Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore (TV Movie 1992)

Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore: Directed by Delbert Mann. With Walter Matthau, Harry Morgan, Susan Blakely, Ariana Richards. In the second dramatic case for lawyer Harmon Cobb, he defends an incarcerated woman who is refused release from a mental institution.

“BACKGROUND ON THIS FILMu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e1992 Made for TV starring Walter Matthau and Harry Morgan, a u0026quot;family approvedu0026quot; story about improving legal protections for those improperly incarcerated in state mental institutions circa 1947. Although Baltimore was chosen, the state of Maryland should not be singled out. Mistreatment of the mentally ill was, and is, a nation wide problem.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs recently as yesterday [11/02/2002], the news services reported on the failure of major federal and state programs to deliver on promised multi-agency initiatives to help the mentally ill WITH NO ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE LEVELS. Where there is ignorance and fear, there is apathy and inertia.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe filmu0026#39;s Primary Issue is sovereign immunity: the ability to sue the state AT ALL on behalf of inmates.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eRelated issues are covered: overuse of insulin therapy. electro-shock therapy, budget-limited feeding (49 cents a day), billing for therapy and other treatments not provided, u0026quot;ice-pick lobotomy, and on an on, in a system with no checks and balances. etc.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA fascinating and typical story told in a film style without the horrific raw edges that would make the film impossible to show to younger children or citizensu0026#39; groups.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI say u0026quot;family approvedu0026quot; because if you surf the internet you can find this film pointed out at various sites which list films that treat issues for specialized populations. The following is illustrative of the TYPE of group that honors AGAINST HER WILL by placing it on their list. I have changed a word here and there to protect their privacy.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eQUOTE This website presents a list of 3000 feature films which involve in one way or human disabilities. It is directed towards teachers, students and anyone who has an interest in how disability is represented in films. UNQUOTEu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe pacing and intensity of the film is along the lines of the TV series MURDER SHE WROTE or MONK, but with most (not all) of the humor extracted. Issues are introduced gradually and fully elaborated. Gradations of issue, and new points, are u0026quot;acted outu0026quot; by having a character embody or manifest the plot development so that the viewer does not have to bring a large vocabulary of prior knowledge. (However, ice-pick lobotomy is left to the advanced viewer who either knows, or doesnu0026#39;t know. No illustrations provide.)u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis film is not BIRDY (1984)or DONu0026#39;T SAY A WORD (2001) or even ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOu0026#39;S NEXT (1975).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI might especially recommend this for parents of children who–and this happens–were led to tease, bait, bully, or disrespect the mentally ill either in specific (a classmate) or in general (u0026quot;those wackosu0026quot;).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhile it wonu0026#39;t build compassion from scratch, the film may build back compassion that was there, and may educate. Itu0026#39;s also a great film for the budding attorney in your brood.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBesides which, watching Harry Morgan and Walter Matthau circle each other, and then bond, in typical u0026quot;old Disneyu0026quot; style, can only be fun for all age groups.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSix out of 10 for basic made-for-TV film accomplishment plus a bonus point for casting equals 7 out of 10.”