Sunday, March 15, 2015

March 15 - Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story

Today’s movie is a drama with a scene that happens on March 15. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

VICTIM FOR VICTIMS: THE THERESA SALDANA STORY  


In 1982 Theresa Saldana is an American actress living in Los Angeles. When her mother calls and tells Theresa that she got a call from director Martin Scorsese's assistant about a part, her husband is concerned that this will again require her to go on location, requiring a separation. It turns the call actually came from a stalker, trying to get her address. Theresa takes precautions, but on March 15, 1982 [13:25 to 31:10] when leaving her apartment, she is attacked and stabbed multiple times by Arthur Jackson, a deranged fan. Many people witness the attack but just stand around doing nothing until a deliveryman subdues Jackson. She survives the attack after emergency surgery. Afterwards she and her husband, Fred Feliciano suffer from depression and post traumatic stress disorder even though he works as a counselor himself. Theresa is worried about scarring. Since she can't work, she and her husband start to have financial problems. She meets with another crime victim and is distraught when she dies. Theresa get to meet and thank her rescuer, Jeff Fenn which causes her husband to have doubts about himself and his relationship with Theresa. Theresa testifies at her attacker's preliminary hearing in a wheelchair amid a media frenzy. Theresa is traumatized when her injuries are photographed to be used as evidence.  Theresa is finally able to move out of the hospital and her husband quits his job because he's not effective as a counselor because he spends so much time with Theresa.  Theresa and her husband decide to separate. Theresa learns that Jane Bladow a nurse at the nursing home she is staying at and whom she disliked for enforcing the home's restrictive rules had once been the victim of an assault, but had no one to talk to about it. When Theresa later meets a former school teacher, Miriam Schneider who had also been attacked, Theresa decides to start a network of former victims to help each other psychologically recover by being able to talk and support each other. Arthur Jackson is found guilty. Her support group "Victims for Victims" attracts a lot of attention and many people who were victims of crime join.        

An unusual docudrama. Sort of strange in that Theresa Saldana portrays herself in this movie. However, this film is interesting enough to hold your attention for an hour and a half.

The date is given in the film at 00:05

Producer - Harry R. Sherman 

Director - Karen Arthur   

Screenplay - Arthur Heinemann

Awards- The Film was nominated for the Outstanding Achievement in Makeup Emmy at the 37th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Runtime – 1 hour 40 minutes  

Released - November 12, 1984

Starring – Theresa Saldana as Herself, Adrian Zmed as Fred Feliciano, Lelia Goldoni as Mrs. Saldana, Lawrence Pressman as Dr. Stein, Mariclare Costello as Jane Bladow, Linda Carlson  as Miriam Schneider, Stanley Kamel as D.A. Mike Knight, Philip English as Arthur Jackson


Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015



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