If Someone Had Known
Encyclopedia
If Someone Had Known is a 1995
television film based on a true story, directed by Eric Laneuville
. Although the film received no critical acclaim, Kellie Martin
was praised for her 'believable performance'. Writers Alan Landsburg, Susan Cuscuna and Michael Petryni received the Christopher Award
for their teleplay. Originally aired on NBC
, the film is nowadays frequently re-aired on Lifetime and sister channel Lifetime Movie Network
.
. At one of his benefit parties, she meets Jimmy Pettit, a young man in his early twenties she soon starts dating. Initially, he seems the perfect guy: he is well-educated, respectful, polite, popular and has no records with the police. Nevertheless, Jack is not sure about the guy and when he finds out that Katie is engaged, he is not enthusiastic. Things are going fast, though, and in a short period of time, Katie and Jimmy are married and she gives birth to a son.
Soon, Katie finds out that Jimmy is not the perfect man he seems to be on the outside. He starts to show violent behavior, pushing and hitting her. Apologizing afterwards makes Katie forgive him every time. Her older sister Sharon notices the bruises, and Katie admits the truth, but forces her to keep quiet. By the time she is pregnant with her second baby, his aggressive behavior worsens, as he also starts to hit their son Jamie. Desperate, she admits to her mother that she is a victim of domestic violence
. Ellen convinces her to leave him, but Jimmy is not willing to let go of his wife and beats her up severely. When he threatens to shoot her, she defends herself by killing him with a gunshot.
Katie is arrested and admits to her lawyer
that she is guilty, although claiming that she still loves her husband. Jack is shocked to find out she was abused and has trouble accepting that she did not turn to him with her problems. He tries to discourage her from taking the case to trial
, explaining she could be sentenced for life. Katie thinks she stands a chance, though, wanting to show the jury that she was abused. She also starts to realize that Jack verbally abuses Ellen, and confronts him with it (also pointing out that she never came to him about the abuse in fear he would become overprotective of her in the future). Realizing that it is the truth, he tries to better his life and apologizes to his wife (In one particular scene, he has a possible domestic violence
perpetrator arrested, despite being a friend of the man).
Once the trial begins, Katie has trouble proving the intensity of the domestic violence and is harassed by Jimmy's brother Doug, who wants revenge for the killing. Additionally, the fact that none of the witnesses reported the violence starts to work against her (the prosecuting attorney forces Sharon to give only a "yes" or "no" answer to whether she did or not, plus one of their neighbors, an older man, explained he grew up during a time when whatever happened between another couple was "their business"). When Katie testifies, she admits she was naive enough to believe if she provided unconditional love to Jimmy that he would eventually stop abusing her, but finally realized that was never going to happen, and that one of them was going to kill the other. She is found not guilty by the jury
and even Jimmy's parents, who at first wanted her in prison for the murder, sympathize with her.
The film ends with Katie laying a flower at Jimmy's grave, then telling Jamie that they will have a better life.
in 2005 by MPI Home Video
, one of a number of TV films issued under their "True Stories Collection" banner.
1995 in film
-Top grossing films:-Events:* March 22 - The Dogme 95 movement is officially announced in Paris by Danish directors Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg.* March 28 - Actress Julia Roberts and singer Lyle Lovett announce their plans for separation....
television film based on a true story, directed by Eric Laneuville
Eric Laneuville
Eric Gerard Laneuville is an American television director, actor and martial artist. His first prominent acting roles were in the science-fiction film The Omega Man with Charlton Heston and the ABC television series Room 222 . His role as Luther Hawkins in the television series St...
. Although the film received no critical acclaim, Kellie Martin
Kellie Martin
Kellie Noelle Martin is an American television actress who is known for her roles as Rebecca Thacher on Life Goes On, Christy Huddleston on Christy, Lucy Knight on ER, and Samantha Kinsey on Mystery Woman.-Early life:...
was praised for her 'believable performance'. Writers Alan Landsburg, Susan Cuscuna and Michael Petryni received the Christopher Award
Christopher Award
The Christopher Award is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, motion pictures and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit"...
for their teleplay. Originally aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, the film is nowadays frequently re-aired on Lifetime and sister channel Lifetime Movie Network
Lifetime Movie Network
Lifetime Movie Network is a cable channel that is part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A&E Television Networks, LLC. A&E Television Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group, Hearst Corporation and NBCUniversal. LMN offers women-oriented movies...
.
Plot
Katie Liner is the attractive 18-year-old daughter of Jack Liner, a powerful police officerPolice officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
. At one of his benefit parties, she meets Jimmy Pettit, a young man in his early twenties she soon starts dating. Initially, he seems the perfect guy: he is well-educated, respectful, polite, popular and has no records with the police. Nevertheless, Jack is not sure about the guy and when he finds out that Katie is engaged, he is not enthusiastic. Things are going fast, though, and in a short period of time, Katie and Jimmy are married and she gives birth to a son.
Soon, Katie finds out that Jimmy is not the perfect man he seems to be on the outside. He starts to show violent behavior, pushing and hitting her. Apologizing afterwards makes Katie forgive him every time. Her older sister Sharon notices the bruises, and Katie admits the truth, but forces her to keep quiet. By the time she is pregnant with her second baby, his aggressive behavior worsens, as he also starts to hit their son Jamie. Desperate, she admits to her mother that she is a victim of domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
. Ellen convinces her to leave him, but Jimmy is not willing to let go of his wife and beats her up severely. When he threatens to shoot her, she defends herself by killing him with a gunshot.
Katie is arrested and admits to her lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
that she is guilty, although claiming that she still loves her husband. Jack is shocked to find out she was abused and has trouble accepting that she did not turn to him with her problems. He tries to discourage her from taking the case to trial
Trial
A trial is, in the most general sense, a test, usually a test to see whether something does or does not meet a given standard.It may refer to:*Trial , the presentation of information in a formal setting, usually a court...
, explaining she could be sentenced for life. Katie thinks she stands a chance, though, wanting to show the jury that she was abused. She also starts to realize that Jack verbally abuses Ellen, and confronts him with it (also pointing out that she never came to him about the abuse in fear he would become overprotective of her in the future). Realizing that it is the truth, he tries to better his life and apologizes to his wife (In one particular scene, he has a possible domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
perpetrator arrested, despite being a friend of the man).
Once the trial begins, Katie has trouble proving the intensity of the domestic violence and is harassed by Jimmy's brother Doug, who wants revenge for the killing. Additionally, the fact that none of the witnesses reported the violence starts to work against her (the prosecuting attorney forces Sharon to give only a "yes" or "no" answer to whether she did or not, plus one of their neighbors, an older man, explained he grew up during a time when whatever happened between another couple was "their business"). When Katie testifies, she admits she was naive enough to believe if she provided unconditional love to Jimmy that he would eventually stop abusing her, but finally realized that was never going to happen, and that one of them was going to kill the other. She is found not guilty by the jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
and even Jimmy's parents, who at first wanted her in prison for the murder, sympathize with her.
The film ends with Katie laying a flower at Jimmy's grave, then telling Jamie that they will have a better life.
Cast
- Kellie MartinKellie MartinKellie Noelle Martin is an American television actress who is known for her roles as Rebecca Thacher on Life Goes On, Christy Huddleston on Christy, Lucy Knight on ER, and Samantha Kinsey on Mystery Woman.-Early life:...
as Katherine 'Katie' Liner-Pettit - Kevin DobsonKevin DobsonKevin Patrick Dobson is an American film and television actor of Irish descent, who is primarily known for his roles on television. His most prominent roles were as Lt. Theo Kojak's trusted partner, Det. Bobby Crocker on the popular 1970s TV crime drama Kojak, and as Karen MacKenzie's second...
as Jack Liner - Linda KelseyLinda KelseyLinda Kelsey is an American television actress.Kelsey's professional career began with stage appearances in her home of Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her good looks and striking mane of red hair winning her success that ultimately landed her in Los Angeles in 1972, with appearances in small roles...
as Ellen Liner - Ivan SergeiIvan SergeiIvan Sergei is an American actor known for his work in television.-Personal life:Sergei was born Ivan Sergei Gaudio in Hawthorne, New Jersey, and is of Dutch and Italian descent. Ivan attended Hawthorne High School, where he was a member of the graduating class of 1989, and was a quarterback on...
as James Charles 'Jimmy' Pettit - Kristin Dattilo as Sharon Liner
- Anna GunnAnna GunnAnna Gunn is an American actress, best known for her roles as Assistant District Attorney Jean Ward on The Practice, Martha Bullock on Deadwood, and, currently, Skyler White on Breaking Bad. She appeared on Seinfeld in the episode "The Glasses" and on the first season of Murder One...
as Officer Linda Reed - Alan FudgeAlan FudgeAlan Fudge , was an American actor known for being part of the cast of four television programs: Man from Atlantis, Eischied, Paper Dolls, and Bodies of Evidence, along with a recurring role on 7th Heaven.Fudge was born in Wichita, Kansas...
as Chief Hunt - Jennifer Savidge as Dr. Lois Coutu
- Tom AmandesTom AmandesTom Amandes is an American actor. His best known role to date is that of the role of Dr. Harold "Hal" Abbott on the The WB Drama series Everwood, and as Eliot Ness in the 1990's version of The Untouchables TV series.- Career :...
as Paul Chambers - James Harper as Charles Pettit
- Noah EmmerichNoah EmmerichNoah Nicholas Emmerich is an American film actor who first broke out in the film Beautiful Girls. He was later seen in movies like The Truman Show, Cop Land, Frequency, Love & Sex, Windtalkers, Miracle, Super 8 and Little Children.-Early life:Emmerich was born in New York City to a Jewish family,...
as Officer Ed Hunt - Rodney RowlandRodney RowlandRodney G. Rowland is an American actor. He is credited as Rod Rowland in more recent productions, given his predilection to being called Rod. Rowland's most noted appearances to date were as 1st Lieutenant Cooper Hawkes in 1995's Space: Above and Beyond and P...
as Doug Pettit
DVD release
The film was released on DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in 2005 by MPI Home Video
MPI Home Video
MPI Home Video is a home entertainment company that produces and distributes popular documentaries, films and television series on DVD & Blu-ray for the home video market. MPI Home Video is a subsidiary of MPI Media Group which was founded in 1976 by brothers Malik & Waleed Ali...
, one of a number of TV films issued under their "True Stories Collection" banner.