Domestic Violence in Film

This file contains  suggestions for films  that portray domestic  violence. The first
page focuses especially  on popular films  and contains suggestions  that appeared on
WMST-L in March 2004;  the second page, dating  from 2007, offers a  broader range of
suggestions.  For other WMST-L files now available on the Web, see the
WMST-L File Collection.
PART 1 OF 2

Kate Waits writes:

> For a class project, some of the students in my Domestic Violence
> course are looking at mainstream, popular movies that portray domestic
> violence.  They've thought of Burning Bed, Sleeping with the Enemy,
> Enough.  I added Carousel  (the Rogers & Hammerstein musical).
>
> Other suggestions - ESPECIALLY for some old movies?
>
> Feel free to reply privately to me, or to the whole list if you think
> others would be interested.
>
> Sincerely,
> Kate Waits
> Univ. of Tulsa College of Law
> kwaits  AT  utulsa.edu

*******

Hi Kate:
Some others come to mind for your list -- If I'm remembering correctly,
some of these are where DV is at "play" if not the central theme.  Also,
my memory of Fried Green Tomatoes and Bastard Out of Carolina comes from
the books and the movies might not have picked up the family violence
themes as clearly:

Fried Green Tomatoes
the movie about Ike and Tina Turner, the name of which escapes me at
the moment
Bastard Out of Carolina ("just" child sex abuse?  I can't find my copy
of the book right now to double-check)
The Color Purple  (It's been ages since I read the book, but I have a
vivid memory of Oprah's bruises -- they were from DV, right?)

Interesting question about older movies -- I wonder if anyone else has
the sense that the older films tend to be just so casual about the
violence (think, e.g. Rhett slapping Scarlet in Gone With the Wind).
That said, was a movie ever made of Susan Glaspell's Trifles (the play
version of Jury of Her Peers)?  Along the musical theatre line, Carnival
is a good example.  Here's a website that gives a quick plot line for it
if you're not familiar with it:
http://www.musicalheaven.com/c/carnival.shtml  .  Oklahoma! has some
of the same jealousy/domestic violence theme in a similarly weird
twisted way -- i.e. portraying the female character as emotionally
manipulating the men and thus suggesting she "causes" the violence.

Quince

C. Quince Hopkins
Assistant Professor of Law
Washington and Lee University
School of Law
Lexington, Virginia 24450
Email:  hopkinsq  AT  wlu.edu
Web:  http://home.wlu.edu/~hopkinsq/

I am breaking this up into two posts as my original was rejected for
being too long, but I think all of this is appropriate & useful to
anyone interested in movies about domestic violence:

On Monday, March 8, 2004, at 12:27  PM, Quince Hopkins wrote:

> the movie about Ike and Tina Turner, the name of which escapes me at
> the moment

"What's Love Got to Do With It" 1993. Director: Brian Gibson .
Starring:  Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne

> Bastard Out of Carolina ("just" child sex abuse?  I can't find my copy
> of the book right now to double-check)
>
Also physical abuse. However, my recollection is that the movie softens
up a lot of the violence that is in the book.

> The Color Purple  (It's been ages since I read the book, but I have a
> vivid memory of Oprah's bruises -- they were from DV, right?)
>
Yes.

I found the following movies (made for tv) by going to the Lifetime TV
website and searching for ^+domestic violence^+ + movies. After going
through all these I think someone should do a study of movies about
domestic violence shown on Lifetime TV^+ Most of these appear to have
been based on true stories. Two of them are scheduled to air this month.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move0486.html

DEAD BY SUNSET (Note: scheduled to air 3/13/04)

Director: Karen Arthur
Year film was made: 1995
Stars: Annette O'Toole and Ken Olin

Brad is a charming, yet manipulative husband and father who hates
women. As his marriage evaporates and divorce proceedings begin, he
realizes there is only one way to get full custody of his sons ^+
killing his wife. When Brad becomes the main suspect in his wife's
death, the police begin to question his new girlfriend, Sara. Defending
Brad at every turn, it isn't until two years later that Sara realizes
the truth and decides to testify against him.
http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move1361.html

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move2919.html

SLEEPING WITH THE DEVIL (Note: scheduled to air 3/20/04)
Director: William A. Graham
Year film was made: 1997
Stars: Shannen Doherty, Tim Matheson and David Bowe

After a wealthy man helps out a poor woman, the couple eventually gets
married. But when the woman attempts to leave the marriage, her husband
tries to murder her. This is a true story based on a book of the same
title.

A CRY FOR HELP: THE TRACY THURMAN STORY
Director: Robert Markowitz
Year film was made: 1989
Stars: Nancy McKeon and Bruce Weitz

This is the story of the landmark case that led to the adoption of
domestic violence legislation and reforms in police responses to
domestic violence calls.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move2684.html

SHATTERED DREAMS
Director: Robert Iscove
Year film was made: 1990
Stars: Lindsay Wagner and Michael Nouri

The true story of Charlotte Fedders, the abused wife of a prominent
Washington official. The film documents her quest to break the vicious
cycle of domestic violence.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move2342.html

LIES OF THE HEART: THE STORY OF LAURIE KELLOG
Director: Michael Toshiyuki Uno

Year film was made: 1994
Stars: Gregory Harrison, Jennie Garth and Steven Keats

After suffering 10 years of abuse from her violent, domineering older
husband, a fragile woman enlists the help of four local teenagers to
murder her spouse. Arrested for the crime, she is eventually convicted
and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move2620.html

DANGEROUS INTENTIONS
Director: Michael Toshiyuki Uno

Year film was made: 1995
Stars: Donna Mills, Corbin Bernsen and Robin Givens

A woman tries to escape her abusive husband by staying at a shelter
with her daughter.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move3154.html

THE PROMISE
Director: Bethany Rooney

Year film was made: 1999
Stars: Isabella Hofmann, Tracy Nelson and Neil Maffin

Based on a true story. A woman seeks justice after discovering that her
sister was murdered by her abusive husband.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move1898.html

MEN DON'T TELL (Note: deals w/husband being abused by wife)
Director: Harry Winer
Year film was made: 1993
Stars: Judith Light and Peter Strauss

An unhappy wife who was abused as a child physically beats her passive
husband. When he defends himself during one of these tirades, she is
hospitalized and he is accused of attempted murder. The true nightmare
of their marital relationship unfolds when the whole family is
questioned by the police.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move0445.html

DEADLY MATRIMONY
Director: John Korty
Year film was made: 1991
Stars: Brian Dennehy, Treat Williams and Susan Ruttan

A sleazy Chicago lawyer, who bribes judges and fixes trials for
organized crime figures, murders his wife in a jealous rage. A diligent
detective attempts to bring the crime to justice but is stonewalled by
crooked cops, silent witnesses and a corrupt judge.

More next post...

Georgia
**************************************
Georgia NeSmith, Ph.D.
gnesmith  AT  frontiernet.net
http://georgia_nesmith.tripod.com
http://homepage.mac.com/georgia.nesmith/iblog/index.html
**************************************
FIGHT MEDIA CONSOLIDATION! BE THE MEDIA!
Read and contribute to Rochester Indymedia.
See http://www.rochester.indymedia.org for details.
***************************************************
Dr. Georgia NeSmith
Visual and Performing Arts Department
Monroe Community College
http://georgia_nesmith.tripod.com/mccmedia

More movies on domestic violence from Lifetime TV:

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move2084.html

GETTING OUT
Director: John Korty
Year film was made: 1994
Stars: Rebecca De Mornay and Ellen Burstyn

When a Georgia woman is released from prison, she attempts to regain
custody of her son, whom her mother had put up for adoption. She tries
to rebuild her life while dealing with the resentment she feels toward
her abusive father and belittling mother.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move2564.html

THE UNSPOKEN TRUTH
Director: Peter Werner
Year film was made: 1995
Stars: Lea Thompson, Patricia Kalember

Imprisoned for a murder she did not commit, an abused woman finds
strength and hope when a shocking family secret unites her with her
real mother. Together, they overcome incredible legal and professional
adversity. Based on a true story.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move0450.html

IN A CHILD'S NAME
Director: Tom McLoughlin
Year film was made: 1991
Stars: Valerie Bertinelli, Adrian Zmed and Steven Bauer

A woman fights to have her brother-in-law put away for her sister's
brutal slaying. She then battles overwhelming odds for custody of her
nephew when he is illegally adopted by her brother-in-law's
manipulative parents. Based on the book by Peter Maas.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move2098.html

FATAL VOWS: THE ALEXANDRA O'HARA STORY
Director: John Power
Year film was made: 1994
Stars: John Stamos, Cynthia Gibb and Ben Gazzara

Based on a true story, a young, single mother unknowingly marries a
serial killer. When she discovers his true identity, she attempts to
leave him. Only after a desperate fight for survival does she escape.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move2201.html

WHEN NO ONE WOULD LISTEN
Director: Armand Mastroianni
Year film was made: 1992
Stars: Michele Lee, James Farentino and John Spencer

A battered wife and mother attempts to escape from her irrational and
violent husband, whose homicidal rage intensifies and culminates in
holding her hostage.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move2352.html

CRIES UNHEARD: THE DONNA YAKLICH STORY
Director: Armand Mastroianni
Year film was made: 1993
Stars: Jaclyn Smith, Hilary Swank, Brad Johnson and David Lascher

A woman is sentenced to death for arranging the murder of her husband.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move2917.html

N MY SISTER'S SHADOW
Director: Sandor Stern

Year film was made: 1996
Stars: Nancy McKeon, Janet Leigh and Thomas McCarthy

A jealous ex-husband alienates two sisters, but the women are
eventually drawn closer together when a secret from their past is
revealed.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move1884.html

GOODNIGHT, SWEET WIFE: A MURDER IN BOSTON
Director: Jerrold Freedman
Year film was made: 1990
Stars: Ken Olin, Margaret Colin and Annabella Price

This movie is based on the true story of Charles and Carol Stuart, who
were shot in their car in downtown Boston. Carol was pronounced dead
shortly afterward, and her premature baby died 17 days later. Charles
survived and told police that they were assaulted by a black man.
Months later, the investigation began to focus on Charles, who then
committed suicide. The movie reveals unsettling truths about race
relations in the United States.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move2100.html

FINAL APPEAL

Director: David Massar and Eric Till

Year film was made: 1993
Stars: JoBeth Williams, Brian Dennehy and Tom Mason

Based on a true story. A woman who murders her abusive husband relies
on her brother, an alcoholic attorney, to prove that she acted in
self-defense.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move2151.html

ESCAPE FROM TERROR: THE TERESA STAMPER STORY
Director: Michael Scott
Year film was made: 1995
Stars: Cindy Williams and Adam Storke

Teresa and Chris' drive home is suddenly interrupted when Teresa's
ex-husband, Paul, shoots Chris and abducts Teresa. Teresa frantically
tries to get away from the violent man she had hoped to escape through
divorce, worrying that Chris may be dying alone at the side of the road.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/movies/info/move2575.html

IF SOMEONE HAD KNOWN
Director: Eric Laneuville
Year film was made: 1995
Stars: Kellie Martin and Linda Kelsey

A town must come to terms with domestic violence when a detective's
daughter murders her abusive husband.

(end of list)

Georgia

*******************************************
Dr. Georgia NeSmith
Visual and Performing Arts Department
Monroe Community College
http://georgia_nesmith.tripod.com/mccmedia

The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence keeps a Video Resource
List of educational videos on violence against women (last updated
February 2004). You can download the full list here:
http://www.vawnet.org/NRCDVPublications/TAPE/OtherResources/NRC_Videolist.php
or you can search the Video Resource List database by category or title
at: http://fmpro.pcadv.org/videosearch.html.
Each listing provides a short description, distributor information,
length, copyright date, languages available, etc. Every video on this list
was reviewed by the NRCDV to ensure that the content is in keeping with
the philosophy of the organization.
Please let me know if you have any questions about this list.
Thanks!
Casey Keene
ck  AT  pcadv.org

__________________________________________________________
Casey Keene, VAWnet Prevention and Education Resource Coordinator
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
6400 Flank Drive, Suite 1300, Harrisburg PA 17112-2791
http://www.vawnet.org | http://www.nrcdv.org | http://dvam.vawnet.org
__________________________________________________________
~work for peace~

A few other films depicting domestic violence that I have used in my
classes and in peer education training (in addition to those mentioned
previously):

"Once Were Warriors" (1994) Directed by Lee Tamahori--depicts the
intersection of class, race, and gender in the Maori community in New
Zealand.  Very violent, so students really need to be prepared for it. 
But quite uplifting in a way, amidst the tragedy depicted.

"Domestic Violence" (2001) Directed by Frederick Wiseman-documentary by
the famed filmmaker that focuses on a battered women's shelter.  No
narration--the survivors and visitors are our eyes.

"Defending Our Lives" (1993).  Academy-award winning doc about women
incarcerated for killing their batterers.

"Sleeping With the Enemy" (1991).  Directed by Joseph Rubin, Starring
Julia Roberts.  Typical Hollywood depiction of domestic violence, but
brings up some good discussion points.

"Independence Day" (1983).  Not the film about invading aliens, but the
story of a young woman who dreams to escape her small town.  Dianne Wiest
plays the battered wife of Cliff DeYoung.  Great revenge scene.

And of course, there's always the ground-breaking "The Burning Bed"
(1984), starring Farrah Fawcett, which is still riveting after 20(!)
years. Based on the true story of Francine Hughes, a battered Michigan
housewife who was prosecuted in 1977 for dousing her abusive husband with
gasoline and setting him on fire as he slept .  This film and Defending
Our Lives both spark great discussions of self-defense and how some women
kill their abusers out of desperation when the system fails to protect
them.


Claire N. Kaplan, Ph.D.
Coordinator, Sexual Assault Education
UVA Women's Center
P.O. Box 800588
Charlottesville VA 22908-0588
ckaplan  AT  virginia.edu
http://sexualassault.virginia.edu

Colleagues -

I sent queries to several lists, asking for movies involving domestic
violence.  Here is the compiled list.  Comments are taken from various
people who wrote, as well as some of my own.

The list includes dramatic movies only, not documentaries.  It includes
work for both movie theaters and television, and only include movies
that appear to be commercially available.  All films are listed, at
least according to the Internet Database <www.imdb.com> as being
available for sale at Amazon.com.


Kate Waits
University of Tulsa College of Law

DRAMATIC MOVIES WITH ELEMENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

American Beauty (1999) - creepy Chris Cooper (the guy who ultimately
kills Kevin Spacey) is abusive to his family - with a wife who's been
reduced to a nearly catatonic state.  Did you realize that the wife was
played by Allison Janney, now famous as C.J. Craig on "The West Wing"?

Bastard Out of Carolina (1996) - movie softens up the domestic violence
of the book, and focuses on the child sexual abuse, which is also
softened from the book

Beauty and the Beast (Disney animated version, but do other versions do
the same?) - has been critiqued as a film teaching young girls to
tolerate domestic violence and stay with abusers (includes
interviews with young girls discussing what they would tell friends in
an abusive relationshiop after seeing the Disney movie - some said
things along the line of this film shows if you are nice enough they
will change, etc).   For info about the critical video on Disney see
http://www.mediaed.org/videos/CommercialismPoliticsAndMedia/
MickeyMouseMonopoly

The Burning Bed  (1984) - starring Farrah Fawcett, which is still
riveting after 20(!) years. Based on the true story of Francine Hughes,
a battered Michigan housewife who was prosecuted in 1977 for dousing
her abusive husband with gasoline and setting him on fire as he slept.
[Semi-relevant editorial comment by Kate Waits: I've always thought
that a big reason for the success of this movie was the right-on
portrayal of the abusive husband by actor Paul LeMat.  Some of you may
remember him as the hotrodder, John Milton, in "American Graffiti."  He
was also Melvin in the delightful "Melvin and Howard."  "American
Graffitti" had *so many* actors who became stars; I've never understood
why LeMat wasn't one of them.]

Carosel (1956) - the hero is a batterer, but we're supposed to think
that he's still a great guy who deserves to go to heaven.  The victim
sings, "What's the use of wonderin' if he's good or if he's bad."

Chicken Run (animated 2000) - it illustrates the power/control,
physical and psychological violence,etc (but in this case from a wife
to husband) and then shows his abuse of the chickens.

The Color Purple (1985)

Crimes of the Heart (1986) - Sissy Spacek, Jessica Lange, Diane Keaton
play three southern sisters, one of whom has an abusive husband (she's
also having an affair but i don't think that was used to 'explain' the
violence)

Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970) - a great example of the psychological
aspects of domestic violence.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

Gaslight (1944) - with an Oscar-winning performance by Ingrid Bergman.
is another old movie that features mental abuse. Chillingly portrays
the control and crazy-making actions of a perpetrator against his
victim without any physical violence.

Gone with the Wind (1939)- marital rape

Great Santini (1979)

Hans Christian Anderson (1952) - musical with Danny Kay.

The Joy Luck Club (1993) - many depictions of various forms of DV in
China, but even better in some ways is the depiction of a relationship
of one of the Chinese-American daughters, where there is power and
control and a million rules by the abuser, even if not (as I recall)
physical violence

Independence Day (1983).  NOT the film about invading aliens, but the
story of a young woman who dreams to escape her small town.  Dianne
Wiest plays the battered wife of Cliff DeYoung.  Great revenge scene.

La Strada (1954) by Fellini

Men in Black (1997) The scene is very short, near the start of the
movie. It^-s short but sweet.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) - with Carole Lombard and Robert Montgomery -
directed by Alfred Hitchcock of all people.  A romantic comedy we saw a
month or 2 ago where the couple finds out they're not legally married,
she kicks him out and he treats the house as if he still lives there.
Perhaps more subtle than they're looking for.

Oklahoma! (1955) in a weird twisted way.

Oliver! (musical 1968) is really good for depiction of DV.  It's got
"As Long as He Needs Me," which I always thought was a sweet love song
until I finally saw the movie, where it's clear she's a battered woman.

Once Were Warriors (1994) -- Australian film about race and identity of
aboriginal men and women; the domestic violence is 'combined' with
alcoholism.  Depicts the intersection of class, race, and gender in the
Maori community in New Zealand.  Very violent, so students really need
to be prepared for it.  But quite uplifting in a way, amidst the
tragedy depicted.

Petulia (1968) - with Julie Christie. Was about a woman in a classic
violent relationship of beating followed by major contrition.

Sleeping With the Enemy (1991).  Directed by Joseph Rubin, Starring
Julia Roberts.  Typical Hollywood depiction of domestic violence, but
brings up some good discussion points.

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) -  boy, the batterer really does a
number on poor Blanche DuBois

The Taming of the Shrew  - any version, with the most famous being with
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, 1976

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) -  the family violence is overshadowed by
other issues, but it^-s important to the plot.

"Two Women" (1960) - with Sophia Loren [Kate Waits asks: Does this film
have DV?  There's a brutal rape scene, but I thought it was perpetrated
by soldiers, not an intimate partner.]

What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) - story of Tina Turner and the
abuse she suffered from Ike.  One domestic violence expert wrote: "It
taught me two things: (1) that many women stay because they are strong,
not weak, and (2) that it may take the courage to face down the
perpetrator to get him to stop (after they are separated, he comes and
threatens her with a gun, and her Buddhist practice enables her to face
him and say she's not afraid, and he leaves, for good.)"

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) Bette Davis, Joan Crawford.  Not
so physical, but certainly psychological abuse. And victim is in a
wheelchair


**************
ALSO WORTH LOOKING FOR

A Jury of Her Peers (1980)  Short film (30 minutes) Directed by Sally
Heckel - apparently no longer available for sale, but look for it in
your library.  Several people praised it.




*************************************

Kathleen (Kate) Waits
Professor
University of Tulsa College of Law
3120 East 4th Place
Tulsa, Oklahoma  74104-2499

E-mail: kwaits  AT  utulsa.edu

*************************************

I forwarded Georgia NeSmith's long list of domestic violence movies on
Lifetime TV (with proper attribution to Georgia).  Here's one of the
responses I received, which is forwarded with Prof. Corcos's permission.

Kate Waits
U. of Tulsa College of Law

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Christine A Corcos <ccorcos  AT  lsu.edu>
> Date: Thu Mar 18, 2004  9:34:36 AM US/Central
> To: Kathleen Waits <kwaits  AT  utulsa.edu>
> Cc: Antigone <antigone  AT  lists.washlaw.edu>,
> antigone-bounces  AT  lists.washlaw.edu, DV Clinic
> <dvclinic  AT  lists.washlaw.edu>, FIVERS <fivers  AT  yahoogroups.com>

>
> Actually there is a growing list of critiques on made for tv movies,
> even specifically Lifetime movies. It's a really interesting field. See
> these titles (not exhaustive list by any means)
>
> Julie D'Acci, Lifetime: A Cable Network For Women (Indiana U Press
> for University of California, Santa Barbara, 1994)
>
> Heather Lyn Hundley, Defining Feminine Programming and Co-Opting
> Liberal Feminism: A Discursive Anlysis of Lifetime's Original Movies
> (Dissertation, 1999)
>
> Lorraine Kaplan, Woman's Channel, but Man's World (Dissertation, 1992)
>
> Melissa J. Roy, Women on Lifetime Television: A Feminist Content
> Analysis (Dissertation, 1997)
>
> These titles might also be of interest on the subject of made for tv
> movies about women's issues generally:
>
> Bonnie J. Dow, Prime-Time Feminism: Television, Media Culture and the
> Women's Movement Since 1970 (Philadelphia: U of Pennsylvania Press,
> 1996)
>
> Elayne Rapping, The Movie of the Week: Private Stories/Public Events
> (U of Minnesota Press, 1992)
>
> Elayne Rapping, Law and Justice on Seen on TV (2003)
>
> I highly reccomend Elayne's works, especially the latter book. She has
> a couple of really provocative chapters on gender and violence that I am
> putting on class reserve for my gender and law class this semester.
>
> Christine Corcos
> Associate Professor of Law
> Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University
> Associate Professor, Women's and Gender Studies Program
> LSU A&M
> W325 Law Building
> 1 East Campus Drive
> Baton Rouge LA 70803
> home page: faculty.law.lsu.edu/ccorcos
> email: ccorcos  AT  lsu.edu

*************************************