''Word of Honor'' is a 1981

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

co-written by

David Ackles David Thomas Ackles (February 20, 1937 – March 2, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, pianist, and child actor. He recorded four albums between 1968 and 1973. Describing Ackles' style in 2003, critic Colin McElligatt wrote, "An unlikely ...

and I.C. Rapoport. It first aired on 6 January 1981 starred

Karl Malden Karl Malden (born Mladen George Sekulovich; March 22, 1912 – July 1, 2009) was an American actor. He was primarily a character actor, who according to Robert Berkvist, "for more than 60 years brought an intelligent intensity and a homespun aut ...

and featured appearances by a young

Ron Silver Ronald Arthur Silver (July 2, 1946 – March 15, 2009) was an American actor/activist, director, producer, and radio host. As an actor, he portrayed Henry Kissinger, Alan Dershowitz and Angelo Dundee. He was awarded a Tony in 1988 for Best Acto ...

and the film debut of

John Malkovich John Malkovich (born December 9, 1953) is an American actor. He is the recipient of several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, two Screen Actors Guild Aw ...

. It was directed by

Mel Damski Melvin Damski (born July 21, 1946 in New York, New York) is an American director and producer of film and television. Life and career Mel Damski (born in New York, New York) is an American film director and film producer. Damski has Northern Eu ...

. This film was produced by Alex Karras and his wife

Susan Clark Susan Clark (born Nora Golding; March 8, 1943) is a Canadian actress, known for her movie roles such as ''Coogan's Bluff'' and '' Colossus: The Forbin Project'', and for her role as Katherine Papadopolis on the American television sitcom ''Web ...

. Karras often makes cameo appearances in films he produces; in this film he appeared as Penniman Butcher (uncredited). Much of this film was shot in

Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...

in places such as Plymouth, where the opening beauty-pageant scene was shot. The newsroom shots were filmed at The Daily Tribune offices in

Royal Oak The Royal Oak is the English oak tree within which the future King Charles II of England hid to escape the Roundheads following the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The tree was in Boscobel Wood, which was part of the park of Boscobel House. C ...

and the real-life editors and reporters were used as extras. Residential shots, including the main characters' home, was shot in the Seminole Hills subdivision of Pontiac.

Synopsis

A reporter refuses to reveal his source in the case of the murder of a young girl. As a result, he and his family are shunned by the residents of the small town in which they live. Virtually no one comes to his daughter's wedding, and at his office, the police search his desk, his boss threatens to fire him, the judge holds him in contempt and throws him in jail. At the last minute the source agrees to testify.

Cast

... Mike McNeill *

Rue McClanahan Eddi-Rue McClanahan (February 21, 1934 – June 3, 2010) was an American actress and comedian best known for her roles on television as Vivian Harmon on '' Maude'' (1972–78), Aunt Fran Crowley on '' Mama's Family'' (1983–84), and Blanche ...

... Maggie McNeill *

... David Lerner *

Largo Woodruff Largo Woodruff (born July 18, 1955) is an American actress who appeared in numerous films in the 1980s. She began her career appearing in commercials before landing a bit part in Woody Allen's ''Stardust Memories'' (1980). Her first major featur ...

... Amy *

Alexa Kenin Alexa Jordan Kenin (February 16, 1962 – September 10, 1985) was an American actress known for her supporting roles in several films released during the 1980s, including ''Little Darlings'' (1980), '' Honkytonk Man'' (1982), and ''Pretty in ...

... Beverly *

Jacqueline Brookes Jacqueline Victoire Brookes (July 24, 1930 – April 26, 2013) was an American film, television, and stage actress, best known for her work both off-Broadway and on Broadway. Life and career Brookes was born in Montclair, New Jersey, the daught ...

... Spinner *

Jeffrey DeMunn Jeffrey DeMunn (born April 25, 1947) is an American stage, film and television actor known for playing Captain Esteridge in '' The Hitcher'' (1986), Sheriff Herb Geller in ''The Blob'' (1988), Andrei Chikatilo in '' Citizen X'' (1995), Harry Terwi ...

... Dist. Atty. Burke (as Jeff DeMunn) *

Henderson Forsythe Henderson Forsythe (September 11, 1917 – April 17, 2006) was an American actor. Forsythe was known for his role as Dr. David Stewart #2 on the soap opera ''As the World Turns'', a role he played for 32 years, and for his work on the New York sta ...

... Peterson *

John Marley John Marley (born Mortimer Marlieb, October 17, 1907 – May 22, 1984) was an American actor who was known for his role as Phil Cavalleri in ''Love Story'' and as Jack Woltz—the defiant film mogul who awakens to find the severed head o ...

... Gordon Agee *

Council Cargle Council Cargle (February 8, 1935 – January 2, 2013) was an American stage and film actor, whose career in theater spanned more than six decades. Based in Detroit, Cargle was described as one of the "best-known theater actors" in the U.S. state ...

* Dan Lounsbery *

... Gary *

Betsy Baker Betsy Baker is an American actress, best known as playing Linda in the film '' The Evil Dead'' (1981). Early life Baker was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa - a middle child - and grew up in St. Joseph, Michigan. She started piano lessons at the age ...

... Denise McNeil

Production crew

* Produced by Susan Clark .... executive producer * John C. Dutton .... producer * Alex Karras .... executive producer * G. Chevalier Kevorkian .... associate producer * Original Music by Bruce Langhorne * Cinematography by Jules Brenner * Film Editing by John Farrell * Casting by Nancy E. Kelley (as Nancy Kelley) * Set Decoration by Gary Papierski

References

External links

* 1981 television films 1981 films 1980s mystery drama films American mystery drama films 1980s English-language films CBS network films Films directed by Mel Damski Films scored by Bruce Langhorne 1980s American films {{US-tv-drama-film-stub