The Defenders: Choice of Evils (1998) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

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Television movie remake of the 1960s courtroom drama series, "The Defenders." After the death of his eldest son and his partner in the law firm of Preston and Preston, senior partner, Lawrence Preston enlists his granddaughter, M.J, a former prosecutor, and his other son Don, a law professor, to continue the work of ensuring that every individual accused of a crime is entitled to a proper defense. In this telefilm, a muckraking reporter, who is found guilty of a murder he didn't commit, is mistakenly released from prison. Seeking to flee, he is eventually confronted by two cops, one of whom becomes injured and ultimately dies. Although he is found innocent of the first murder, the reporter must stand trial for murdering the policeman.

Cast & Crew

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Andy Wolk

Beau Bridges

E. G. Marshall

Lawrence Preston

Martha Plimpton

Jon Polito

Lisa Gay Hamilton

Jeanne Baptiste

Film Details

Also Known As

Choice of Evils, Defenders, The, Defenders: Choice of Evils

Genre

Crime

Drama

Thriller

Release Date

1998

Production Company

CBS Television Studios; Dave; Laserpacific Media Corporation; Panavision, Ltd.; Paramount Pictures; Showtime Networks

Distribution Company

Paramount Home Media

Location

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 35m

Synopsis

Television movie remake of the 1960s courtroom drama series, "The Defenders." After the death of his eldest son and his partner in the law firm of Preston and Preston, senior partner, Lawrence Preston enlists his granddaughter, M.J, a former prosecutor, and his other son Don, a law professor, to continue the work of ensuring that every individual accused of a crime is entitled to a proper defense. In this telefilm, a muckraking reporter, who is found guilty of a murder he didn't commit, is mistakenly released from prison. Seeking to flee, he is eventually confronted by two cops, one of whom becomes injured and ultimately dies. Although he is found innocent of the first murder, the reporter must stand trial for murdering the policeman.

Directors

Andy Wolk

Anthony Cowley

2nd Unit Director (2nd Unit)

Cast

Beau Bridges

E. G. Marshall

Lawrence Preston

Martha Plimpton

Jon Polito

Lisa Gay Hamilton

Jeanne Baptiste

David Hemblen

Melanie Nicholls-king

James Mcdaniel

Falconer Abraham

Oliver Becker

Ardon Bess

Counsel Room Guard

Chloe Brown

Marium Carvell

David Collins

Michael Copeman

Derek Keurvorst

Mimi Kuzyk

Camille Preston

Cameron Mathison

Michelle Moffett

Jury Foreperson

David Morgan

Tyrone Campbell

Doug O'keeffe

Nancy Palk

Nicholas Pasco

Alan Peterson

Ross Petty

Christopher Redman

John M. Robinson

Hadley Sandiford

Paul Saunders

Holding Cell Guard

Robert Thomas

William Mcastin

Patricia Welbourne

Scott Wickware

Sergeant Dave Wilson

Junior Williams

Corrections Officer No 1

Philip Williams

Corrections Officer No 2

John Robinson

Alan C. Peterson

Crew

Bill Angarola

Rick Ash

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Craig Baker

David Banigan

Location Manager

Stephen Belanger

Assistant Director

Eric Beldowski

Production Coordinator

Mark Berlet

Rita Bertucci

Extras Agent/Coordinator

Tony Bifano

Beau Bridges

Co-Executive Producer

Ira Cohen

Larry Cohen

Shelley Cook

Stunt Coordinator

Linda Corbin

Anthony Cowley

Production Designer

Suzette Daigle

Costume Designer

John Duke

David Erlichman

Rob Evans

Sy Fischer

Susan Forrest

Casting (Canada), Casting (Toronto)

Gary Gegan

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Chaim Gilad

David Goldblatt

Barbara Gordon

Script Supervisor

Sylvia Grant

Associate Editor

Carole Griffin

Marni Grossman

Natalie Hart

Casting (Los Angeles)

Mary Sue Heron

Rick Hinson

Mark Hunter

Mark Isham

Emma Jaconello

David Jobe

Brock Jolliffe

Special Effects Coordinator

Jonnie Katz

Assistant Director

Stacey Knocker

Production Secretary

Dusan Kovacevic

Production Assistant

Stephen Krause

Todd Kravitz

Jason La Padura

Casting (Los Angeles)

Megan Less

Tommy Lockett

Ashley Mckay

Assistant Production Coordinator

Marvin Midicki

Camera Operator

F A Miller

F A Miller

Peter Miskimmin

Property Master

Paul Mitchnick

Camera Operator

Chris Moriana

Helen Mossler

Casting Executive

Michael Mullins

Lead Set Dresser

Noella Nesdoly

Unit Production Manager

John C Newby

Director Of Photography

Tom Overton

Julian Peter

Frank Polyak

Assistant Camera Operator

Reg Quindinho

Dusty Reeves

Art Department Coordinator

Adam Reuveni

Ted Rich

Associate Producer

Randi Richmond

Assistant Director

Stan Rogow

Executive Producer

Katherine Rose

Reginald Rose

Thomas Rose

Peter Rosenfeld

Steadicam Operator

Carl Savage

Lauren Schaffer

David Schiller

Production Associate

Rachel Seltzer

Ken Smith

Assistant Director

Trevor D Smith

Transportation Coordinator

Melissa Thomas

Matt Toth

Production Assistant

Paula Tymchuk

Assistant Camera Operator

Frans Van Gerwen

Construction Coordinator

Kenneth Watkins

Andy Wolk

Peter Wolk

Peter Wolk

Film Details

Also Known As

Choice of Evils, Defenders, The, Defenders: Choice of Evils

Genre

Crime

Drama

Thriller

Release Date

1998

Production Company

CBS Television Studios; Dave; Laserpacific Media Corporation; Panavision, Ltd.; Paramount Pictures; Showtime Networks

Distribution Company

Paramount Home Media

Location

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 35m

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Aired in United States January 18, 1998

Released in United States on Video March 2, 1999

The original series, "The Defenders," was telecast on CBS from September 16, 1961 to September 9, 1965.

Began shooting summer 1997.

E.G. Marshall is reprising his role as Lawrence Preston from the original series.

Screenwriter Reginald Rose wrote the original teleplay for the series.

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