Indictment: The McMartin Trial is a 1995 American film made for television that originally aired on HBO on May 20, 1995. Indictment is based on the true story of the McMartin preschool trial.

Oliver Stone and Abby Mann were executive producers of the film, which was directed by Mick Jackson.

The cast includes James Woods and Mercedes Ruehl, as opposing defense and prosecuting attorneys in the McMartin trial. Henry Thomas, Sada Thompson and Shirley Knight co-star as the defendants in the case, with Lolita Davidovitch as a child-abuse therapist whose findings were crucial to the prosecution's case and Roberta Bassin as the mother who initiated the case.

Summary A defense lawyer defends an average American family from shocking allegations of child abuse and satanic rituals. After seven years and $15 million, the trial ends with the dismissal of all charges. George Freeman is the star witness in the trial. Kee MacFarlane and Wayne Satz are in a romantic relationship. The poster and ads for the movie declare "The charges were so shocking, the truth didn't matter."

Cast

James Woods as Danny Davis Mercedes Ruehl as Lael Rubin Lolita Davidovitch as Kee MacFarlane Henry Thomas as Ray Buckey Sada Thompson as Virginia McMartin Shirley Knight as Peggy Buckey Alison Elliott as Peggy Ann Buckey Roberta Bassin as Judy Johnson Mark Blum as Wayne Satz Richard Bradford as Ira Reiner James Cromwell as Judge Pounders Chelsea Field as Christine Johnson Richard Portnow as Judge George

Reception John J. O'Connor, writing for The New York Times:

Also writing for The New York Times, Seth Mydans said:

The Los Angeles Times described the docudrama as "HBO’s frothing, highly opinionated account of the case". Variety reports this "fact-based HBO Pictures presentation ... makes no apologies for depicting the infamous child molestation case as a witch hunt" and leaves "little leeway for surprise. Even so, the well-acted cabler hits its targets with a take-no-prisoners gusto".

Accolades Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref. CableACE Awards Movie or Miniseries Abby Mann, Oliver Stone, Janet Yang, Diana Pokorny, Mick Jackson, and Myra Mann Actor in a Movie or Miniseries James Woods Actress in a Movie or Miniseries Mercedes Ruehl Supporting Actress in a Movie or Miniseries Lolita Davidovitch Shirley Knight Directing a Movie or Miniseries Mick Jackson Editing a Dramatic Special or Series/Theatrical Special/Movie or Miniseries Richard A. Harris Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Made for Television Movie Oliver Stone, Janet Yang, Abby Mann, and Diana Pokorny Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special James Woods Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special Shirley Knight Sada Thompson Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or a Special Mick Jackson Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Special Abby Mann and Myra Mann Outstanding Individual Achievement in Casting Mali Finn Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Miniseries or a Special – Single Camera Production Richard A. Harris American Cinema Editors Awards Best Edited Motion Picture for Non-Commercial Television Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials Mick Jackson Edgar Allan Poe Awards Best Television Feature or Miniseries Abby Mann and Myra Mann Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television James Woods Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Henry Thomas Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Shirley Knight Young Artist Awards Best Performance by a Young Actor – TV Special Shane Sweet

Impact The film is cited as a watershed in the shift of ideas about satanic ritual abuse, recasting Ray Buckey as a victim of a hysterical conspiracy rather than a child abuser.

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