Errol morris has made a career out of retreading reallife history. Not only is it for cops, its for the community at large to show them who we really are. The thin blue line is the fascinating, controversial true story of the arrest and conviction of randall adams for the murder of a dallas policeman in 1976. The thin blue line has famously been widely credited. The thin blue line is set in the police station of the fictional english town of gasforth. In this classic police sitcom, rowan atkinson plays inspector fowler, head of the uniformed branch of the fictional gasforth police station. It tells the true story of randall adams, who was wrongly convicted of killing a police officer in texas in 1976. The stories are similar but its hard to say if my cousin vinny was inspired by the thin blue line.
The thin blue line tells the story of randall dale adams, a man who was wrongly convicted of killing dallas police officer robert wood in 1976. A journalist from the times wrote that there was nothing but a thin red streak tipped with a line of steel between the mounted russians and the camp. Film summary errol morris chilling film, the thin blue line, tells the story of a regular man going about his everyday life when fortune turns against him. The thin blue line the thin blue line is the true story of the arrest and conviction of randall adams for the murder of dallas policeman, robert wood, in 1976. The judge admitted to being deeply moved by the prosecutors words, though the trial resulted in a wrongful conviction and death sentence. A former detective, director errol morris, investigates the. Story of wrongful conviction is meticulous, masterful. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of the thin blue line. With randall adams, david ray harris, gus rose, jackie johnson. The thin blue line is a 1988 american documentary film by errol morris, about the trial and. A film that successfully argued that a man was wrongly convicted for murder by a corrupt justice system in dallas county, texas.
The thin blue line script transcript from the screenplay. Mar 25, 2015 in the thin blue line, morris provides a different and arguably more powerful kind of truth than does cinema verite. A documentary which argues that randall harris was wrongly convicted of the murder of dallas police officer robert wood by corrupt system of justice. In the case of director errol morris the thin blue line 1988, one film not only managed to free an innocent man from a lifetime in prison, but it also elicited a confession from the guilty party. And in the hands of a stylist like morris and a film like the thin blue line, reenactments can serve to illustrate the inherent unknowability of objective truth, to say nothing of creating the. Although the thin blue line assembles an almost inassailable case for adams and against harris, it is not a conventional documentary not a featurelength version of one of those 60 minutes segments in which innocent men are rescued from death row. While much of the nations attention was focused on the u. Errol morris the thin blue line was released on this date august. Errol morris stunning documentary exposed the truth of the case and is credited with overturning adams conviction. Is the thin blue line considered by critics to be a narrative or documentary.
The thin blue line s place in film history would be secure had it only freed randall adams, but the film also codifies morris signature style. Miller, a woman with her own criminal history who likes to imagine herself as a. Its definitely pro law enforcement, fitzsimons said. The film argues that david harris, who adams was with that evening, actually. The thin blue line remains a landmark in morriss oeuvre because it revealed and corrected a flawed judicial processa phenomenon that morris says could not have happened if the film were released today, as not only are supreme court deathpenalty cases notoriously more difficult to appeal, media saturation wouldnt have allowed adamss story to remain quiet for so long. Created by ben elton, the series aired from 1995 to 1996. In his 1988 documentary, the thin blue line, errol morris explores the 1976 murder case of police officer robert wood and the man convicted for the murder, randall dale adams.
The thin blue line is a 1988 documentary about the case surrounding a dallas police officer who was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop in 1976. Billed as the first movie mystery to actually solve a murder, the film is credited with overturning the conviction of randall dale adams for the murder of dallas police officer robert wood, a crime for which adams was sentenced to death. W hen it was released, errol morriss the thin blue line went radically against the grain of documentary convention. Some bands and venues have expanded the meaning of backline to include other instruments for musicians, including bass guitars, keyboards, drum kits, and other percussion instruments. Fowler is constantly in battle of wits with di grim and the criminal investigation department. The facts in the case, the 1976 murder of a dallas police officer. The thin blue line is a 1988 american documentary film by errol morris, depicting the story of randall dale adams, a man convicted and sentenced to death for a murder he did not commit. The thin blue line was hailed as being the the first movie mystery to actually solve a murder and as a result of its release the conviction itself was overturned, adams became a free man once again after having been sentenced to death.
A truly pioneering film, morriss breakthrough changed the world of documentary forever. The film is credited with overturning adams conviction, a crime for which he was sentenced to death. Backline is a term used to describe audio amplification equipment for bands behind the stage, such as amplifiers for guitars or synthesizers. In his 1988 documentary, the thin blue line, errol morris explores the. The thin blue line is a phrase that refers figuratively to the position of police in society as the force which holds back chaos. Though that idea seems oldfashioned and quaint now, from the era of john grierson, the thin blue line is proof that sometimes, though rarely, the political impact of a film can be as tangible as an innocent man being freed from prison. The thin red linethe facts behind the story this is a film adaptation of james jones famous novel of u. Jan 27, 2016 the thin blue lines place in film history would be secure had it only freed randall adams, but the film also codifies morris signature style, a hypnotic blend of talkinghead interviews. The thin blue lie can be seen sunday night at 8 on. A true story of murder and justice evidently miscarried, wrapped in the fictional haze of a surrealistic whodunit, it will leave you in a trance for days. The thin blue lie 2000 a spinechilling thriller about a courageous young reporter who risks his life and career to go deep into police abuse within homicide. Renowned for pioneering the crime scene reenactment a technique thats common in many documentaries and reality shows today the film exposed the flimsyatbest and perjuryatworst testimony from eyewitnesses. The thin blue linetells the story of randall dale adams, a man who. Through expressionistic reenactments, provocative interviews and a memorable score by philip glass, it tells the fascinating, controversial true story of the arrest and trial of randall adams for the murder of a dallas policeman in 1976and the film.
With rob morrow, randy quaid, paul sorvino, cynthia preston. Billed as the first movie mystery to actually solve a murder. Curry california state university, san marcos the home box office video promotional campaign for errol morris documentary the thin blue line 1988 calls the film a new movie mystery and aligns it in the tradition of the executioners song and in cold blood in that it depicts a chilling investigation and re. I watch rob morrow in numb3rs and was surprised to see how his character in numb3rs has many of the characteristics as the character he played in the thin blue line. Is the 1992 movie my cousin vinny inspired by the story in. The thin blue line is one of the films that helped make documentaries a viable entertainment option for arthouse moviegoers during the indiefilm boom of the 1980s and 90s. The thin blue line discussion guide influence film club. Theres a scene that mirrors what happened to me in making the thin blue line. A filmmaker ponders the verite in cinema the boston globe. For more than one reason, apparently, this movie is titled the thin blue lie.
Randall adams, 28, runs out of gas on his way home from work. The thin blue line takes the docudrama genre to its outer limits, intercutting newspaper headlines, bulletwound diagrams and texas road maps with gradeb film noir fare. In the years since, although he has worked on several projects, there has been no new morris film until the thin blue line. The thin blue line where to stream and watch decider. The thin blue line is far from your typical documentary, and the dramatization of some events and the use of music throughout are part of what separates it from the rest of the pack.
A controversial and true story of the arrest and conviction of randall dale adams for the murder of a dallas. As a result, the movie tells its story in way that should delight members of the thin blue line. The thin blue line which leads me back to the true story presented in the thin blue line, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Errol morris construction of innocence in the thin blue.
Theres such a moment in gun crazy 1950, the plot of which originated with a story by. Errol morris groundbreaking 1988 investigative documentary used extensive crimescene reenactments to recreate the central murder, and to dramatize the rashomon. Marines at war in the pacific, major combat elements of the united states army were committed in that theater and were involved. As a detective story, errol morris documentary the thin blue line is riveting, stylish, swirling with evocative detail. Errol morris, known for his seminal 1988 documentary the thin blue line and the oscarwinning 2003 film the fog of war, once again dives deep for his latest project, but in this case, he takes his. Aug 12, 2000 for more than one reason, apparently, this movie is titled the thin blue lie. However, when the movie was released, adams was not yet exonerated. But thin blue line was kind of the original true crime documentary that really sort of made you question police tactics and i think anyone whos into making a murderer or serial or the jinx or any of these shows right now, and podcasts and hasnt seen thin blue line should check that out. It wouldnt surprise me if it was because ttbl is one of the finest documentaries ever made and has been an inspiration to many movie makers. Having originally stumbled upon the subject, morris chose to make the documentary after he became personally persuaded of the convicted mans innocence curry 157. Welcome to the thin blue line official youtube channel. The term began as an allusion to the famous thin red line, when a british infantry regiment held off a russian cavalry charge during the crimean war in 1854, where red referred to the color of the british uniforms.
The thin blue line letterboxd social film discovery. The film is the true story of the murder of a dallas police officer in 1976 and the rapid railroading of a 28 yearold drifter named randall adams through the court and onto death row. End of watch based on lapd cops patrol duty editors. Finally, the the thin blue line script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the errol morris movie. Errol morris iconic 1988 documentary the thin blue line explores the institutional corruption that continues to plague our countrys justice system to this day. The thin blue line is the true story of the arrest and conviction of randall adams for the murder of dallas policeman, robert wood, in 1976. This feature documentary from 1988 by director errol morris, is a brilliant examination of controversial true story that was the arrest and conviction of randall adams for the murder of a dallas police officer back in 1976. Morris next film, about the strange and wonderful people who can be found in and around a small southern town, was called vernon, florida.
A spinechilling thriller about a courageous young reporter who risks his life and career to go deep into police abuse within homicide. The thin blue line and the ambiguous truth inquiries. Over time, this mutated into the thin red line, which came to symbolize british courage and composure. The thin blue line was hailed as being the the first movie. Is the 1992 movie my cousin vinny inspired by the story. The thin blue line and its prestige true crime legacy. This is my entry for t in the blogging a to z challenge. Errol morris documentary exposed the truth and is credited with overturning adams conviction. The thin blue line remains a landmark in morriss oeuvre because it revealed and corrected a flawed judicial processa phenomenon that morris says could not have happened if the film were released today, as not only are supreme court deathpenalty cases notoriously more difficult to appeal, media saturation wouldnt have allowed adamss story to remain quiet for so. Dec 11, 20 though that may be true, it doesnt quell the significance of cinema as a catalyst for change. Errol morris classic 1988 documentary the thin blue line helped pioneer the true crime detective story as a subgenre of documentary filmmaking.
This might be called legal film truth, since the thin blue line challenges and then refutes the judicial or state truth that adams was guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt. The man behind the thin blue line, gates of heaven, and netflixs wormwood is unlike anyone else. Feb 19, 2016 in 1976, randall adams was wrongly sentenced to death for the murder of a dallas cop. The thin blue lie, a blemish on philly cops and showtime. Billed as the first movie mystery to actually solve a murder, the film is credited with overturning the conviction of randall dale adams for the murder of dallas police officer.
September 02, 1988 errol morriss the thin blue line is more like a waking nightmare than a docudrama. Billed as the first movie mystery to actually solve a murder, the film is credited with overturning the conviction of randall dale adams for the murder of dallas police officer robert wood, a crime for which adams was. The thin blue lie can be seen sunday night at 8 on showtime. The thin blue line did such a good job of discrediting the case against adams that.
Aug 03, 2011 it tells the true story of randall adams, who was wrongly convicted of killing a police officer in texas in 1976. Morris arrived in dallas to work on a documentary about a psychiatrist. The thin blue line unravels like a detective story and engages in the practices of several of the conventional processes of the documentary layout yet correlates them in a manner that was strikingly distinct to the standard methods used back in nineteen eightyeight, and even now the results stand head and shoulders above the majority of true crime features. This might be called legal film truth, since the thin blue line.
His groundbreaking 1988 film, the thin blue line, deeply informed true crimes resurgence, and though its still his best known. Feb 05, 2016 the stories are similar but its hard to say if my cousin vinny was inspired by the thin blue line. In his documentary work, morris has pioneered the use of a camera dubbed the interrotron. Walking to the nearest gas station, a stranger stops his car and offers adams help. True crime media is a way of dramatizing really significant issues. Aug 25, 2016 errol morris the thin blue line was released on this date august 25th in 1988, launching the era of prestige true crime as we know it. Adams was wrongly convicted of murder and put on death row. The thin blue line and the ambiguous truth inquiries journal.
After collecting dust on video shelves for over fifteen years, this groundbreaking documentary has finally arrived on dvd. The thin blue line 1988 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Jul 25, 2006 a brilliant work of pulp fiction, thin blue line is both a riveting investigation of a murder and am equally riveting meditation on the difference between truth and fiction. The film reinvents the story as it reexamines it, using eerie reenactments of certain episodes.
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