The Burden of Proof (miniseries)
The Burden of Proof (also Scott Turow's The Burden of Proof) is a 1992 television miniseries based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Scott Turow. The story follows the character Sandy Stern following events in the film and book Presumed Innocent. Brian Dennehy is the only actor to appear in both films, but here plays a different character.
| The Burden of Proof | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Based on | The Burden of Proof by Scott Turow |
| Screenplay by | John Gay |
| Directed by | Mike Robe |
| Starring | Héctor Elizondo Brian Dennehy |
| Theme music composer | Craig Safan |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Mike Robe |
| Producers | John Perrin Flynn Benjamin A. Weissman (co-producer) Preston Fischer (supervising producer) |
| Production locations | Mission Hills, Kansas Chicago Kansas City, Missouri |
| Cinematography | Kees Van Oostrum |
| Editor | Scott Vickrey |
| Running time | 184 minutes |
| Production companies | Mike Robe Productions Capital Cities ABC Video Enterprises |
| Distributor | ABC (United States) Warner Bros. (International) |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Picture format | Color |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | February 9, 1992 |
The miniseries was directed by Mike Robe, adapted by John Gay, and premiered on February 9, 1992. The film was an original production filmed and aired by the ABC Video Enterprises, and was also released theatrically outside the US. by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Plot
A lawyer who's still recuperating after the untimely death of his wife, must defend his probably dirty brother-in-law, a stockbroker under investigation. He discovers that everyone has dark secrets, including himself.
Cast
- Héctor Elizondo ... Alejandro 'Sandy' Stern
- Brian Dennehy ... Dixon Hartnell
- Mel Harris ... Sonia Klonsky
- Adrienne Barbeau ... Silvia Hartnell
- Concetta Tomei ... Clara Stern
- Anne Bobby ... Marta Stern (as Anne Marie Bobby)
- Gail Strickland ... Fiona Cawley
- Chelcie Ross ... Dr. Nate Cawley
- Kerri Green ... Kate Granum
- Miko Hughes ... Sam
- Thomas Anthony Quinn ... Dr. Peter Stern
- Jeffrey Tambor ... Sennett
- Nora Denney ... Waitress
- John Durbin ... Remo
- T. Max Graham ... Lt. Ray Radczyk
- William Kuhlke ... Cal Hopkinson
- Leah Maddrie ... Mrs. Drake
- Monica McCarthy ... Nate's Nurse
- Neal McDonough ... John Granum
- Michael T. McGraw ... FBI Agent #1
- Charles Oldfather
- Stefanie Powers ... Helen Dudak
- Victoria Principal ... Margy Allison
- Grady Smith
- Tim Snay ... FBI Agent #2
- Donna Thomason ... Claudia
- Charles Whitman ... Rabbi
Reception
- The miniseries won an Eddie Award for Best Editing
- Brian Dennehy was nominated for an Emmy Award as Best Supporting Actor in a television movie or mini-series.
- The miniseries was nominated for the Emmy for Best Television Movie or Miniseries.
- Not all critics liked the film. Chicago Tribune television critic Rick Kogan wrote that the movie "proceeds so deliberately as to prove numbing" and that "the cast of characters remains superficial." He concluded by noting that "the axes around which the plot, and the sex, spin are less major crimes than melodramatic misdemeanors. The four-hour sentence they receive here is too harsh a punishment for the audience."[1]
Release
The miniseries was a production by Mike Robe Productions, Capital Cities and ABC Video Enterprises, it's aired in the ABC on February 9, 1992. ABC handled U.S. distribution, while Warner Bros. handled International distribution. Warner Bros. handles the rights of the miniseries to be released on theatrical versions and on home video (including Warner Home Video). As of 1996, The Walt Disney Company now owns domestic rights to The Burden of Proof through ABC, which had obtained the miniseries rights domestically.
Home media
The duo-series has been released on VHS and DVD as a single movie, albeit a 184-minute release.