Nightmare in Badham County
Nightmare in Badham County is a 1976 ABC TV women-in-prison film directed by John Llewellyn Moxey and starring Chuck Connors, Deborah Raffin and Lynne Moody.[2] The film was so popular in China that it was released in cinemas and Raffin became the first Western actress to make a promotional tour of the country, after which she became an unofficial ambassador helping China make deals with Hollywood.[3]
| Nightmare in Badham County | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama Thriller |
| Written by | Jo Heims |
| Directed by | John Llewellyn Moxey[1] |
| Starring | Chuck Connors Deborah Raffin Robert Reed Fionnula Flanagan Tina Louise |
| Theme music composer | Charles Bernstein |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Douglas S. Cramer |
| Producer(s) | Wilford Lloyd Baumes Herb Wallerstein (associate producer) |
| Production location(s) | Carrollton, Mississippi Greenwood, Mississippi |
| Cinematography | Frank Stanley |
| Editor(s) | Carroll Sax |
| Running time | 100 min |
| Production company(s) | ABC Circle Films |
| Distributor | ABC |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | November 5, 1976 |
Plot summary
Two young women, Cathy Phillips (Deborah Raffin) and Diane Emery (Lynne Moody) get engine car trouble in a small town.[4] When they spurn the sheriff Slim Danen's (Chuck Connors) advances, they are thrown in prison on false accusations, where they endure atrocities at the hands of the administrators and prison guards.[2] All hope seems lost unless the women find a way to escape.[1]
Plotline
While driving, Cathy and Diane's car get a flat tire, forcing them to get it replaced; however, they get into a confrontation with prison sheriff Slim Danen and are arrested after refusing to give in to him.[1][2] After being found guilty on false charges in a kangaroo court, the two are taken to a local women's farm labor prison, where they learn from an inmate named Sara that the prisoners' lives there are completely and exceedingly harsh; they are not only treated like labored slaves, but also exposed to cruel and sexual torture and mistreatment daily.[1][2]
They soon realize that the only way to set themselves and all the other prisoners free is to escape undetected and unharmed.[2]
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Chuck Connors | Sheriff Slim Danen |
| Deborah Raffin | Cathy Phillips |
| Fionnula Flanagan | Dulcie |
| Robert Reed | Supt. Dancer |
| Lana Wood | Smitty |
| Tina Louise | Greer |
| Lynne Moody | Diane Emery |
| Ralph Bellamy | Judge |
| Leslie Albers | Waitress |
| Della Reese | Sara |
References
External links
- Nightmare in Badham County on IMDb
- McKee, Mike (2008-10-23). "Two Young Girls In A Women's Prison". Johnny LaRue's Crane Shot (Blog). - Review/Discussion of the film and its place in the 1970s 'Women in Prison' fad.
- "Review: Nightmare in Badham County". Video Boom (YouTube). 2014-11-11. - Video review of the film.