[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
IMDbPro

Fatal Judgement

  • TV Movie
  • 1988
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
59
YOUR RATING
Fatal Judgement (1988)
Drama

While tending a seriously ill cancer patient, the nurse administered a generous dose of morphine. The patient died, which is why the woman is now on trial for murder.While tending a seriously ill cancer patient, the nurse administered a generous dose of morphine. The patient died, which is why the woman is now on trial for murder.While tending a seriously ill cancer patient, the nurse administered a generous dose of morphine. The patient died, which is why the woman is now on trial for murder.

  • Director
    • Gilbert Cates
  • Writers
    • Gary Provost
    • Gerald Green
  • Stars
    • Patty Duke
    • Joe Regalbuto
    • Jo Henderson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    59
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gilbert Cates
    • Writers
      • Gary Provost
      • Gerald Green
    • Stars
      • Patty Duke
      • Joe Regalbuto
      • Jo Henderson
    • 2User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos1

    View Poster

    Top cast42

    Edit
    Patty Duke
    Patty Duke
    • Anne Capute
    Joe Regalbuto
    Joe Regalbuto
    • Charlie Capute
    Jo Henderson
    • Miss Bannerman
    Dana Gladstone
    Dana Gladstone
    • Dr. Tate
    Peter Crook
    • District Attorney
    Richard Cummings Jr.
    Richard Cummings Jr.
    • Adam
    Mews Small
    Mews Small
    • Sally Wilson
    • (as Merrya Small)
    Mary Tanner Bailey
    • Nurse
    • (as Mary Tanner)
    Jane Harnick
    Jane Harnick
    • Lauren
    Crystal McKellar
    • Nurse
    Tom Conti
    Tom Conti
    • Pat Piscitelli
    Philip Sterling
    Philip Sterling
    • Judge Josiah Clay
    Thomas Ryan
    • Henry Eastlake
    Pippa Pearthree
    Pippa Pearthree
    • Lauren Davis
    Libby Boone
    • Jenny La Costa
    Kevin Haley
    • Aide
    Loren Haynes
    Loren Haynes
    • Tom Macey
    Lenka Peterson
    Lenka Peterson
    • Martha Busek
    • Director
      • Gilbert Cates
    • Writers
      • Gary Provost
      • Gerald Green
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews2

    6.559
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    10gevaultski

    Smarter Than Your Average TV Film

    Although "Fatal Judgement," starring Patty Duke, Tom Scotti and Joe Regalbuto was first produced 12 years ago, I have only recently had the great pleasure of viewing this excellent "torn from the headlines" TV film. If you have not had the opportunity to see this film, I encourage you to go out of your way to find it ... and do so.

    This smarter-than-average script concerns a smarter-than-average Boston-area LPN, Anne Capute. As the "low-on-the-totem-pole" nurse, she juggles her family's needs and the work she loves - to tenderly care for her patients. But hospital administrators, local politics and media combine to thwart her, turning her life's-work-dream into a real-life nightmare overnight. At first, she is only suspended from her hospital job. Then the powers that be collude to initiate a series of half-truths and scapegoating tactics, resulting in her being indicted for murdering a terminally ill patient.

    As always, Patty Duke is completely compelling to watch as this compelling hospital/courtroom drama unfolds. Ms. Duke's ever-engaging ability as an actress is at full-force work once again, as she cracks into the core of thi s role and the character's sometimes wise-cracking persona. It's no wonder that Ms. Duke has frequently been referred to by the critics and public alike as the "Queen of TV Movies." If you are lucky enough to view this film, you will more than likely have to check for it on the Lifetime Channel for re-airing.

    In supporting roles, Tom Scotti is the uptown lawyer who comes to Capute's defense. His portrayal of the attorney, who is convinced of her innocence before she is, is wonderfully underplayed and appealing to watch. And Joe Regalbuto (of Murphy Brown fame) turns in a fine performance as the working-class husband who wants to help but is tentative, and frightened, by the changes that impact him and his family.

    This is a production that features extremely smart scripting, above-par acting and intelligent direction. Within the first ten or fifteen minutes of the film, Ms. Duke's character and plight are tightly drawn through scant, aptly written, dialogue (augmeted by believable, Boston accents and attitudes by the full cast. The writing is similarly tight in its action, accomplished by parallel establishing scenes that quickly draw the audience in to this worth-watching, realistic drama. As Duke exits a car driven up to her house after an initial "media encounter," she pushes through a barrage of TV reporters camped on her lawn, yelling back at them "Leave me alone. I hafta go make dinnah!" Later, in a the first courtroom scene where TV cameras are allowed to videotape, another could-have been-throw-away-line is handled to perfection again by Duke: "Maybe they should get Jane Fawndah to play me, hah?" Another little piece of perfection and example of pretty perfect writing ... perfectly perfomed. There are lots of word-jewels in this splendid script.

    In keeping with the terse scenario, veteran director Gil Cates allows the actors to perform without having them "appear" to perform ... and likewise allows the writer's words and well-written characters to emerge, be heard, and impact the audience.

    If you haven't seen this film, I encourage you to find it. You will not be sorry to have spent time searching for it on Lifetime - or for the 120 enjoyable minutes of your life you'll gain from watching it. A better-than-average film experience.

    More like this

    Double Jeu
    6.6
    Double Jeu
    Heavenly Pursuits
    6.1
    Heavenly Pursuits
    Reuben, Reuben, ou la vie d'artiste
    6.8
    Reuben, Reuben, ou la vie d'artiste
    L'Amérique des autres
    6.9
    L'Amérique des autres
    Les cris du coeur
    6.5
    Les cris du coeur
    58 heures d'angoisse
    6.5
    58 heures d'angoisse
    Sa Sainteté a disparu!
    7.0
    Sa Sainteté a disparu!
    A Killer Among Friends
    6.6
    A Killer Among Friends
    One Woman's Courage
    4.9
    One Woman's Courage
    En quête de justice
    6.8
    En quête de justice
    Les craquantes
    8.2
    Les craquantes

    Storyline

    Edit

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 18, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El juicio del deber
    • Production companies
      • Group W Productions
      • Jack Farren Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Fatal Judgement (1988)
    Top Gap
    What is the German language plot outline for Fatal Judgement (1988)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.