THE PREPPIE MURDER
US, 1989, 100 minutes, Colour.
William Baldwin, Lara Flynn Boyle, Danny Aiello, Joanna Kerns, William Devane.
Directed by John Herzfeld.
A telemovie dramatising a sensational crime, committed in New York City in August 1986. The media took up the case and exploited it.
The film focuses on the central characters, the interactions, the events leading up to the murder. It is sympathetic to the victim and antagonistic towards the killer. It presents the parents, the family backgrounds, the educational backgrounds, the work of the police, the harassment by the media.
William Baldwin (Backdraft) is attractively callow as the pathological liar and sociopath who killed a young college student. Danny Aiello is the chief police investigator. Joanna Kearns is the prosecutor, William Devane the defence lawyer.
The film recreates well the life in Upper Manhattan, especially the night life with the young adults frequenting the bars, their wealthy backgrounds, relationships and experiments with sexuality. The film also has the Catholic background of Rob Chambers, the man convicted of killing Jennifer Levin.
The film would have had strong impact in 1989 for New York and American audiences. Afterwards, and for audiences outside the
USA, it is yet another story of a crime, detection, a trial.
1. Interesting telemovie? Based on a true story? Reconstructed for television? Impact for New York audiences, Americans? For world-wide audiences?
2.The treatment, serious or exploitive? The depiction of the characters, information given, motivations, the crime itself, detection and interrogation, the trial? Adapted for television treatment for home audiences?
3. Manhattan, the focus, the bars, night life, homes and apartments, Central Park, the courts?
4.The title and its tone? The wealthy background?
5.The atmosphere of College studies, the girls and their friendship, the bonds between them, talk, relationship with boys, the bars and their behaviour, relationships and sexuality? Context for the killing?
6.Jennifer Levin in this context, her friends, home background, the scene where the girls were to be best friends? Attraction to Rob, her boyfriend, the relationship with Rob, sexuality, not liking him as a person? Hurt by his behaviour, going for the walk - and her death? The paper's treatment of her - putting her on trial, the defence lawyer and his criticisms, innuendo, the sex diary, etc.? The people campaigning for "Justice for Jennifer"? Rob Chambers' apology and vindication of her in the courtroom?
7. Her parents, their grief, the grandfather and his experience at the morgue identifying her, the 'phone call to the natural mother and her grief? The natural mother and her 'phoning the prosecutor and her outrage against the seeming injustice to her daughter? The parents at the trial, the father's anger and confrontation of Chambers? The anguish, meeting the judge for the decision about reading the diary? Their accepting the manslaughter deal but wanting the apology from Chambers?
8.Jennifer's friends, their support, disliking Rob, some attracted? Giving evidence in the court, the cross examination?
9.Rob Chambers, Preppie, attractive, hanging around the bars? His mother and her nursing, Catholic background, concerned about her son? His divorced father, alcoholic, wanting to support his son, visiting him in prison? The background of drugs and deals, planning the robberies, sexual relationships and opening the windows for the accomplice to steal? His relationships, with Jennifer? The sexual relationship with her, her comment to him in the bar, his hostility towards her? His worry about his mother, his capacity for invention and lies? Walking with Jennifer to Central Park? The reconstruction of the violent struggle, his brutality, his saying that she had hurt him?
10.The picture of the police, Sheehan and his partner? The body, Central Park, gathering information? The brutal death? Rob Chambers' scratches on his face, his chest and the story of the cat? Going to the parents, coping with their grief, the morgue? Bringing the grandfather back, the harassment by the media and Sheehan's violent reaction? The interrogation, working together, the soft style with Chambers, conferring, getting the confession?
The other police interrogator? Sheehan and his work with the witnesses - especially the girl who was robbed but did not report it?
11.The prosecutor, seriousness of the case, her work, performance, speeches to the jury?
12.The judge, his fairness, the discussion about the diary, his reading it and not putting it on evidence? His delivery of the sentence, his concern about Chambers' behaviour and his final speech?
13.The defence lawyer, smooth, getting sympathetic witnesses and lawyers for the bail application? The plea with the prosecutor, his performance in the court, the cross examination, the congratulations to Chambers
afterwards? The deal and the shorter sentence?
14.The girl who was robbed, her refusing to testify against Chambers?
15.The jury, the hung jury, the deal for manslaughter, the burglary charges? Chambers' behaviour in the court, his speech and apology?
16.The picture of the media, hounding the family? The brutality in the elevator? The sensationalist headlines? The discussion about the tape - the video, putting in on A Current Affair, the impact of the tape - and the range of characters watching it and their reactions?
17.A portrait of American crime? Looking at symptoms, looking at realities? Sexual violence in the United States?
