Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones

Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones, also called The Mad Messiah,[1] is a 1980 television miniseries about the Peoples Temple led by Jim Jones, and their 1978 mass suicide at Jonestown. Based on the book by Charles A. Krause, entitled Guyana Massacre: The Eyewitness Account, the film was originally shown on television on April 15, 1980.

Guyana Tragedy
Australian DVD cover
GenreBiography
Drama
Directed byWilliam A. Graham
StarringPowers Boothe
Ned Beatty
LeVar Burton
Colleen Dewhurst
Randy Quaid
Veronica Cartwright
James Earl Jones
ComposerElmer Bernstein
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerFrank Konigsberg
ProducersSam Manners
Ernest Tidyman
CinematographyGil Hubbs
EditorsTony de Zarraga
Aaron Stell
Running time192 minutes
Production companyKonigsberg Company
DistributorCBS
Release
Original networkCBS
Original release
  • April 15, 1980 (1980-04-15)

Synopsis

The film draws on Guyana Massacre: The Eyewitness Account and reports from The Washington Post at the time, to describe the life of Jim Jones from a 1960s idealist to the November 1978 mass murder/suicide of members of Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana.[2] In the beginning of the film, Jim Jones is seen helping minorities and working against racism. Later, after a move to San Francisco and increased power and attention, Jones becomes focused on his belief in nuclear holocaust, and moves hundreds of his followers to Guyana. Congressman Leo J. Ryan is notified that some individuals are being held against their will, and after going to investigate, the Guyana tragedy itself is depicted.[3]

Cast
Actor Role
Powers BootheJim Jones
Ned BeattyCongressman Leo J. Ryan
James Earl JonesFather Divine
Randy QuaidClayton Richie based on Timothy Stoen
Meg FosterJean Richie
Linda HaynesKaren Bundy
Brad DourifDavid Langtree based on Larry Schacht
LeVar BurtonRichard Jefferson
Michael C. GwynneLarry King
Veronica CartwrightMarceline Jones
Albert HallOtis Jefferson
Diane LaddLynette Jones
Diana ScarwidSheila Langtree
Colleen DewhurstMrs. Myrtle Kennedy
Irene CaraAlice Jefferson
Rosalind CashJenny Hammond
Ron O'NealCol. Robles
Brenda VaccaroJane Briggs
Joel GodardJohn Briggs
Clifton JamesBarber Charlie Amos
Ed LauterJim Jones Sr.

Characters

Jones's family members in the movie are based directly on his own family. The characters of Clayton and Jean Richie are based on Timothy and Grace Stoen (he was a primary Temple attorney and Jones's former right-hand man, she a main organizer for the Temple's "Planning Commission"), and David Langtree on Larry Schacht (the sole doctor at Jonestown), though elements of other Temple members are added to each, and details are changed. Many of the other characters are composites of one or more persons.

The character of Larry King has been likened to Larry Layton, a People's Temple member who took part in the assassination of Congressman Leo Ryan.[4]

Production

Though not a documentary in its own right, the film takes the style of a "true life" portrayal of the events.[5] James Earl Jones appears in the film, as spiritual leader Father Divine. The final scenes of the film, with dialog taken from the infamous "Jonestown death tape" (FBI Number Q 042), were produced in a documentary cinematic style, and shot in Puerto Rico and Georgia instead of Guyana. The film was originally broadcast in two parts by CBS Television, on April 15 and 16.[2]

Reception and awards
1980, promotional movie poster

A 1980 Time magazine review was mostly positive, but criticized the film for spending too much time on earlier parts of Jones' life, stating: "There really is no point in recounting the minutiae of a madman's life if, after four hours, it is still impossible to understand how Jones became a sex-and-drug-crazed megalomaniac or why his misfit followers so easily accepted his larcenous and sadistic behavior."[6] The Time review went on to also note the way Boothe captured the minutiae of the Jim Jones character, and lamented that the film's writer had not made the role more complex for Boothe to portray.[6]

Actor Powers Boothe, who played the role of Jim Jones, won the 1980 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special for his portrayal in the film.[7][8] Boothe was the only nominated actor in any category to attend the awards ceremony, since the Screen Actors Guild was boycotting the event during a strike.[9] The film was also nominated for Emmy Awards in three other categories, including Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Mixing, Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special, and Outstanding Drama or Comedy Special. The film was also nominated for an Eddie Award, for Best Edited Episode from a Television Mini-Series, by the American Cinema Editors.[10]

References
  1. Hedblad, Alan (2000). Something About the Author. Gale. p. 95. ISBN 0-7876-4031-X.
  2. Erickson, Hal., Plot Synopsis, Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones, Allmovie, retrieved June 10, 2007.
  3. Scarecrow Video (2004). The Scarecrow Video Movie Guide. Sasquatch Books. p. 467. ISBN 1-57061-415-6.
  4. Gibbons, Jennifer Kathleen (December 27, 2013). "The Guyana Tragedy Myth". Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple. San Diego State University. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  5. Yearbook of the Encyclopedia Americana (1981). The Americana Annual: An Encyclopedia of Current Events. Grolier. p. 521.
  6. Rich, Frank (April 14, 1980). "Ratings Gambit: GUYANA TRAGEDY: THE STORY OF JIM JONES". Time Magazine. Time Warner.
  7. Lundius, Jan; Mats Lundahl (1999). Peasants and Religion. Routledge. p. 311. ISBN 0-415-17411-2.
  8. Franks, Don (1996). Entertainment Awards: A Music, Cinema, Theatre and Broadcasting Reference, 1928 Through 1993. McFarland & Co Inc Pub. p. 56.
  9. Trivia for The 32nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Internet Movie Database, Amazon.com. Retrieved June 14, 2007.
  10. Awards for Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones, Internet Movie Database, Amazon.com. Retrieved June 10, 2007.
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