conrad Bachmann … Cast, Warden
- Arnold Soboloff … Cast, Dr. Graves
- James E. Brodhead … Cast, Judge Carter
- Herb Vigran … Cast, Jury Foreman
- Bill Moray … Cast, Judge Rexford
- William Bogert … Cast, Silvers
- Tony Burton … Cast, Price
- Jack Schultz … Cast, The Redlight Bandit
- Philip Baker Hall … Cast, Phillips
- Ann D'Andrea … Cast, Mrs. Loper
- Tom Greenaway … Cast, Mr. Perry
- F. William Parker … Cast, Judge Guerrin
- Sari Price … Cast, Irene
- Donald Bishop … Cast, Reporter
- Mwako Cumbuka … Cast, 1st Clerk
- Jon Linton … Cast, 2nd Clerk
- Vivian Brown … Cast, Juror #2
- Loutz Gage … Cast, State Superior Court Justice
- Anne Bellamy … Cast, Goodman's Secretary
- Rori Gwynne … Cast, Woman Secretary
- Jason Johnson … Cast, Binder
- Vincent Lucchesi … Cast, Officer #2
- Jim Henaghan … Cast, Death-Row Prisoner
- Mary Margaret Amato … Cast, Witness
- Leonard Simon … Cast, Court Clerk
- Richard Stobie … Cast, Clerk
- Paul Napier … Cast, 1st Reporter
- Richard Smedley … Cast, 2nd Reporter
- Jim Malinda … Cast, Reporter #2
- Gil Stuart … Cast, English Reporter
- Mark Regis … Cast, Spanish Reporter
- Clint Young … Cast, Death Guard
- Tom Tarpey … Cast, Guard
- Danny Dayton … Cast, Prisoner
- Billy Jackson … Cast, Prisoner #3
- Patrick Hawley … Cast, Prisoner #2
- Charles Picerni … Cast, Officer #3
- Gary Epper … Cast, Officer #4