Randall Adams and 'The Thin Blue Line' Quiz

Answer: murdering a police officer

Randall Adams was convicted of this crime and sentenced to death, but the film actually resulted in the overturning of his conviction and he was later released from prison.

Answer: The people being interviewed look directly into the camera.

Errol Morris used a particular set-up using a one-way mirror so that the interviewees could see him in the reflection and feel as though they were talking to him, while being filmed from straight on through the mirror. Morris also avoided asking too many questions, instead letting his subjects just ramble on.

It had an interesting result, in that the people seem to be giving testimonials, speaking directly to the audience, and the role of Morris isn't obvious. Additionally, many things became obvious when the subjects just continued to speak, and Morris was able to cut the interviews together in a way that very effectively manipulated his audience.

Answer: He was only 16.

The film suggested that the reason why the cops didn't legally pursue the obviously criminal Harris was because they wanted to get death penalty to avenge the death of the cop. Adams made a convenient scapegoat, as someone eligible for (though not necessarily deserving of) the sentence.

Answer: a rolling pin

The Vidor cop also told us that there was a time when Harris tried to kidnap a woman out of her apartment, but her boyfriend followed them into the parking lot so Harris shot him. He sure sounds stable, and the prosecution used him to implicate Adams!

Answer: 15 minutes

The psychologist spent 15 minutes with Adams. He asked him what his interpretations were of such proverbs as 'a rolling stone gathers no moss' and had him copy line drawings. Apparently this was all he needed to verify Adams' blood-thirsty state.

Answer: her daughter

She provided a too-convenient alibi for her daughter to keep her out of jail. Not the most reliable of witnesses, but her testimony was basically credited with putting Adams in jail.

Answer: a malt

It was debated whether or not she was in the car drinking it when she should have been outside following procedure by being prepared to offer back up.

Answer: Philip Glass

The score really aided in setting the unnerving tone for the film.

Answer: 3 days

The sentence was overturned on a technicality, and he was later exonerated.

Answer: True

He sued Morris for supposedly making an unfair profit from the film, even though Morris had bought the rights to Adams' life (for {$10).} I'm not sure what the result of the lawsuit was, but I doubt Adams got much of anything, since Morris didn't really make much money off of the movie.