A documentary about 'The Most Hated Woman in America,' the man that kidnapped and brutally killed her, and the men who unraveled the mystery.A documentary about 'The Most Hated Woman in America,' the man that kidnapped and brutally killed her, and the men who unraveled the mystery.A documentary about 'The Most Hated Woman in America,' the man that kidnapped and brutally killed her, and the men who unraveled the mystery.
Photos
Tr Young
- Self - Private Investigator
- (as Tim Young)
Danny Fry
- Self - Kidnapper of O'Hair
- (archive footage)
Bob Harrington
- Self - Christian Evangelist
- (archive footage)
Gary Karr
- Self - Kidnapper of O'Hair
- (archive footage)
Jon Murray
- Self - Deceased American Atheist President
- (archive footage)
Madalyn Murray-O'Hair
- Self - American Atheist Crusader
- (archive footage)
Robin Murray-O'Hair
- Self
- (archive footage)
Strom Thurmond
- Self - Former U.S. Senator
- (archive footage)
David Waters
- Self - Murderer of O'Hair
- (archive footage)
- Director
- Tr Young(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Featured review
"Good Riddance"? -- or "Sorry You're Gone"?
This is one confusing documentary. It starts out with anti-O'Hair sentiments as nasty as the caricature of her on the DVD cover. O'Hair biographer Ann Rowe Seaman seems especially fragile and triggered about her subject's aggressive personality, especially when reading out some mean portions of what was, after all, O'Hair's private diary. (Maybe Seaman was better off writing about someone like J.K. Rowling or Oprah).
When the time came to address O'Hair's lawsuit in San Diego with the Truth Seeker publication, I would have appreciated a bit more background information on what had happened. What did she mean when, after lawyer Roy Withers asked her how she got her money, she retorted by asking if "dancing boys in sequin jockstraps" is a living? Was she implying something about Withers himself, or the Truth Seeker owner? She uttered a poetic set of words here, but they had no context.
The previous reviewer is correct regarding O'Hair's pronunciation of god as "gawd." That's the way many from Baltimore talk. Phil Donahue, though a Catholic, had been mostly supportive of O'Hair and called her a "friend." Like many, he had reservations about her combative style but defended her message.
My favorite parts of the documentary were the interviews with Tim Young (the T.J. Young who directed the film) and Ed Martin. These two investigators provided some information about the circumstances of Robin O'Hair's death that were shocking.
Going back to the documentary's confusing viewpoint, the film starts out with a negative view of the famous atheist, but by the end, it lauds her efforts. Even the delicate Ms. Seaman admits that O'Hair's blistering style was likely the only way the message of church-state separation would have gotten any public attention.
Back in the sixties through the eighties, there were few (if any) other prominent atheists; most of them stayed confined to ivory towers, or like Carl Sagan, mentioned it casually. (Some leading atheists today like Sam Harris put me to sleep with their academic lingo.) O'Hair was the only people's atheist who, after getting numerous death threats and having her children threatened as well, developed a harder shell. But her ability to articulate an unpopular viewpoint (and hold her own against the holy rollers) is stunning to watch.
This is worth viewing, but if you're sympathetic to O'Hair, be patient: the film gets better as it moves along.
When the time came to address O'Hair's lawsuit in San Diego with the Truth Seeker publication, I would have appreciated a bit more background information on what had happened. What did she mean when, after lawyer Roy Withers asked her how she got her money, she retorted by asking if "dancing boys in sequin jockstraps" is a living? Was she implying something about Withers himself, or the Truth Seeker owner? She uttered a poetic set of words here, but they had no context.
The previous reviewer is correct regarding O'Hair's pronunciation of god as "gawd." That's the way many from Baltimore talk. Phil Donahue, though a Catholic, had been mostly supportive of O'Hair and called her a "friend." Like many, he had reservations about her combative style but defended her message.
My favorite parts of the documentary were the interviews with Tim Young (the T.J. Young who directed the film) and Ed Martin. These two investigators provided some information about the circumstances of Robin O'Hair's death that were shocking.
Going back to the documentary's confusing viewpoint, the film starts out with a negative view of the famous atheist, but by the end, it lauds her efforts. Even the delicate Ms. Seaman admits that O'Hair's blistering style was likely the only way the message of church-state separation would have gotten any public attention.
Back in the sixties through the eighties, there were few (if any) other prominent atheists; most of them stayed confined to ivory towers, or like Carl Sagan, mentioned it casually. (Some leading atheists today like Sam Harris put me to sleep with their academic lingo.) O'Hair was the only people's atheist who, after getting numerous death threats and having her children threatened as well, developed a harder shell. But her ability to articulate an unpopular viewpoint (and hold her own against the holy rollers) is stunning to watch.
This is worth viewing, but if you're sympathetic to O'Hair, be patient: the film gets better as it moves along.
helpful•11
- startlepoint
- Jan 20, 2019
Details
- Runtime1 hour 25 minutes
- Color
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