A Death of Innocence

Really above-average tv movie with excellent performances by Shelley Winters, Tisha Sterling, John Randolph, Arthur Kennedy, and Ann Sothern.

Winters plays a mother who arrived in New York to support her daughter (Sterling) who has been accused of killing her boyfriend.

Though she is convinced of her daughter's innocence, evidence given during the trial lessen her confidence.

At 74 minutes, the material dictates it could have been longer.

Though all the actors are excellent, John Randolph as the father will break your heart. Ann Sothern, a last minute replacement for the ill Kim Stanley, probably took the role because Tisha Sterling is her daughter. She plays the victim's mother and has a terrific scene with Winters. Arthur Kennedy as usual is wonderful as the defense attorney.

This story is an interesting portrait of a really evil young lady and what makes it more interesting is that it's seen through the eyes of her very naive parents. The story begins with the parents (Shelly Winters and John Randolph) flying to New York City to meet with a lawyer (Arthur Kennedy). It seems their daughter Buffy (Tisha Sterling) is being held for murder and the parents are absolutely positive it's all a misunderstanding, as their sweet girl never could have done anything so wretched. However, through the course of the film, the mother starts to see another side to her daughter--a side that seems far more concerned about her boyfriend (also charged with murder) and whose biggest concern is what her parents can buy her!

This is an excellent film and it is an excellent look at what would no doubt be considered a Depent Personality with Antisocial features (or, possibly an Antisocial AND Dependent Personality). I used to be a psychotherapist and unfortunately worked with many people like this. Such a person is an individual whose sole concern is the person they depend upon---other things just aren't important. What their partner wants or demands, they do. And, since they also are antisocial (since they lack a conscience), they don't mind using or killing someone in order to keep the person loving them. In essence, if the man (or woman in many other cases) says 'kill'....they do, lest they lose the man because they disobeyed! Sick? Absolutely...and absolutely detestable. But the way the film let this out slowly and showing the mother's reaction...that what made this a very special made for TV movie. Very well done and chilling to see a murderer with this little regard for her actions.

Shelley Winters makes a great performance here as the mother from Idaho going to New York to face the trial of her daughter for homicide. Naturally she gets confused by the imposing impressions of the great city and its thronging masses, and she immediately gets importuned by opportunists who want to make money out of the case, like a journalist, who knows her business. When Buffy, the daughter, first appears on the screen you must like her mother feel that she is incapable of any wickedness, but gradually an interesting case is psychologically exposed and wrapped up. John Randolph plays the father, who is equally convinced it must all be some misunderstanding, and the lawyer, Arthur Kennedy, really puts some effort in making the best of it. However, Buffy (Tisha Sterling) gets the last word, which settles the case but unsettles everyone. The most interesting part of the film is the careful examination of Shelley Winters' gradual awakening to an alien reality shattering her universe, as the truth as always is implacable and irrevocable. Buffy's final triumph is a grotesque and devastating turning of the tables in the most drastic possible way, and it is a great scene. At times you have to wonder, is it really Buffy who is on trial or is it her parents?

When Tisha Sterling gets arrested for first-degree murder, her devoted parents Shelley Winters and John Randolph drop everything in their small town and head for the big city. They're completely out of their element, and they entrust a successful, expensive attorney, Arthur Kennedy, with Tisha's fate. Arthur believes Tisha and her boyfriend (also charged with her) are guilty, but Shelley can't accept that. She thinks of her little girl as just that: a sweet, innocent little girl. It turns out, however, that Tisha's life in the city has drastically changed her. For example, when Tisha requests to speak to her mother after the first day of the trial, Shelley thinks she'll break down in tears, ask after her siblings, or admit something. Instead, Tisha asks for another outfit so she can look nice for her boyfriend.

The ending is a bit abrupt (no spoilers here), but the journey getting there is interesting. All the characters (even Arthur) could have been fleshed out more, but it's a brief television flick, so don't expect much substance. It has a point to get across, and it definitely does that.

DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. When Shelley goes through her publicity interviews, there are flashing lightbulbs and handheld camera angles, and during the first five minutes of the trial, the camera tilts back and forth. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

I enjoy watching 1970s TV movies for the time capsules they are but also because most are so hokey and badly written they are unintentionally funny.

This film was well written and acted. The great Shelley Winters had few roles worthy of her talent at this stage of her career. This is one of them.

The only problem I had with the script was blaming the mother for not being more of a strict disciinarian. Nonsense. We are responsible for our own actions.