Blind Faith

I'll admit, I haven't seen Blind Faith since it first aired on television 22 years ago and my memory of this 1990 movie is a little blurry. But it did impact me enough at age 15 so that to this day anytime I hear the song "Take the Long Way Home" I am reminded of a scene from the movie (still clear as day in my mind), where the 1979 Supertramp hit plays on the car radio while a bubbly Joanna Kerns drives one of her sons home. It's one of the sweetest scenes in the movie, which fans of Robert Ullrich, Ms. Kerns, true-crime stories, and New Jersey history should enjoy if they're in the mood for a vintage TV movie. The acting is top-notch, the characters likable and memorable, and the plot is intriguing (even gripping, given the fact that it's based on a true story). However, like most films of this genre—TV movies—it does require the right day and state of mind to fully appreciate and enjoy.

This is an excellent, heart wrenching film; I cry every time I see how devastated those children were with the murder of their loving mom and the trial of their father. This film, more than any other film depicting a true crime story, takes one through the tumultuous upheaval that a victim of a violent crime suffers(in this case, these boys are the victims of their mom's murder by their dad.) Other true crime story films depict the violence or the plight of the defendant. As a former prosecutor and prison counselor, I know first hand that the victims of crime are too often ignored by the criminal justice system. This film hits an emotional home run in telling the victims' stories. The relationship between Maria Marshall and her sons is the cornerstone of the film, and it makes one realize the depth of suffering one endures with so senseless a crime. Her beauty as a loving mother is contrasted with Robert Marshall's self absorbed obsession with himself and his needs. Caught in the middle are three innocent children, devoted sons to both parents, believing with "blind faith" in the innocence of their dad despite the overwhelming evidence unfolding before them. Despite its length (4 hours), the film and the book by Joe McGinnis are worth your time. The 20th anniversary of Maria's murder is September 7, 2004.

I voted this 7/10 because I like made for TV true crime movies, but it has its flaws.

It's about the murder of Maria Marshall (Joanna Kerns) in 1984 at a rest stop along the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey where her husband, Rob Marshall (Robert Urich), has stopped to examine a tire that he thinks is going flat. He is hit in the head by an assailant. She is shot in the back. The motive appears to be robbery though nothing was taken.

I just rewatched "Echoes In the Darkness", and that true crime film was by far the better made and more suspenseful film with much smarter villains. I don't really blame the production that much as the widowed husband is beyond goofy and stupid. You can only do so much with a true crime film if you have an uninspiring villain. After his wife is murdered, all Rob Marshall can talk about is Felice Richmond (Robin Strasser) with whom he was having an affair and was planning to marry after he left his wife. He seems to openly pine away for Felice MUCH more than he is mourning his wife, which makes him unlikeable to his friends and alienates his grown sons. Then there is the 1.5 million dollars in life insurance he just recently took out on his wife and his own mounting money problems. 1.5 million dollars would be about five million dollars in 2025. Complications and suspicions ensue.

The movie tries to drag out the proceedings longer than needed. There is an entire scene about the Marshall's 20th wedding anniversary, two years before the murder, that makes the family and the marriage seem quite happy. Was this the true state of things, or was this just a mirage? It's never clearly stated.

Then there is just the overall rather weird tone of the film. The first half of the film takes on an oddly spiritual tone while overdoing the deifying of the victim.

There's lots of acting talent on the screen, including an early performance by Johnny Galecki of Roseanne and Big Bang Theory fame. Dennis Farina takes on an unusual straight-arrow role as the prosecutor.

If you like true crime I think you'll like this, but you may have the same small complaints about the production that I had.

I have seen this TV movie twice - and even though it seemed a little dragged out - I thought that the three sons were wonderful - not just as the sons and their reactions to their father - but all of CD) whatever, and he starts mouthing the words, and then recalls being in a car with his (now dead) mother, and she joins in the song and they spend a special time together. I loved the song, but I do not know who sings it or who wrote it, and would like get it. It's "hook" is 'Its a long way home". Can anyone help me on this? It is by a group I think and is on an album, but I couldn't catch the name from the TV movie.

Thanks.

I found this movie to be well acted and directed.It was a drama that left me feeling a little puzzled.What happened to a marriage that seemed so happy and solid at the beginning of the movie?When the story skips ahead two years,something has happened to Rob's marriage that has made him unhappy with Maria.He's now obsessed with Felice.Obsession is probably too weak of a word.He acts like his very existence depends upon Felice's love for him.There's really no explanation as to what has made Rob stop loving his wife except a small inference to a better physical relationship with Felice. What happened emotionally to change Rob's love for Maria?What made him seek out another woman?I guess we'll never know unless the answer is in the book which I admit I haven't read.The late Robert Urich's acting is good in this movie.One change I would have made in Rob's character is more discretion.He comes out and pretty much let's everyone know,including his three sons that he's been having an affair with Felice.He doesn't seem to care what anyone else thinks.He wants to move her in the house right away. This is soon after the death of his wife.He doesn't show a trace of sadness over the death of the mother of his three boys.Why doesn't he at least have the sense to know that his cold behavior may look a little suspicious not only to his sons and family members but also the police who are investigating the murder.If I had been Rob, I would have at least pretended to be grief stricken even if I didn't feel any grief.Doesn't he realize how this insensitivity might be interpreted by others.To me he's sort of saying "I'm glad she's gone". This behavior opens the possibility that he may have some involvement in her murder.The relationship that the three brothers have in this movie is moving.These brothers really do love each other and are not ashamed to show it.Jay Underwood does a super job as Chris and Johnny Galecki is appealing also.The actor who plays Roby,David Barry Gray is outstanding.I cannot praise this actor enough.I found my attention to be focused on him throughout most of the movie. His acting is so good that you don't realize he's acting.He's totally believable and living the part of his character.He comes close to stealing the movie in my mind.He is not afraid or ashamed to let his emotions be seen by anyone.This trait is important in an actor.It makes his performance more believable.I noticed in the internet movie database that he hasn't acted in any movies for a few years.This is a big mistake on someone's part.David Barry Gray needs to be cast in another movie soon.I know I would watch anything this talented actor appears in.