A Case of Deadly Force

1986 1h 35m EN

🙌

8.0

BANGER

★8.0TMDB · 1

DramaTV MovieCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

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

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Michael Miller
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

40 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Michael Miller, shot by Kees Van Oostrum. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Paul Chihara. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Paul Fried shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Richard Crenna and John Shea and Lorraine Toussaint carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0090802 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Michael Miller directs. Kees Van Oostrum behind the camera. Paul Chihara scores. Paul Fried cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

140 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Michael Miller, shot by Kees Van Oostrum. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Paul Chihara. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Paul Fried shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Richard Crenna and John Shea and Lorraine Toussaint carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0090802 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 1 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.