Will: G. Gordon Liddy

Will: G. Gordon Liddy is an American television film which first aired on NBC on January 10, 1982. The film depicts the rise and fall of Watergate co-conspirator G. Gordon Liddy. Liddy was portrayed by two different actors: American actor Robert Conrad played Liddy as an adult and child actor Danny Lloyd portrayed him in his youth. Other figures associated with the Watergate scandal and portrayed in this film include Jeb Magruder and John Dean. The movie was directed by Robert Lieberman and was based on Liddy's 1980 autobiography.

Will: G. Gordon Liddy
The video tape cover for Will.
GenreBiography
Drama
Written byFrank Abatemarco
Directed byRobert Lieberman
StarringRobert Conrad
John Mahoney
Danny Lloyd
Music byMike Post
Pete Carpenter
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerJoan Conrad
ProducerJohn Ashley
Production locationDeKalb, Illinois
CinematographyPaul Vom Brack
EditorHoward S. Deane
Running time100 min.
Production companyA. Shane Company
Budget$2 million[1]
Release
Original networkNBC
Original release
  • January 10, 1982 (1982-01-10) (U.S.)

Plot

The film follows the rise and fall of convicted Watergate conspirator G. Gordon Liddy. Robert Conrad is cast as the adult Liddy, who is sentenced to 20 years in prison. The film follows the convicted felon through the four and half years he spent behind bars. While in prison, the film portrays Liddy as capable and able to match up to any man in the prison. The film includes several famous details from Liddy's 1980 autobiography including the legendary "hand held over the burning flame," and Liddy's oath, "I will kill for you, Mr. President."[2]

Background and production

The film was based on Liddy's 1980 bestselling autobiography, Will: The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy, and directed by Robert Lieberman.[2][3] Courtroom scenes for the movie were shot in Illinois, at the 1905 DeKalb County Courthouse.[4] The film was a personal project of lead actor Robert Conrad; his daughter was billed as executive producer.[5]

It was produced by John Ashley, a former actor who was a friend of Conrad's.[6] Ashley recalls adapting the book being very difficult, not because of censorship but because it was hard to know what to leave out.[7]

Cast

Distribution

The made-for-television film debuted in the United States on NBC on January 10, 1982.[8] Copies of the film are held in the Nixon Presidential Materials collection of the U.S. National Archives.[9]

References
  1. Lamont, John (1990). "The John Ashley Filmography". Trash Compactor (Volume 2 No. 5 ed.). p. 27.
  2. Erickson, Hal (For AMG). Will: G. Gordon Liddy, "Movies," New York Times. Retrieved March 14, 2007.
  3. von Hoffman, Nicholas. Gong Ho, "The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy," The New York Review of Books. Retrieved March 14, 2007.
  4. History of DeKalb County Courthouse, 16th Judicial Circuit, 2005. Retrieved March 14, 2007.
  5. Joan Conrad Biography, Internet Movie Database. Retrieved March 14, 2007.
  6. Vagg, Stephen (December 2019). "A Hell of a Life: The Nine Lives of John Ashley". Diabolique Magazine.
  7. "The John Ashley Interview Part 2". Trash Compactor. Vol. 2, no. 6. 1992.
  8. O'Connor, John J. "Is this autobiography really necessary?," New York Times, January 10, 1982. Retrieved March 14, 2007.
  9. Main Video File Collection Finding Aid, "Nixon Presidential Materials," National Archives & Records Administration. Retrieved March 14, 2007.
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