AMERICAN PLAYHOUSE: BREAK OF DAWN (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic anthology series. Based on a true story, this film concerns a Mexican immigrant, Pedro Gonzales, whose popular Los Angeles radio show plays Latino music and captivates the Chicano community during the early years of broadcasting. His enormous success comes to a sudden end following a false accusation of statutory rape. Gonzales becomes the victim of racist whites who fear the influx of the Chicano population into Los Angeles, and Gonzales is convicted and imprisoned. His wife, Maria, tirelessly battles the authorities and, after six years, provides enough compelling evidence to prove her husband's innocence. (Includes English subtitles for Spanish portions. This film received the Nosotros Golden Eagle Award, and the Special Jury Award at the San Antonio Cine Festival.) This presentation is followed by "A Secret Thing," a short film about a young woman who must make a traumatic trip to a welfare hotel to collect her estranged father's belongings following his suicide.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: April 11, 1990
- RUNNING TIME: 1:58:32
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:24223
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Hispanic Collection - Drama; Drama; Mexican-Americans; Statutory rape - Drama
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1982-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Lindsay Law … Executive Producer
- Roger L. Downey … Coordinating Producer
- Jude Pauline Eberhard … Producer
- Nondas Voll … Associate Producer
- Isaac Artenstein … Director, Writer
- Mark Adler … Music by
- Joe Angarola … Cast, Hendrickson
- Steve Artiaga … Cast, Frankie Martinez
- Nicki Brikett … Cast, Mae Willard
- Oscar Chavez … Cast, Pedro J. Gonzalez
- Tony Cleary … Cast, San Quentin Guard
- Larry Cooper … Cast, Policeman
- Vinny Ferrelli … Cast, Labor Dept. Officer
- Abel Franco … Cast, Manuel Rosalez
- Richard Irving … Cast, J.D.
- Paul Kerry … Cast, Frank Willard
- Trina Kaplan … Cast, Cafe Waitress
- Kamala Lopez … Cast, Linda Galvan
- Harold MacPherson Jr. … Cast, Solitary Guard
- Arnie M. Mathews … Cast, Mr. Silver
- John McCreary … Cast, Newspaper Reporter
- Burt Miller … Cast, Judge Yancey
- Michael Miller … Cast, Thug #1
- Danny Mora … Cast, Dr. Lopez
- Aixa Moreno … Cast, Amparo Quintero
- Terry Mullery … Cast, County Jail Clerk
- Freddie Orlando … Cast, County Jail Trustee
- Jose G. Ramirez-Peñaflor … Cast, Lupe
- Martin Ramirez-Peñaflor … Cast, Martin
- Tony Plana … Cast, Gene Rodriguez
- Lane Post … Cast, Captain Whitcomb
- Joe Powers … Cast, Border Guard #1
- Roberto Purcell … Cast, Strike Leader
- Mary Qualls … Cast, Mrs. Nolan
- Edwardo Ricard … Cast, Consul Davila
- Maria Rojo … Cast, Maria Gonzalez
- Maria Rubell … Cast, Elsa Barron
- Peter Henry Schroeder … Cast, Kyle Mitchell
- Pepe Serna … Cast, Hector Gonzalez
- Gloria Serrano … Cast, Mrs. Rosalez
- Doug St. Denis … Cast, Mrs. Mitchell
- Barcy Stricker … Cast, Kyle's Secretary
- Socorro Valdez … Cast, Matilde Gonzalez
- Joaquin Vazquez … Cast, Frank Camarillo
- Carilyn Vice … Cast, Dalsy Willard
- Valerie Wildman … Cast, Julia Voitek
- Dave Williams … Cast, Thug #2
- Randy Williams … Cast, San Quentin Guard
- Harry Woolf … Cast, Charlie Wolfe
- For "A Secret Thing":
- Malia Scotch Marmo … Director
- Sarah Bull … Cast
- Griffin Dunne … Cast
- Deborah Lemen … Cast