I am a big fan of Vincent Bugliosi, going all the way back to "Helter Skelter", the book he wrote when he was the lead prosecuting attorney of one of the most riveting crimes of the 20th Century in the USA. I have read several other books he has written; all good. This is a terrific read, but the film is pretty limited, being a "made for TV film". You have to understand this was back in the day when that was not so good. Now (well over 25 years later), "made for TV" is an outdated term, as there are so many different forms and avenues of film production and direction. I read book this on a fairly long plane flight, finishing right before landing. A good friend of mine picked me up at the airport. I mentioned this book, and how I thought it could be made into a very good film. My friend then told me he had read in the local TV listings that not only had it been made into a film; it was scheduled to be shown the very next evening! I was stunned, to say the least. The book had been out for about 2 years, if memory serves correctly. The film follows the book without too many changes; it was a true crime, which I prefer to read (or watch) over fiction. This is the case when you are dealing with Bugliosi, a brilliant true crime novelist. All in all, this is a very good read and a fairly good film; but best of all, a true story

Movie was very good. I'm familiar with Buglioso(sp?) from Manson trial. This was a very difficult case to try either way; no witnesses and ambiguous evidence. If the facts were drawn out I'm sure that screen play writers had much to do with the result. The way Crenna played Buglioso was consistent with my previous recollections of his personality and legal style. To say that an atty. that takes people's cases is an "ambulance chaser" is dumb; professionals of every skill devote their lives to their professions; teachers want to teach, doctors to treat patients, cops want to find the guilty, etc. In fact, for a "made for TV show, I thought that it was very well done and followed legal procedure closely

****Possibly considered a spoiler****This fact based story made for TV movie contains romance, intrigue, misconception, fear, mystery and murder. And taken from the pages of a novel by famed attorney Vincent Bugliosi. A psychotic low life(Hart Bochner)on the run from the law convinces a younger lover(Rachel Ward)to sail away to paradise and away from the world. On a remote island in the South Pacific where they are running low of provisions their relationship is becoming odd at best. A yacht arrives with an older couple(Diedre Hall and James Brolin)who intend to spend a year on the island. It is the meeting of the "hippies" and the "yuppies". The older couple being really annoyed by the young couple one day is nowhere to be found. Until a crate washes ashore with dismembered remains inside. Bochner is convicted of murder and the last half of the movie Richard Crenna as Vincent Bugliosi is defending Ward in court.Bochner plays this part so well it is easy to dislike him. Ward's acting is so-so, but it doesn't matter that much with her many scenes of alluring attire or lack of. Crenna is flawless. The talent of the lovely Hall is practically wasted. Even as the final credits roll you still have questions to be answered. Best watched on a lazy day, because this movie seems to be in no hurry.

Told in flashback this true-crime mini-series is very hard to follow. Having read the book several years prior to viewing the movie was quite a help to me. The film does present some questions to the viewer in a very subtle manner, but upon closer inspection, one has to wonder if Bugliosi was just trying to salve his conscience for defending a murderer. The movie shows that Bugliosi is just as adept in jury manipulation as a defense attorney as he was as a prosecutor. This one is easy to pass up.