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Poster for The Thin Blue Line

The Thin Blue Line

Erases the border between art and activism.

  • Movie
  • 1988
  • NR
  • 1h 43m

Directed by Errol Morris

7.7

TMDB audience rating
7.7 out of 10 from 431 votes

Where to watch Trailer

Overview

One night in November 1976, after his car breaks down on a road outside Dallas, Randall Dale Adams accepts a ride from teenager David Harris. Harris is driving a stolen vehicle and, later that night, when Dallas police officer Robert Wood pulls the car over to check its headlights, he is shot and killed. A jury believes Adams is the killer, but stylized reenactments and interviews with key figures, conflicting testimonies and evidence are presented to argue that Adams was framed by a corrupt justice system, ultimately leading to his exoneration.

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Trailer

Play trailer: Three Reasons: The Thin Blue Line

Official video hosted on YouTube. The player loads only when you press play.

Cast and crew

  • Randall AdamsSelf

  • David HarrisSelf

  • Gus RoseSelf - Homicide Detective in Dallas

  • Jackie JohnsonSelf - Homicide Detective in Dallas

  • Marshall TouchtonSelf - Homicide Detective in Dallas

  • Dale HoltSelf - Internal Affairs Investigator in Dallas

  • Sam KittrellSelf - Police Detective in Vidor

  • Hootie NelsonSelf - Friend of David Harris in Vidor

  • Dennis JohnsonSelf - Friend of David Harris in Vidor

  • Floyd JacksonSelf - Friend of David Harris in Vidor

  • Edith JamesSelf - Defense Attorney

  • Dennis WhiteSelf - Defense Attorney

  • Don MetcalfeSelf - The Judge

  • Emily MillerSelf - Surprise Eyewitness

  • R.L. MillerSelf - Surprise Eyewitness

  • Elba CarrSelf - Employee at Fas-Gas

  • Michael RandellSelf - Third Surprise Eyewitness

  • Melvyn Carson BruderSelf - Appellate Attorney

Director
Errol Morris
Writer
Errol Morris
Music
Philip Glass
Cinematography
Stefan Czapsky and Robert Chappell