| Dummy | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Genre |
|
| Based on | Dummy byErnest Tidyman |
| Screenplay by | Ernest Tidyman |
| Directed by | Frank Perry |
| Starring | Paul Sorvino LeVar Burton Brian Dennehy Rose Gregorio Gregg Henry |
| Theme music composer | Gil Askey |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Frank Konigsberg |
| Producers | Sam Manners Ernest Tidyman |
| Production location | Chicago, Illinois |
| Cinematography | Gayne Rescher |
| Editors | Donald R. Rode Benjamin A. Weissman |
| Running time | 96 min. |
| Production company | The Königsberg Company |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | May 27, 1979 (1979-05-27) |
Dummy is a 1979 Americanmade-for-televisiondocudrama film starringLeVar Burton andPaul Sorvino.[1] Based onErnest Tidyman's nonfiction book of the same name, the film dramatizes the life ofDonald Lang (portrayed by Burton), an African–American deaf man who was charged with the murders of Ernestine Williams and Earline Brown, two prostitutes inChicago, Illinois.[2]
In 1965,Donald Lang is 19-year old African–American man ofChicago, Illinois who was born deaf. He has a loving mother who struggles to give him as normal an upbringing as possible and a brother and sister, Julius and Genettia, who are supportive as well. Due to not being formally taught how to communicate via sign language, Donald communicates with people by demonstrations. Despite his disability, he finds employment on the loading docks of Chicago and wins the respect of his fellow workers. One night after work, Donald visits a neighborhood bar where he leaves with Ernestine Williams, a prostitute. Ernestine is later discovered dead under her friend Mrs. Harrod's porch. Shortly thereafter, Donald is arrested at work and charged with the murder of Ernestine after Mrs. Harrod told police that she had seen Donald leave the bar with her.
Donald's case is handled by attorney Lowell J. Myers who is also hearing impaired. Investigating the crime, Myers becomes convinced Donald is innocent and another person committed the murder. Nevertheless, Donald is convicted and sent to a mental institution. After several years of appeals, Myers finally manages to have his client released making an eloquent appeal to theSupreme Court of Illinois that a deaf mute is entitled to the same rights as one not impaired. In an ironic conclusion, after a few months of freedom, Donald is again arrested for the murder of Earline Brown, a prostitute who was seen with him, and was convicted of this murder as well.
Dummy was filmed completely inChicago, Illinois in March 1979.[citation needed] Chicago locations in the film include Washington Park Homes, aChicago Housing Authority public housing project at East 44th streets and South Cottage Grove Avenue, andCook County Jail.[citation needed]
The film won aPeabody Award and was nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie at the31st Primetime Emmy Awards.[3] The film was released on DVD by theWarner Archive Collection in October 2011.[4]