| JOSEPH |
September 24, 1980 The tragic misfortune of Joseph Cybulkowski (played by
Mickey Rourke) inspired this true-life drama based on of a young man Leon
Cybulkowski (Ron Howard) who is charged with the assisted-suicide of his
beloved brother, Joseph, whose life is completely shattered when left a
permanently paralyzed quadriplegic in the aftermath of a Sunday afternoon
motorcycle accident. When he later shoots his brother as an act of mercy, he
turns himself in to authorities hoping they will consider his actions by calling
attention to euthanasia/mercy killing in the coutroom during his trial as his
defense Act of Love was Rourke's second made for TV movie directed by Jud
Taylor who also directed Rourke in his first City in Fear. He all jumped from
seventh billing to third in the credits in this cast of characters. This dramatic
tear-jerker has a "Walton-esque" homespun feel that takes one back to a
more simpler place and time when families were tightly knit and their love was
genuine and abundant no matter what the odds. With Robert Foxworth, Mary
Kay Place, Pat Corley and David Spielberg rounding out the cast, it's a good
watch in general and very moving!
Mickey Rourke) inspired this true-life drama based on of a young man Leon
Cybulkowski (Ron Howard) who is charged with the assisted-suicide of his
beloved brother, Joseph, whose life is completely shattered when left a
permanently paralyzed quadriplegic in the aftermath of a Sunday afternoon
motorcycle accident. When he later shoots his brother as an act of mercy, he
turns himself in to authorities hoping they will consider his actions by calling
attention to euthanasia/mercy killing in the coutroom during his trial as his
defense Act of Love was Rourke's second made for TV movie directed by Jud
Taylor who also directed Rourke in his first City in Fear. He all jumped from
seventh billing to third in the credits in this cast of characters. This dramatic
tear-jerker has a "Walton-esque" homespun feel that takes one back to a
more simpler place and time when families were tightly knit and their love was
genuine and abundant no matter what the odds. With Robert Foxworth, Mary
Kay Place, Pat Corley and David Spielberg rounding out the cast, it's a good
watch in general and very moving!
| MONKEYWRENCHING THE LEGAL SYSTEM by Bob Black..from FIJA: You are a juror. These are the facts: * A young man is permanently paralysed from the neck down in a motorcycle accident. He is in unspeakable agony which will continue for the rest of his life. He begs his younger brother to kill him. The brother does, as he later explains, out of love. The charge: first-degree murder. What is your verdict? Paige Mitchell, Act of Love: The Killing of George Zygmanik (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1976) |
| Character synopsis written by K. Thompson |
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