The Thin Blue Line (1988)

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Brilliant Errol Morris film that re-energized the whole crime documentary genre… the haunting original musical score by Phillip Glass perfectly sets the tone to the highly artistic telling of the tragic tale of  Randall Dale Adams, an innocent man that was sentenced to life in prison for a crime that he didn’t commit… A year after ‘The Thin Blue Line‘ was released, Adams’ case was reviewed and he was released from prison…

“Morris was originally going to film a documentary about prosecution psychiatrist, Dr. James Grigson, known as Doctor Death,who testified in more than 100 trials that resulted in death sentences. As an expert psychiatrist, Dr. Grigson made a name for himself by giving testimony in capital cases for the prosecution. Under the law in Texas, the death penalty can only be issued if the jury is convinced that the defendant is not just guilty, but will commit violent crimes in the future if not put to death. In almost every instance, Dr. Grigson would, after examining a defendant, testify that he had found the individual in question to be an incurable sociopath, who it was “one hundred per cent certain” would kill again. Grigson told the jury that Adams would be an ongoing menace if kept alive but Morris, after meeting Adams, became skeptical that he committed the crime.”  Wikipedia

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