The Execution of Raymond Graham

The Execution of Raymond Graham is a Canadian-American television film, directed by Daniel Petrie and broadcast in 1985.^[1] The film stars Jeff Fahey as Raymond Graham, a prisoner on death row after committing murder, who is in the final hours of his life before his scheduled execution, as his lawyer pursues a last-ditch hope of having his execution stayed by the governor.^[2]

The Execution of Raymond Graham
Written by	Mel Frohman
Directed by	Daniel Petrie
Starring	Jeff Fahey Laurie Metcalf Graham Beckel Kate Reid Morgan Freeman
Music by	Jimmy Dale
Country of origin	Canada United States
Original language	English
Production
Producer	David W. Rintels
Editor	David B. Thompson
Running time	96 minutes
Production companies	Alliance Entertainment Hearst Entertainment
Original release
Network	ABC CTV
Release	November 17, 1985 (1985-11-17)

The cast also includes Laurie Metcalf as Raymond Graham's sister Carol, Graham Beckel as his brother Vic, Kate Reid as their mother, Josef Sommer and Lois Smith as the parents of Graham's victim, and Morgan Freeman as Warden Pratt,^[3] as well as George Dzundza, Alan Scarfe, Linda Griffiths, Philip Sterling, Linda Goranson, Michael Dolan, Ken Pogue and Doug Lennox in supporting roles.

Production

The film was conceived as a live broadcast that would unfold in real time, building in suspense as it was not revealed in advance whether or not his lawyer's final plea for clemency would succeed prior to the moment of execution at 10:58 p.m.^[4] A dress rehearsal was recorded as a backup, and was "broadcast" in the network control centre in tandem with the live feed, so that the network could rapidly switch to the backup tape in the event of a technical failure,^[5] but this precaution was ultimately not needed.^[4]

The film was not intended to either support or oppose capital punishment, but simply to ask people to reflect on the issue.^[4] As research for the role, Fahey met with death row inmate Charles Rumbaugh, who was executed a few months before the broadcast.^[6]

It was broadcast live on November 17, 1985, from the Toronto studios of CFTO-TV, by both CTV Television Network in Canada and ABC in the United States.^[1] Due to the sensitivity of the subject matter making it less appropriate for the early evening time slot, however, viewers in the Pacific Time Zone saw a tape-delayed rebroadcast rather than the live production.^[7]

Awards

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref(s)
Gemini Awards	December 4, 1986	Best TV Movie	Julian Marks, David W. Rintels	Nominated	[8]
		Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Single Dramatic Program or Mini-Series	Jeff Fahey	Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards	September 21, 1986	Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie	Daniel Petrie	Nominated	[9]
		Outstanding Lighting Design / Lighting Direction for a Variety Special	John Botelho, Fred "Red" McKinnon, Barney Stewart	Nominated
Writers Guild of America	1987	Television: Long Form – Original	Mel Frohman	Won	[10]