CRIME OF INNOCENCE
US, 1985, 100 minutes, Colour.
Andy Griffith, Diane Ladd, Ralph Waite, Shawnee Smith, Steve Inwood, Tammy Lauren, Jordan Charney.
Directed by Michael Miller.
Crime of Innocence is one of those popular, thought-provoking American telemovies which focuses on a social problem. This time it focuses on a family, a young girl and a mistake of staying out joyriding all night with a companion and then falling victim to a judge who believes in frightening his victims into righteousness, especially by prison sentence. The girl in question is raped by a young policeman in jail. The family enlists the help of a lawyer to bring the case to legal attention to change statutes in the county.
The film focuses on families, punishment and discipline, love.
1.The town situation? Adolescents? The judge, justice, prison? Rape and its aftermath?
2.The title and its significance? The Judge?
3.Home, school, the streets, the jail? Morality, justice? Reputations? The authenticity of the locations?
4.The title, its focus on Jodi? Ordinary young girl, at home, at school, friends, boys? Renee and the pressure to go in the car, not ringing her parents? Arriving home? Going to the court, the impact of the judge, the bewilderment, going to jail, the processes of going into jail and its humiliation, fingerprinting, shower, clothes etc? The cell? The judge visiting and their laughing about the insect? The pressure from the young policeman? Separating the girls? Jodi's fear, going along with Yaegher? The film cutting and not showing anything of the rape? Her being released, the threats of the judge for more imprisonment, cutting down on her time, sports? At home, the fear of her father, hearing her parents discuss the issue? Her father's disapproval, her mother's support? Going to school, the insults of the boys? The girls not being friendly? Dennis and the proposal to take the issue to court? Discussions with Dennis, being confident in him? Going through the story, the reconciliation with her father? The rehearsal and its impact?
5. The hearing, the behaviour of the judge, her speaking out? The aftermath and settlement, her gaining in confidence, moving away? His talking to the parents, reprimanding them, giving his advice? His behaviour in the court, severity, talking down to the children? His moral authority? The clash with Jodi's father and the gun? Strong stance? His being in the hearing, self-righteous, the explanation of his behaviour. The sadness of the judge? The dismay of his lawyers?
6.The portrait of the parents? Rose, her love for her daughter, worry, support? Understanding her? Love for her husband, able to persuade Jodi what her father was feeling? Frank, work, love for his daughter? Anxiety and going to the police, signing the form? Their listening to the judge and going along with him? Their surprise in the court? Frank and his disgust, seeming to blame his daughter, her reaction? His angers, with Dennis, taking the gun to the judge but unable to shoot? being a man? His wife's persuasion? The outburst? His reconciliation with his daughter?
7.Dennis, his work as a lawyer, gaining Jodi's confidence, his dossier of tragic cases? His training her, hearing her story, the rehearsal and his severity, his handling of the judge and the information, winning the case? The contrast with the judge's legal advisers and their interrogation.
8.Yeagher and his position at school, in the prison, his raping Jodi? The aftermath and his short sentence and the technicality?
9.Renee, her background, boys, the car, in the court?
10.Themes of prison, the effect of prison? How suitable for children to be in adult prisons? The scars?
11.The plausibility of this screenplay? The credibility of the characters? The experiences and audiences identifying and understanding?
