A Cry for Help: The Tracey Thurman Story

This is a drama about Tracey Thurman (Mckeon), who is abused by her estranged husband. This takes place prior to domestic violence laws. This was actually a landmark case towards the enactment of domestic violence laws across the U.S. Ms. Mckeon does an outstanding job in portraying this woman who continually attempts to seek help from local law enforcement to protect her from her husband.

What a great movie, excellently portrayed by Nancy McKeon and Dale Midkiff. While watching this movie, though , I experienced an unbelievable feeling of anxiety. I was in (and escaped from) an abusive marriage, and the character of Buck Thurman was so similar in every way to my ex that I found it extremely difficult to watch. Women who watch this movie, and have never experienced abuse can either pity women who are trapped (and they are literally trapped) in abusive relationships, or hate them and call them stupid for staying. I can only say that unless you have been in the situation, you will never comprehend the horror and trauma of it. It is ignorant to believe that women stay in abusive relationships because they are too stupid to get out. Their relationships don't start out abusive. Just try to imagine someone whom you love unconditionally and have decided to spend the rest of your life with evolving slowly, then dramatically into a mentally and physically abusive monster. You may be able to imagine that, but you will never be able to imagine having all self-respect beaten out of you, nor will you be able to imagine the feelings of fear, degradation, humility, and hopelessness. Those feelings, are why women stay.

I would like to comment on the person who wrote that. I don't think you watched the movie at all. Because if you did, you would have realized that she did try to get away from the man and get help but the police wouldn't help her. Thats what the whole movie is about. Also, if you have not been in that kind of situation, you need to shut your mouth, because believe it or not, it is harder to get away from someone like that than you think. I, personally have not been in that situation but my mother has so i have lived it. If you really love someone, its easy to believe they will change. you say, but how can you love someone like that. well, they don't start beating you right off hand, they wait till they know they've got you then start. thank you for your time

When I saw this movie on Monday (3-20-00) I couldn't believe what some people do. It was a very sad movie! I don't want to say to much about it just in case someone is reading this and hasn't seen it yet. But who ever has seen this...people can be disgusting (not everyone). This movie made me extremely mad and the situation should have been handled differently. Anyone that has seen this movie before knows what I am talking about. I usually talk to the movie as if the people are hearing me, but I have never yelled so much at the television as much as I did that Monday. I really do hope that that guy burns in hell. Excuse me but I can't help but feel anger towards people and their sick ways like that. Thank you for reading please let me know how you feel on this movie and what had happened.

I think Nancy McKeon was great in this movie. Also, the one scene where Buck nearly stabs Tracy to death and the cops hardly lift a finger to stop him just sickened me. The part that scared me to death more than anything was when he had the baby. To this day, I still thank God that the baby wasn't hurt. If I had gotten the call, I would drop everything and just get over there like a bat out of hell, and I also would've shot that crazy b***ard like the rabid dog he was. The way the cops handled this was a complete atrocity, and if I were the judge in this case, I'd sentence Buck to life in jail and have those cops pay all of Tracy's medical bills. I'm glad Tracy and her son are doing all right today, but what scares me the most is the possibility of Buck getting released, because the first thing he's gonna do is find Tracy and the kid and kill them both. If there's any justice at all, any shred of regard for human life, they won't release him.