A Case of Deadly Force

Fact-based story about a 1975 cover-up of a shooting by two white members of the Boston Tactical Unit. While on stakeout on a suspected getaway car used in a armed robbery, the two gunned down a black man who entered the car. The two claimed the man had a gun and they shot in self-defense. Police investigation decided it was a rightful shooting. The man's widow knew her husband would not be carrying a weapon and became determined to prove her husband's innocence. She hired a former cop who had become a lawyer to prove her case. Working with his four sons, the lawyer team takes on the police force in what eventually proved to be a landmark legal decision. Written by John Sacksteder

Richard Crenna

Lawrence O'Donnell Sr.

John Shea

Michael O'Donnell

Lorraine Toussaint

Pat Bowden

Francis X. McCarthy

Hanna

Tate Donovan

Lawrence O'Donnell Jr.

Anna Maria Horsford

Virginia Cates

Anthony Heald

Dave O'Brian

Dylan Baker

Kevin O'Donnell

Michael O'Hare

Joe Miller

Fred J. Scollay

Judge Skinner

Paul O'Brien

Ken Mooney

Tom Kemp

Jack Finnegan

John Prosky

Phil Cochran

Paul D'Amato

Mike Fagan

Peter Gerety

Bobby Doyle

• Michael MillerDirector
• Bruce S. PustinProducer
• Kees Van OostrumDirector of Photography
• Paul ChiharaOriginal Music Composer
• Paul FriedEditor

Release date

April 9, 1986

Status

Released

Original language

English

Runtime

1h 35m

Genres

Drama, TV Movie, Crime