GUILTY OF INNOCENCE: THE LENELL GETER STORY

US, 1987, 100 minutes. Colour.
Dorian Harewood, Dabney Coleman, Hoyt Axton, Dennis Lipscomb, Debbi Morgan, Paul Winfield.
Directed by Richard T. Heffron.

Guilty of Innocence is an American telemovie, focusing on the story of an innocent man who believed in the justice system – but was interned for eighteen months, convicted of armed robbery. It was only when a representative of the NAACP intervened that his innocence was established.

Richard T. Heffron directed many telemovies. Dorian Harewood was a regular in many films including the television version of Twelve Angry Men.

1. A true story, the facts, the role of the law, the justice system? A man’s life, imprisonment, guilt and innocence? The emotional response?

2. The television movie, for home audiences? The role of the media?

3. Texas in the 1980s, the information, the dates? The realism?

4. Lenell Geter and his work, his character? Religious background, the Bible? Anthony, Marcia, the arrest? The effect on him, the trust? The process, his disbelief, Anthony in jail, Siegel and the lawyers? The mistrust? The refusal of bail? The reliance on the Bible?

5. Siegel and his type, his work, his beliefs, doubts? Communication, the issue of the bail? Before the judge, the trial? Handling the witnesses, handling the judge? The plea? The guilty verdict?

6. Geter and his case, the witnesses, the workers, the sheriff? The effect? Marcia? The sheriff and the evidence, in prison, the fight, learning to read and write? The prospect of another trial?

7. George Hairston, the lawyers, the workers, the committees, the stickers and the advertising, the help, the media, interviews? The district attorneys? The effect, the lie detectors, the deal?

8. The presentation of lawyers, skills, witnesses, criminals? Issues of bail, concern, vindication?

9. The workers, their support?

10. The character of Anthony, his relationship with Geter?

11. Marcia, mother, the wedding?

12. The sheriffs, the administration of justice, prejudice?

13. Issues of racism, in the 1980s, African American and white relationships? The law? The identification of issues? The result? The impact of this kind of telemovie in its time? As a record of prejudice?