Too Young to Die? (1990) (TV)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Robert Markowitz

Writers (WGA):

David Hill (story)
David Hill (teleplay) ...

Release Date:

26 February 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime

Tagline:

They were young, in love and wanted for murder.

Plot:

An abused 15 year old is charged with a murder that carries the death penalty in this fact-based story. |

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Death Penalty | Girl | Trailer Park | Juvenile Delinquency

Cast

Michael Tucker	...	Buddy Thornton
Juliette Lewis	...	Amanda Sue Bradley
Brad Pitt	...	Billy Canton
Alan Fudge	...	D.A. Mark Calhoun
Emily Longstreth	...	Jean Glessner
Laurie O'Brien	...	Wanda Bradley Sledge
Yvette Heyden	...	Annie Meacham
Tom Everett	...	Judge Harper
Michael O'Keefe	...	Mike Medwicki
Dean Abston	...	Harvey Sledge
J. Stephen Brady	...	Brian
Mark Davenport	...	Mickey
Lew Hopson	...	Star
Annabelle Weenick	...	Birdie Jewel
Charles C. Stevenson Jr.	...	Pastor

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Norway:15 (TV rating) | Australia:M | Germany:16 | South Korea:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | Brazil:18 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Taft, California, USA

Company:

Frank & Bob Films II

Goofs:

Factual errors: The movie is set in Oklahoma. Several references are made to execution in the gas chamber. Oklahoma has never used the gas chamber for executions. Electrocution was used from statehood (the first in 1915) until 1966, using an electric chair, "Old Sparky". Since 1977, the prescribed method is lethal injection.

Quotes:

Mike Medwicki: Maybe if you could... you could try and find your mom?
Amanda Sue Bradley: My mom? She threw me away. She threw me away!

Soundtrack:

PERFECT WORLD

Such A Pathetic Life

Too Young To Die is an above average television movie starring Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis as a pair of young killers and Michael Tucker as the lawyer for Lewis. Tucker is desperately trying to keep her out of the gas chamber and the film is mostly in flashback as she tells her story.

The film really does belong to Juliette Lewis in a stunning portrayal of a pathetic life. She's 14, repeatedly raped by her stepfather, abandoned by her mother and living on the streets until she meets street hustler Brad Pitt.

Later on she develops a relationship with an army sergeant, Michael O'Keefe who has two small children. When their relationship is discovered by the army, Lewis is forced to go back to Pitt. She's full of hate for the world now and acts accordingly.

Michael Tucker who was playing lawyer Stuart Markowitz on L.A. Law at the time gets to play another attorney. He wants to help her, but Lewis is too dumb to get out of her own way.

Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis got good notices for Too Young To Die and later played the same kind of parts in the theatrical film, Kalifornia.

I'm not a reflexive opponent of the death penalty, but applying to a minor and one like this seemed unjust. I think even some of the most hard hearted proponents of capital punishment would think twice about the state executing Lewis.

Too Young To Die is a fine film showcasing the talents of up and coming stars Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis. See them in their salad days.