HOWARD BEACH: MAKING A CASE FOR MURDER
US, 1989, 94 minutes, Colour.
Gregory Alan Williams, Gerry Becker, Paul Conway, William Daniels.
Directed by Dick Lowry.
Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder is a telemovie, docudrama based on the incidents at Howard Beach, Queens, New York in 1986. Three black men were set upon by a vicious gang of white youths. One was hounded onto the freeway where he was killed. One ran away after being beaten. An older man was severely beaten with a club and with tree branches.
The New York District Attorney's office prosecuted the case, trying to make a case for manslaughter, winning the case with judgements of manslaughter. The incident raised racial feeling in New York City in the mid 80s, white and black taking vigorous stances, blacks not expecting guilty results.
The film reconstructs the incident with all its violence. It also reconstructs the investigation as well as the court case. Daniel J Travanti, of Rill Street Blues, is the prosecutor. William Daniels and Cliff Gorman are the defence lawyers.
The film takes the side of the victims - although it is at pains to point out that in their past they were not innocent men but had several convictions. The point is made that this has nothing to do with the violence which they received. In 1989 there were similar incidents in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn which brought the same atmosphere and controversy (at a time when Spike Lee's controversial Do the Right Thing was screening.)
1. Interesting Telemovie? For the American audience? For world audiences?
2. The film as docudrama, reconstructing the incident, the investigation, the court case? The film based on facts?
3. The Queens settings, the Pizza Parlour, the streets, the homes? The court houses and courtrooms?
4. The reconstruction of the crime: the audience aware of the details of what was going on. the perspective on the attack? The violence of the attack, the brutality, the death?
5. Issues of racism, black men having the freedom to walk in that part of the city, the white toughs and their drinking, the party, brutality? The irresponsibility?
6. The visualising of the brutality, the death, reactions?
7. Joe Hynes as the prosecutor: in himself, his work and dedication, his ability with the police, giving speeches to police groups? In his family and their support? His team and his interaction with them? His reputation? His previous loss of the case, his visit to the jail to talk things over with the prisoner, the prisoners support? His decision?
8. The work and investigation, the interrogations of the team, the collecting of evidence, the hypothesis, the maps, trying to work out what actually happened, hostile witnesses? Searches for precedents?
9. Cedric and his reactions, his lawyers telling him to be silent? His finally speaking, the interrogation, the explanation of his background. convictions? The reason for his being in Queens? His reaction in the situation? His experiencing the brutality? The other defendant and his escape, the lie about not pulling the knife? His anger during the trial and walking out? His own reputation? The dead man and the cocaine in his blood?
10. The defence lawyers and their style, the judges reaction? Techniques interrogations, hounding witnesses, proving the witnesses were disreputable?
11. The experts, the doctors? the quality of the interrogations on both sides? The winability of the case?
12. The witnesses themselves, their being for the woman who called emergency? Her emotions, searching for the victims?
13. The significance of the speeches? A chance-for life? The prosecutor and the response of the jury?
14. The decision and verdict? The reaction of the young men themselves? The speech of apology by one of the defendants?
15. Issues of race in the US cities? Black and white? The possibilities of eruption? The role of law? people being badgered, their contributions? The search and testimony, explanation of what was going on, The questions of the defence prosecutor? both lawyers, the innocence of the young men? explanation of justice and American justice?
