Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones
Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones | |
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Based on | Guyana Massacre: The Eyewitness Account by Charles A. Krause |
Teleplay by | Ernest Tidyman |
Directed by | William A. Graham |
Starring | |
Music by | Elmer Bernstein |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of episodes | 2 |
Production | |
Executive producer | Frank Konigsberg |
Producers |
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Cinematography | Gil Hubbs |
Editors |
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Running time | 192 minutes |
Production company | The Konigsberg Company |
Original release | |
Network | CBS |
Release | April 15 April 16, 1980 | –
Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones is a 1980 American
The miniseries was originally broadcast in two parts on CBS on April 15 and 16, 1980. It received positive reviews from critics, who particularly praised Boothe's performance. At the 32nd Primetime Emmy Awards, it earned four nominations, including Outstanding Drama or Comedy Special, with Boothe winning Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special.
Synopsis
The film draws on Guyana Massacre: The Eyewitness Account and reports from
Cast
- Powers Boothe as Jim Jones
- Ned Beatty as Congressman Leo J. Ryan
- James Earl Jones as Father Divine
- Randy Quaid as Clayton Richie based on Timothy Stoen
- Meg Foster as Jean Richie
- Linda Haynes as Karen Bundy
- Brad Dourif as David Langtree based on Larry Schacht
- LeVar Burton as Richard Jefferson
- Michael C. Gwynne as Larry King
- Veronica Cartwright as Marceline Jones
- Albert Hall as Otis Jefferson
- Diane Ladd as Lynette Jones
- Diana Scarwid as Sheila Langtree
- Colleen Dewhurst as Mrs. Myrtle Kennedy
- Irene Cara as Alice Jefferson
- Rosalind Cash as Jenny Hammond
- Ron O'Neal as Colonel Robles
- Brenda Vaccaro as Jane Briggs
- Joel Godard as John Briggs
- Clifton James as Charlie Amos, The Barber
- Ed Lauter as Jim Jones Sr.
- David Raynr as Raymond Jefferson
Characters
Jones's family members in the movie are based directly on his own family. The characters of Clayton and Jean Richie are based on Timothy and Grace Stoen (he was a primary Temple attorney and Jones's former right-hand man, she a main organizer for the Temple's "Planning Commission"), and David Langtree on Larry Schacht (the sole doctor at Jonestown), though elements of other Temple members are added to each, and details are changed. Many of the other characters are composites of one or more persons.
The character of Larry King has been likened to
Production
Though not a documentary in its own right, the film takes the style of a "true life" portrayal of the events.
Reception and awards
A 1980 Time magazine review was mostly positive, but criticized the film for spending too much time on earlier parts of Jones' life, stating: "There really is no point in recounting the minutiae of a madman's life if, after four hours, it is still impossible to understand how Jones became a sex-and-drug-crazed megalomaniac or why his misfit followers so easily accepted his larcenous and sadistic behavior."[5] The Time review went on to also note the way Boothe captured the minutiae of the Jim Jones character, and lamented that the film's writer had not made the role more complex for Boothe to portray.[5]
Actor
References
- ^ Allmovie, retrieved June 10, 2007.
- ISBN 1-57061-415-6.
- ^ Gibbons, Jennifer Kathleen (December 27, 2013). "The Guyana Tragedy Myth". Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple. San Diego State University. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
- ^ Yearbook of the Encyclopedia Americana (1981). The Americana Annual: An Encyclopedia of Current Events. Grolier. p. 521.
- ^ Time Warner. Archived from the originalon October 1, 2007.
- ISBN 0-415-17411-2.
- ISBN 9780786400317.
- Internet Movie Database, Amazon.com. Retrieved June 14, 2007.
- ^ Awards for Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones, Internet Movie Database, Amazon.com. Retrieved June 10, 2007.