ABC THEATER: RIGHT TO KILL? (TV)
Summary
One in this occasional series of dramas. This dramatization is based on "court records, personal interviews and investigative reports" surrounding the murder of Richard Jahnke, Sr., by his children, Richard, Jr., and Deborah. The program begins as the Jahnkes move to a new house outside of Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1981. Teenagers Richie and Deborah hope that after several moves, their father has recovered from his days as a wife and child beater. But the tranquility of their new home is shattered one night when Mr. Jahnke snaps and reverts to abusing and beating his frightened, conciliatory wife. Soon, he resumes humiliating and beating his children as well. After one particularly brutal attack, Richie runs away to seek help, but representatives from the police and a social service agency are unable to corroborate Richie's tales of abuse, so no action is taken. One evening, while his parents are out, Richie and his sister plot to end the nightmare of abuse, and the boy kills his father with a shotgun when he returns home. Following the murder, Mrs. Jahnke finds that she can hardly forgive her children, but her testimony on their behalf is needed. The program explores legal aspects of battered children in the state of Wyoming, and concludes with on-screen details about the fates of Richie and Deborah after their trials. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: May 22, 1985 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:53:19
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T85:0565
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1985
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "A View to a Kill" (feature film)
- TV - Commercials - "Brewster's Millions" (feature film)
- TV - Commercials - "Rambo First Blood Part II" (feature film)
- TV - Commercials - Arrid deodorant
- TV - Commercials - Dannon yogurt
- TV - Commercials - Duracell batteries
- TV - Commercials - Fruit of the Loom underwear
- TV - Commercials - Halsa shampoo
- TV - Commercials - Kibbles 'n Bits dog food
- TV - Commercials - MasterCard International
- TV - Commercials - Maybelline cosmetics
- TV - Commercials - McDonald's fast food
- TV - Commercials - Mennen deodorant
- TV - Commercials - Minolta copiers
- TV - Commercials - National Dairy Board
- TV - Commercials - Nissan trucks
- TV - Commercials - Old Spice deodorant
- TV - Commercials - Q-tips cotton swabs
- TV - Commercials - Ragu spaghetti sauce
- TV - Commercials - Sharp electronics
- TV - Commercials - Snuggle fabric softener
- TV - Commercials - Sunbeam iron appliances
- TV - Commercials - Tampax tampons
- TV - Commercials - U-Haul Centers
- TV - Commercials - Wendy's fast food
- TV - Commercials - Ziploc freezer bags
- TV - Commercials - Ziploc storge bags
- TV - Promos - "20/20"
- TV - Promos - "ABC News Nightline"
- TV - Promos - "Battle of the Network Stars"
- TV - Promos - "Benson"
- TV - Promos - "Generation"
- TV - Promos - "Hardcastle & McCormick"
- TV - Promos - "Indianapolis 500"
- TV - Promos - "The Barbara Walters Special"
- TV - Promos - "The Rape of Richard Beck"
- TV - Promos - "Webster"
CREDITS
- Frank Konigsberg … Executive Producer
- Donald Wrye … Executive Producer
- Larry Sanitsky … Supervising Producer
- Jack Clements … Producer
- Elizabeth Daley … Producer
- Gordon Davidson … Producer
- Barry Jossen … Associate Producer
- John Erman … Director
- Joyce Eliason … Writer
- Paul Chihara … Music by
- Frederic Forrest … Cast, Richard Jahnke, Sr.
- Christopher Collet … Cast, Richard Jahnke, Jr.
- Karmin Murcelo … Cast, Maria Jahnke
- Justine Bateman … Cast, Deborah Jahnke
- Ann Wedgeworth … Cast, Eve Whitcomb
- Terry O'Quinn … Cast, Jim Barrett
- Lisa Blake Richards … Cast, Vera Scofield
- J.T. Walsh … Cast, Major Vegvary
- Randy Moore … Cast, Counselor
- Norman Bennet … Cast, the Detective
- Jerry Haynes … Cast, Mr. Harris
- von Bargen, Daniel … Cast, Detective Roberts
- Bob Ginnaven … Cast, Detective Marquez
- Hugh Gorrian … Cast, the Police Officer
- Mark Gilpin … Cast, Billy
- John Morrison … Cast, Candy's Father
- Norma Moore … Cast, Candy's Mother
- Karen Radcliffe … Cast, Robyn
- Gary Moody … Cast, Officer Torgerson
- Brian Sadlier … Cast, Shawn
- Alison Bartlett … Cast, Candy
- John M. Jackson … Cast, Social Worker