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A Cry for Help: The Tracey Thurman Story

  • TV Movie
  • 1989
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
Nancy McKeon in A Cry for Help: The Tracey Thurman Story (1989)
BiographyCrimeDrama

Domestic violence victim Tracey Thurman winds up in an ongoing struggle to convince the police to take her seriously as her husband Buck's physical and emotional abuse escalates.Domestic violence victim Tracey Thurman winds up in an ongoing struggle to convince the police to take her seriously as her husband Buck's physical and emotional abuse escalates.Domestic violence victim Tracey Thurman winds up in an ongoing struggle to convince the police to take her seriously as her husband Buck's physical and emotional abuse escalates.

  • Director
    • Robert Markowitz
  • Writer
    • Beth Sullivan
  • Stars
    • Nancy McKeon
    • Dale Midkiff
    • Graham Jarvis
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    1.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Markowitz
    • Writer
      • Beth Sullivan
    • Stars
      • Nancy McKeon
      • Dale Midkiff
      • Graham Jarvis
    • 33User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos3

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    Top cast45

    Edit
    Nancy McKeon
    Nancy McKeon
    • Tracey Thurman
    Dale Midkiff
    Dale Midkiff
    • Buck Thurman
    Graham Jarvis
    Graham Jarvis
    • Officer Danziger
    Yvette Heyden
    • Judy Bentley
    Terri Hanauer
    Terri Hanauer
    • Cheryl
    Philip Baker Hall
    Philip Baker Hall
    • Judge Blumenfeld
    David Wohl
    • Nagel
    David Ciminello
    • Rick
    Priscilla Pointer
    Priscilla Pointer
    • Tracey's Mother
    Seth Isler
    • Lewis
    Burton Collins
    Burton Collins
    Bruce Weitz
    Bruce Weitz
    • Burton Weinstein
    Paul Comi
    Paul Comi
    • Officer Dempsey
    Joe George
    Joe George
    • Captain Kyker
    Redman Gleeson
    • Officer Bray
    Alan Haufrect
    Alan Haufrect
    • Officer Cooper
    • (as Alan Haufrecht)
    William Long Jr.
    • Sergeant Cherney
    Madison Mason
    Madison Mason
    • Officer Jones
    • Director
      • Robert Markowitz
    • Writer
      • Beth Sullivan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews33

    7.81.7K
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    Featured reviews

    9SilentWarrior

    True 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.
    9turbotype4

    response on the comment A Cry for stupidity: the Tracey dumb-ass story"

    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
    itsnabi

    I want to see it again and again

    The movie is one of my favorite movies that come on Lifetime TV. I would love to see it over and over. I like movies about real life dramas. Please email me to let me know when it will be coming back on. I really want to see it. It made me realize how bad abused woman have it. Nancy Mckeon was great in the movie, just like always. I grew up on Nancy Mckeon from Facts of Life to the Division. She's a great actress. Please let me know when it's coming on............. Thank you, Nancy
    caromi

    Incredible Story,Courageous Woman!

    Tracy Thurman was truly a pioneer in the fight for women's rights and protection, this is a horrifying landmark case before the anti-stalking laws that we have today were put into effect. Tracy's courageous fight for help with Buck is a testament to her strength and willpower and the lack of police help that she experienced is shameful. Had I been on the jury, I would have awarded her 20 Million from the county,police,state and anywhere else I could, she would own the town if I'd been a deciding factor. The police force is a complete disgrace and those officers, especially the one who stopped to pee before going to her "aid", should be in jail along with Buck Thurman. Forever. The death penalty is entirely justified in a case like this because someone like Buck will only repeat his offenses when he's released.

    I would love to know where Tracy is today, not physically located but how her life is going and how she's recovered. I've included her in my prayers many,many times.

    Someone below commented that she was weak. I've never been a victim of domestic abuse but can see how easily someone could get sucked into the pattern of abuse by a manipulative spouse. Buck was evil, a stalker, an abuser and he was ALLOWED to repeatedly attack Tracy, a young mother with 2 children. Her survival and her insistance on fighting Buck,the town and the police force in a court of law shows tremendous courage, not weakness. I would think that someone seeing her abuse as weakness might be someone who doesn't have much life experience to draw on.

    I pray that she gets only good things from her life in the future, she is a role model for other women in similar circumstances.
    asherjdoak

    Disturbing, shocking & true

    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.

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    Related interests

    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Upon release of the movie, Tracey received thousands of letters. She has not responded to them, but has read and kept them all.
    • Goofs
      In a scene set on June 10, 1983, Tracey's son CJ is in his bedroom watching "Alvin And The Chipmunks." However, that show would not debut until September 17, 1983.
    • Quotes

      Tracey Thurman: You know what the problem is. The problem is he's threatening to kill me!

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 2, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Under the Law: The Tracey Thurman Story
    • Production companies
      • U.T.L. Productions
      • Dick Clark Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 36m(96 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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