Film · Crime, Documentary
The Thin Blue Line (1988)
Erases the border between art and activism.
One night in November 1976, after his car breaks down on a road outside Dallas, Randall Dale Adams accepts a ride from teenager David Harris. Harris is driving a stolen vehicle and, later that night, when Dallas police officer Robert Wood pulls the car over to check its headlights, he is shot and killed. A jury believes Adams is the killer, but stylized reenactments and interviews with key figures, conflicting testimonies and evidence are presented to argue that Adams was framed by a corrupt justice system, ultimately leading to his exoneration.
- Director
- Errol Morris
- Writers
- Errol Morris
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Release date
- August 28, 1988
The Thin Blue Line was released on August 28, 1988. Where to watch in United States: Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, and AMC+ Roku Premium Channel (subscription).
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The Thin Blue Line cast
- Randall AdamsSelf
- David HarrisSelf
- Gus RoseSelf - Homicide Detective in Dallas
- Jackie JohnsonSelf - Homicide Detective in Dallas
- Marshall TouchtonSelf - Homicide Detective in Dallas
- Dale HoltSelf - Internal Affairs Investigator in Dallas
- Sam KittrellSelf - Police Detective in Vidor
- Hootie NelsonSelf - Friend of David Harris in Vidor
- Dennis JohnsonSelf - Friend of David Harris in Vidor
- Floyd JacksonSelf - Friend of David Harris in Vidor
- Edith JamesSelf - Defense Attorney
- Dennis WhiteSelf - Defense Attorney
- Don MetcalfeSelf - The Judge
- Emily MillerSelf - Surprise Eyewitness
- R.L. MillerSelf - Surprise Eyewitness
- Elba CarrSelf - Employee at Fas-Gas
- Michael RandellSelf - Third Surprise Eyewitness
- Melvyn Carson BruderSelf - Appellate Attorney
- Ron AdamsSelf - Randall Adams' Brother (archive footage)
John DillingerSelf - Gangster (archive footage)
