FILM 1502 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Errol Morris, Homicide, Vignetting
The Thin Blue Line (1988, written and directed by Errol Morris, music by Philip Glass, edited by
Paul Barnes)
Documentary about the wrongful imprisonment of Randall Adams for the murder of Dallas
police officer Robert Wood
Uses Morris’ iconic style of Interrotron interviews and carefully staged reenactments to uncover
the truth surrounding Adams’ imprisonment
Film’s title comes from the prosecutor’s (not displayed in the film) closing line; “the thin blue
line of the police as what divides society from anarchy”
Characters - Description (people act as themselves)
Randalls Adams - a man who accepted a ride from David Harris and was consequently wrongly
convicted and imprisoned for a murder he did not commit; released as a result of the film’s
findings
David Harris - sixteen year old with a history of criminal behavior who gave a stranded Randall
Adams a ride and later pinned the murder of Robert Wood on him (although Morris was able to
uncover the “truth” through the form of documentary)
Gus Rose - head homicide detective in the Wood case; “interviewed” Adams with the gun and
the confession, forcing him to sign it
Edith James - defense attorney for Adams who doubted the legitimacy of the state’s case
The Millers - surprise “eyewitnesses” who cemented Adams as the killer; sketchy characters who
would do anything for fame or fortune
Document Summary
The thin blue line (1988, written and directed by errol morris, music by philip glass, edited by. Documentary about the wrongful imprisonment of randall adams for the murder of dallas police officer robert wood. Uses morris" iconic style of interrotron interviews and carefully staged reenactments to uncover the truth surrounding adams" imprisonment. Film"s title comes from the prosecutor"s (not displayed in the film) closing line; the thin blue line of the police as what divides society from anarchy . Randalls adams - a man who accepted a ride from david harris and was consequently wrongly convicted and imprisoned for a murder he did not commit; released as a result of the film"s findings. David harris - sixteen year old with a history of criminal behavior who gave a stranded randall. Adams a ride and later pinned the murder of robert wood on him (although morris was able to uncover the truth through the form of documentary)
