| Roe vs. Wade | |
|---|---|
 VHS release promotion | |
| Genre | Biography Drama |
| Written by | Alison Cross |
| Directed by | Gregory Hoblit |
| Starring | Holly Hunter Amy Madigan |
| Theme music composer | W.G. Snuffy Walden |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producers | Gregory Hoblit Alison Cross Michael Manheim |
| Cinematography | Newton Thomas Sigel |
| Editors | Joe Ann Fogle Elodie Keene |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Production companies | NBC Productions The Manheim Company |
| Original release | |
| Network | NBC |
| Release | May 15, 1989 (1989-05-15) |
Roe vs. Wade is a 1989 television film directed by Gregory Hoblit about the landmark 1973 United States Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. It was written by Alison Cross and stars Holly Hunter and Amy Madigan.
Plot
Ellen Russell is a lonely, single, poorly educated Texan who finds herself pregnant with no means to support a child. To avoid giving up the child, she seeks an abortion. Denied an abortion in Texas, the young woman hires a novice lawyer to plead her case in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Cast
- Holly Hunter as Ellen Russell
- Amy Madigan as Sarah Weddington
- James Gammon as Jimmy Russell
- Dion Anderson as Bob Flowers
- Kathy Bates as Jessie
- Chris Mulkey as Ron Weddington
- Terry O'Quinn as Jay Floyd
- Stephen Tobolowsky as Darryl Horwood
- Alycia Grant as Sherry Roe
Release
The film aired on NBC on May 15, 1989. It was the tenth most viewed primetime television show for the week, with a 17.0 Nielsen rating, and seen in an estimated 15.3 million homes.
Awards
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special | Michael Manheim, Gregory Hoblit, Alison Cross | Won |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special | Holly Hunter | Won | |
| Amy Madigan | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Directing in a Miniseries or Special | Gregory Hoblit | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Editing in a Miniseries or Special | Elodie Keane, Joe Ann Foegle | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Writing in a Miniseries or Special | Alison Cross | Nominated | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Michael Manheim, Gregory Hoblit, Alison Cross | Nominated |
| Best Performance by an Actress - Miniseries or Television Movie | Holly Hunter | Nominated | |
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Miniseries or Television Movie | Amy Madigan | Won |
References
- Carter, Bill (May 14, 1989). "TELEVISION; Crafting 'Roe v. Wade': Tiptoeing on a Tightrope". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- Buck, Jerry (May 28, 1989). "Jessica's rescue highest rated show for past week". Sulphur Springs News-Telegram. Associated Press.
- "Roe vs. Wade". Television Academy. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- "Roe vs. Wade". Golden Globes. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
External links
- Roe vs. Wade at IMDb
| Films directed by Gregory Hoblit | |
|---|---|
|
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- 1989 television films
- 1989 films
- 1980s legal drama films
- American legal drama films
- American courtroom films
- Films directed by Gregory Hoblit
- NBC Productions films
- Television courtroom dramas
- Films set in 1970
- Films set in 1971
- Films set in 1973
- Films set in Texas
- Films about abortion
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie winners
- American drama television films
- 1980s English-language films
- 1980s American films
- American drama television film stubs