Kill Me If You Can (1977)
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The story of "red light bandit" Caryl Chessman, previously dramatized in the 1955 film Cell 2455, Death Row (based on Chessman's own book), was adapted for television as Kill Me If You Can. In a radical departure from his usual duties as MASH's Hawkeye Pierce, Alan Alda plays Chessman, who in 1948 was found guilty of robbery, kidnapping and sexual assault. Under the laws of the era, Chessman was sentenced to die in the gas chamber. But by studying the law and publishing four books on his plight, the brilliant (albeit still repugnant) Chessman managed to forestall his execution for 12 years. Though no effort is made in the film to make the sociopathic Chessman any better than he was, John Gay's script comes out squarely in opposition of capital punishment. Kill Me If You Can first aired on September 25, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Alan Alda - Caryl Chessman
- Walter McGinn
- Carmen Argenziano - Lieutenant
- William Bogert - Silvers
- Vivian Brown - Juror #2
- Mwako Cumbuka - 1st Clerk
- Philip Baker Hall - Phillips
- Barnard Hughes
- Virginia Kiser
- Edward Mallory
- Paul Napier - 1st Reporter
- Ben Piazza
- John Randolph
- James B. Sikking - Mr. Lea
- Arnold Soboloff - Dr. Graves
- Maxine Stuart - Mrs. Asher
- Herb Vigran - Jury Foreman
- Gary Epper - Officer #4
- Loutz Gage - State Superior Court Justice
- Donald Bishop - Reporter
- Joe E. Tata - Kelton
- Talia Shire
- Mary Margaret Amato - Witness
- Conrad Bachmann - Warden Teets
- James Brodhead - Judge Carter
- Tony Burton - Price
- Danny Dayton - Prisoner
- John Hillerman
- Jason Johnson - Binder
- Jim Malinda - Reporter #2
- Bill Morey - Judge Rexford
- F. William Parker - Judge Guerin
- Rose Portillo - Sarah Loper
- John Ryan
- Richard Smedley - 2nd Reporter
- George Sperdakos - Court Clerk
- Tom Tarpey - Guard
- Clint Young - Death Guard
- James Keach - Officer #1
- Leonard Simon - Court Clerk
- Charlie Picerni - Officer #3
- Director(s):
- Buzz Kulik
- Writer(s):
- John Gay
- Producer(s):
- Peter Katz
- Closed Captioning:
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- Subtitles:
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