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Fatal Vision (miniseries)

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Fatal Vision
VHS cover
Based onFatal Vision
by Joe McGinniss
Screenplay byJohn Gay
Directed byDavid Greene
Starring
ComposerGil Mellé
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes2
Production
Executive producers
ProducerRichard L. O'Connor
CinematographyStevan Larner
Editors
  • Parkie L. Singh
  • William B. Stich
Running time181 minutes
Production companyNBC Productions
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseNovember 18 (1984-11-18) –
November 19, 1984 (1984-11-19)

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]

Cast

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Starring
Special guest star
Also starring
Co-starring
  • Alexandra Johnson as Helena Stoeckley
  • Paddi Edwards as Perry MacDonald
  • Frank Dent as Joe McGinniss
  • Carmen Argenziano as Col. Pruett
  • Andy Wood as Robert Shaw
  • Dennis Redfield as Peter Kearns
  • Joe Mays as William Posey
  • Rex Ryon as Jay MacDonald
  • J.P. Bumstead as Col. Rock
  • Brandy Gold as Kimberly MacDonald (age 5)
  • Judith Barsi as Kimberly MacDonald (age 3)
  • Dylan Galer as Kristen MacDonald
  • Lance Rosen as Dennis Eisman
  • Patricia Duff as Joy
  • Nadine van der Velde as Randi
  • Laurence Haddon as Gen. Flanagan
  • Jack Rader as Provost Marshal
  • Kenneth Tigar as Pathologist
  • Roy London as Dr. Thornton
  • Eugene Butler as Capt. Somers
  • Anne Betancourt as St. Mary's Sister

Production

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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.

Reception

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Critical response

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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]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result
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

References

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  1. ^ "'FATAL VISION,' ON NBC, TOP PROGRAM OF WEEK". The New York Times. November 21, 1984. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  2. ^ "Fatal Vision - Emmy Awards, Nominations and Wins". Television Academy. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  3. ^ Hill, Michael E. (November 18, 1984). "FATAL VISION/ Did He Do It?". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  4. ^ O'Connor, John J. (November 16, 1984). "TV WEEKEND; 'FATAL VISION,' STORY OF FORMER GREEN BERET". The New York Times. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  5. ^ Rosenberg, Howard (January 12, 1986). ""FATAL VISION," 9-11 p.m. Sunday and Monday..." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
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