Right to Kill?

{{Short description|1985 American made-for-television film}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox television | image = Right to Kill.jpg | caption = | genre = Crime Drama | director = John Erman | executive_producer = Frank Konigsberg Donald Wrye | producer = Jack Clements Elizabeth Monk Daley | screenplay = Joyce Eliason | starring = Frederic Forrest Christopher Collet Karmin Murcelo Justine Bateman Ann Wedgeworth Alison Bartlett<ref>{{cite web|title=''Right to Kill?'' Stars|website=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089920/|accessdate=14 May 2012}}</ref> | country = United States | language = English | location = Dallas | music = Paul Chihara | cinematography = Gayne Rescher | editor = Scott Conrad | company = Wyre/Konigsberg Productions Taper Media Enterprises Telepictures | network = ABC | released = {{Start date|1985|05|22}} | runtime = 100 min. | budget = }} '''''Right to Kill?''''' is a 1985 American made-for-television drama film directed by John Erman and written by Joyce Eliason. It is based on a true story of two teens living in Wyoming, Richard Jahnke and Deborah Jahnke, who were charged for the killing of their psychotically abusive father, Richard Jahnke, Sr.

The made-for-TV movie was filmed at W.W. Samuell High School in Dallas, Texas in 1985 and aired nationally on May 22, 1985, on ABC.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Right to Kill?'' release date|website=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089920/|accessdate=14 May 2012}}</ref> The film's leading actors were Frederic Forrest (Oscar-nominated for ''The Rose'' in 1979) and Justine Bateman, who was nominated for an Emmy for playing the role of an emotionally and physically abused daughter in this movie.

The cast included Frederic Forrest, Christopher Collet, Karmin Murcelo, Justine Bateman, Ann Wedgeworth & J. T. Walsh.

==Cast== *Frederic Forrest as Richard Jahnke Sr. *Christopher Collet as Richard Jahnke Jr. *Karmin Murcelo as Maria Jahnke *Justine Bateman as Deborah Jahnke *Ann Wedgeworth as Eva Whitcomb *Terry O'Quinn as Jim Barrett *Lisa Blake Richards as Vera Scofield *J. T. Walsh as Major Eckworth *Alison Bartlett as Candy *John M. Jackson as Social Worker *Jerry Haynes as Mr. Harris *Daniel von Bargen as Detective Roberts *Robert Ginnaven as Detective Marquez *Marc Gilpin as Billy

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{IMDb title|id=0089920}}

Category:American drama television films Category:1985 television films Category:1985 films Category:1985 drama films Category:Films directed by John Erman Category:Films about domestic violence Category:1985 English-language films Category:English-language drama films Category:American Broadcasting Company original films