The Thin Blue Lie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Thin Blue Lie |
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| Written by | Daniel Helfgott |
| Directed by | Roger Young |
| Starring | Rob Morrow Randy Quaid Paul Sorvino |
| Music by | Patrick Williams |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Daniel Helfgott Janet Turner Roger Young |
| Producer(s) | Fritzi Horstman |
| Cinematography | Donald M. Morgan |
| Editor(s) | Benjamin A. Weissman |
| Running time | 97 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Helfgott-Turner Productions Paramount Network Television Showtime Networks |
| Release | |
| Original network | Showtime Networks |
| Original release | August 13, 2000 |
The Thin Blue Lie is a TV movie from 2000. It was directed by Roger Young and stars Rob Morrow, Randy Quaid, and Paul Sorvino. The movie first aired on August 13, 2000. Its title is a clever twist on the phrase "thin blue line". This phrase is often used to describe police officers as the protectors who stand between order and chaos in society. The movie's title suggests there might be a "lie" or a problem within that system.
What the Movie is About
The story follows a reporter named Jonathan Neumann (Rob Morrow) from the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper. He works with his partner, Phil Chadway (Randy Quaid). In 1978, they won a special award called the Pulitzer Prize. They won it for writing articles that showed possible problems with the mayor of Philadelphia, Frank Rizzo (Paul Sorvino), and the city's police department.
Their articles suggested that some people who were questioned by the police might have been treated unfairly. This was supposedly done to help police meet their goals for solving many cases. As the reporters worked on their story, they faced many challenges. Their phones were listened to, their homes were searched, and they even received threats.
Main Actors
- Rob Morrow as Jonathan Neumann
- Randy Quaid as Phil Chadway
- Paul Sorvino as Frank Rizzo
- Cynthia Preston as Kate Johnson
- G.W. Bailey as K.C.
- Al Waxman as Art Zugler
- Beau Starr as Detective Marshall
- Barry Wiggins as Detective King
- Chuck Shamata as Vinnie
- Louis Di Bianco as Deep Nightstick
- Melissa DiMarco as Sandra Durano
- Bruce McFee as Detective Harris
- Joe Pingue as Detective Regossi
- Philip Granger as John Reilly
- Hayley Tyson as Sharon Chadway
- Patrick Patterson as Chief Inspector Golden
- Christian Potenza as Danny O'Brien
- Richard Clarkin as Scala
- Ryan Rajendra Black as Alberto
- Joanne Boland
- Michael Copeman as Jack Reynolds
- Jason Jones as Prosecutor
- Kelsa Kinsly as Reporter
- Chantal Lonergan as Chelsea
- Mayumi Rinas Mrs. Gonzalez
- Juan Carlos Velis as Miguel Gonzalez
- Scott Walker as Fire Chief
Challenges in Reporting the News
Throughout the movie, Jonathan Neumann faced many difficult choices. These are known as "ethical dilemmas" in journalism.
First, many of his co-workers did not think he should look into claims of unfair treatment by the police. They believed that questioning the police might make the city less safe, especially since crime rates were low.
Second, when Neumann talked to people who said they were treated badly by the police, he had to promise them they would be safe. However, these people had already been warned by the police not to talk to reporters. This made it hard for them to trust him.
Third, Neumann needed to find a police detective who was willing to speak up against their own department. This was very important to prove his claims, but it was a risky thing for any officer to do.
