Fatal Vision

The much-acclaimed dramatization of Joe McGinniss' best-seller about Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald, the former Green Beret captain accused, then cleared, in the brutal murders of his wife and daughters in February 1970, won Emmy Award nominations for the film itself as Outstanding Drama Special as well as for director David Greene, writer John Gay and makeup artists Steve Abroms. It also brought an Emmy Award to Karl Malden for his performance as Freddy Kassab, MacDonald's father-in-law and at first his most ardent supporter until convinced of his guilt, causing him (Hassab) to wage a relentless (and successful) battle for MacDonald's conviction. Newcomer Gary Cole, from the Chicago stage, portrayed MacDonald, Eva Marie Saint his mother-in-law, Barry Newman his attorney, and Andy Griffith the government prosecutor.