''The Elizabeth Smart Story'' is a 2003 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definiti ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

about the high-profile Elizabeth Smart kidnapping case. It was broadcast less than eight months after her recovery. It was based on the book ''Bringing Elizabeth Home'' written by her parents, Ed and Lois Smart.

Plot

Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart is part of a large and loving

Mormon Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several ...

family. Her father Ed hires a handyman, a self-styled prophet named Immanuel, to help him with a remodeling job. Months later, Immanuel returns and kidnaps Elizabeth at knifepoint. Her sister, Mary Katherine, who is in the bed with her, is too terrified to immediately tell her parents. Once she does, a massive police investigation begins. The Smarts are angered when the investigation questions whether any family members are involved in Elizabeth’s disappearance. A massive search effort begins and the story causes a media frenzy. After a false news story that the police suspect a family member, Ed takes and passes a

polygraph A polygraph, often incorrectly referred to as a lie detector test, is a pseudoscientific device or procedure that measures and records several physiological indicators such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while a ...

test. Richard Ricci, who had been employed by the Smarts until his dismissal following a theft of jewelry, is apprehended for a parole violation. Authorities are investigating his potential connection to Elizabeth's disappearance. Immanuel subsequently tries to kidnap one of Elizabeth's cousins, but is unsuccessful. The Smarts learn Ricci has had an

aneurysm An aneurysm is an outward :wikt:bulge, bulging, likened to a bubble or balloon, caused by a localized, abnormal, weak spot on a blood vessel wall. Aneurysms may be a result of a hereditary condition or an acquired disease. Aneurysms can also b ...

and is now brain dead. After this, Elizabeth's mother gives up hope, the story fades into the background and the police stop looking for Elizabeth. At one point, Mary Katherine realizes that it was Immanuel who took Elizabeth, but the police do not pursue this lead. Ed appears on the TV show ''

America's Most Wanted ''America's Most Wanted'' (often abbreviated as ''AMW'') is an American television program whose first run was produced by 20th Television, and second run is under the Fox Entertainment#Fox Alternative Entertainment, Fox Alternative Entertain ...

'' and tells host John Walsh in confidence about this new information. When Walsh reveals it on ''

Larry King Live ''Larry King Live'' is an American television talk show broadcast by CNN from June 3, 1985 to December 16, 2010. Hosted by Larry King, it was the network's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly. Ma ...

'', the Smarts publish a sketch of Immanuel, who is later identified as Brian David Mitchell. After having taken her to San Diego, Mitchell returns to Salt Lake City with his wife Wanda Ilene Barzee and Elizabeth. When the police accidentally come across the three of them and question them, Elizabeth identifies herself, resulting in Mitchell's arrest and Elizabeth's reunion with her family. A

postscript PostScript (PS) is a page description language and dynamically typed, stack-based programming language. It is most commonly used in the electronic publishing and desktop publishing realm, but as a Turing complete programming language, it c ...

revealed that Elizabeth went back to high school and resumed her life. Both Brian and Wanda Barzee were sentenced to aggravated kidnapping, sexual assault and burglary, underwent mental competency evaluations with no court date set.

Cast

Dylan Baker Dylan Baker (born October 7, 1959) is an American actor. He gained recognition for his roles in films such as '' Planes, Trains and Automobiles'' (1987), ''Happiness'' (1998), '' Thirteen Days'' (2000), '' Road to Perdition'' (2002), ''Spider-Man ...

as Ed Smart *

Lindsay Frost Lindsay Frost (born June 4, 1962) is an American former actress. Early life Frost was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up elsewhere in Minnesota. She is the daughter of actor Warren Frost. Career On television, Frost played the role ...

as Lois Smart * Amber Marshall as

Elizabeth Smart Elizabeth Ann Gilmour (née Smart; born November 3, 1987) is an American child safety activist and commentator for ABC News. She gained national attention at age 14 when she was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City by Brian David Mitchell. ...

* Hannah Lochner as Mary Katherine Smart * Tyler Kyte as Charles Smart *

Tom Everett Tom Everett (born October 21, 1948) is an American actor known for his performances in political films such as ''Air Force One Air Force One is the official air traffic control-designated Aviation call signs, call sign for a United States ...

as Brian David Mitchell (aka "Immanuel") *

Hollis McLaren Hollis McLaren (born February 5, 1956) is a Canadian film and television actress. Early life and education McLaren was born in Toronto in 1956. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Windsor and studied drama at RADA in Lo ...

as Wanda Ilene Barzee * Kenneth McGregor as Richard Ricci * Robert Wisdin as Jim Smart * Jacob Kraemer as Andrew Smart * Bruce Gooch as John Walsh

Awards

Three of the film's stars were nominated for 2004 Young Artist Awards. Amber Marshall was nominated for the Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Leading Young Actress. Hannah Lochner was nominated for the Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Supporting Young Actress. Jacob Kraemer was nominated for the Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Supporting Young Actor.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Elizabeth Smart Story 2003 television films 2003 films 2003 crime drama films American crime drama films Films about child abduction in the United States Films about child abuse Films based on non-fiction books Films set in 2002 Films set in Utah Crime drama films based on actual events CBS films Films directed by Bobby Roth Films scored by Christopher Franke 2000s English-language films 2000s American films English-language crime drama films