Guyana Tragedy-Jim Jones Story (1980)

"The cast of this film was tremendous...[in] a dark, and at times way too real look at the powers a man can have over people...  HorrorWatch
"...it is Powers Boothe who shines most brightly in the lead role. He won a well-deserved Emmy...in a powerful performance...  Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Movie Guide

Editor's Note The Jonestown tragedy gets the docudrama treatment here with an interesting cast. Powers Boothe's performance as the deranged, adulterous self proclaimed prophet who induces almost 1,000 of his followers to commit suicide with him won him an Emmy.

	Brad Dourif
	Diane Ladd
	James Earl Jones
	LeVar Burton
	Ned Beatty
	Powers Boothe
	Randy Quaid
	Rosalind Cash
	Aaron Stell - Editor
	Charles A. Krause - Based On Book By
	Elmer Bernstein - Original Music By
	Ernest Tidyman - Screenplay
	Frank Konigsberg - Executive Producer
	Gil Hubbs - Cinematographer
	Sam Manners - Producer
	Tony de Zarraga - Editor
	William A. Graham - Director

ePinions.com 8 of 10
Whenever a sensational tragedy occurs, it is certain that there will be a made-for-television movie about it shortly thereafter. These films are often rushed, so that each network can show its version first...Fortunately, Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones took its time. The cult 'suicide' took place on November 18, 1978. The two part movie aired on April 15 and 16, 1980, nearly a year and a half later. This compares favorably with television docudramas on David Koresh, which began production while the siege of the Branch Davidians was still taking place...The production values were high for Guyana Tragedy. The score was by Elmer Bernstein. The script was written by Ernest Tidyman, an Academy Award winner via The French Connection (1971). The supporting cast was loaded with familiar names and faces: Ned Beatty, James Earl Jones, Brad Dourif (Billy from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), LeVar Burton, Diana Scarwid, Brenda Vaccaro. Randy Quaid has a rare dramatic role...Some dramatic liberties have been taken with Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones...But on the whole, this is one made-for-television film that is worth the effort to see. - Brian Koller