Based upon dramatic incidents that took place in Columbus, Ohio, when a defense attorney fell in love with her imprisoned client and subsequently assisted him in escaping from custody, this film, shot largely in and about Columbus, features Stephanie Zimbalist as lovelorn lawyer Diana Rockland, along with Alec Baldwin as the sociopathic convict who manipulates her sensibilities. Made for television, this production is saddled with many earmarks of such a work and in general is a fairly routine affair with the exception of telling performances from the two leads, unfortunately softened by slovenly production values and flawed continuity, in addition to a shallow script that is itself not helped by immoderate cutting and editing. Initiation of the relationship between the lovers/fugitives is barely made manifest and the extensive personality alterations required to justify motivation behind Diana's actions are not well written and the firm direction requisite to depict such a transformation is lacking; however, the importance to the affair of Diana's sister Elizabeth, played by Constance McCashin, is effectively dramatized. Zimbalist is quite mannered during the introductory scenes, but her performance clearly improves as the storyline advances, while climactic events of the film are, thanks to her, its strongest moments as she subtly projects qualities that finally affirm her persona, a nice job of acting, overcoming to some degree such foolishness as having Diana, for purposes of disguise, bleach her own hair without wearing gloves.
