Milgaard

{{Short description|1999 TV Movie}}

{{Infobox television

| image =

| image_size =

| image_alt =

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| genre = Drama

| creator =

| writer = Keith Ross Leckie
Alan Di Fiore

| director = Stephen Williams

| starring = Ian Tracey
Gabrielle Rose

| theme_music_composer =

| country = Canada

| language = English

| producer = Vibika Bianchi
Martin Harbury
Laura Lightbown

| editor = Ralph Brunjes

| cinematography = David Frazee

| runtime = 85 minutes

| company = Barna-Alper Productions
Bar Harbour Films
Marble Island Pictures

| budget =

| network = CTV

| released = {{Start date|1999|04|11}}

}}

Milgaard, also sometimes known as Hard Time: The David Milgaard Story, is a Canadian dramatic television film, which was broadcast by the CTV Television Network in 1999.Alan Kellogg, "Milgaard drama a must". Edmonton Journal, April 11, 1999. The film centres on David Milgaard, a Canadian man who was wrongfully convicted in the 1969 rape and murder of Gail Miller, and his 22-year quest for justice until being released from prison in 1992.Tony Atherton, "23 years of pain better told in miniseries". Ottawa Citizen, March 25, 1999.

The film stars Ian Tracey as David Milgaard and Gabrielle Rose as his mother Joyce Milgaard, as well as Tom Melissis, Garwin Sanford, Hrothgar Mathews, Jaimz Woolvett, Sabrina Grdevich, Bernie Coulson and Reagan Pasternak in supporting roles.

Larry Fisher, who had been arrested for Miller's murder and was awaiting trial in Saskatchewan at the time of the film's release, sought a court injunction banning the broadcast of the film on the grounds that it might prejudice his chance at a fair trial.Greg Quill, "Accused wants ban on Milgaard TV movie". Toronto Star, February 24, 1999. Although the injunction was granted, the judge declined to ban the film nationwide, instead ruling only that CTV could not broadcast the film on its affiliates in Saskatchewan.John McKay, "TV movie tackles Milgaard story". Kingston Whig-Standard, April 8, 1999. The film was broadcast on April 11, 1999 across most of Canada, except Saskatchewan.Bonnie Malleck, "In Pursuit of Justice; Milgaard drama highlights his mother's relentless campaign". Waterloo Region Record, April 10, 1999. A second injunction prevented CTV from rebroadcasting the film at all in October 1999, as by that time Fisher's trial was underway; this latter ban also prevented any clips of the film from being broadcast as part of the 14th Gemini Awards ceremony in November, as Fisher's trial had not yet concluded."Court ban on Milgaard extends to Gemini clips". Waterloo Region Record, November 6, 1999.

Following Fisher's conviction in late 1999, CTV rebroadcast the film on January 2, 2000 across Canada, including Saskatchewan."CTV plans Saskatchewan Milgaard broadcast". Moose Jaw Times-Herald, December 19, 1999.

Awards

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!Award

!Date of Ceremony

!Category

!Nominees

!Result

!Reference

rowspan="10" |Gemini Awards

| rowspan="10" |November 7, 1999

| Best Television Movie or Miniseries

| Vibika Bianchi, Laszlo Barna, Richard Findlay, Martin Harbury, Laura Lightbown

| {{won}}

|rowspan=10| Alex Strachan, "Banned Milgaard film wins six Geminis". Vancouver Sun, November 8, 1999.

Best Actor in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries

| Ian Tracey

| {{won}}

Best Actress in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries

| Gabrielle Rose

| {{nom}}

rowspan=3| Best Supporting Actor in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries

| Hrothgar Mathews

| {{won}}

Garwin Sanford

| {{nom}}

Jaimz Woolvett

| {{nom}}

Best Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries

| Sabrina Grdevich

| {{won}}

Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries

| Stephen Williams

| {{won}}

Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries

| Keith Ross Leckie, Alan Di Fiore

| {{nom}}

Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program or Series

| Ralph Brunjes

| {{won}}

References

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