"The People Vs. Jean Harris" | Complete 1981 Film 

Ellen Burstyn is such a great actress. There’s never gonna be anyone quite like her. She’s so good at these tragic figures that you just can’t help but feel so much sorrow and empathy for.

I attended some of this trial and was fascinated by the incompetence of the Harrison Police Dept. They tainted evidence, particularly the gun, and one of the officers made a phone call from the bedroom phone which had blood on it. I remember him being questioned as to why he used the bloodied phone and he answered that he was told to make a phone call. The defense attorney wiped the floor with him for using the bloodied phone instead of another phone in the house.

"There are so many enemies and so few friends. I was a person.... and no one ever knew". Very sad. Thanks for posting

IMO, Jean Harris was her own worst enemy in a lot of ways at her trial...

Thanks so much for posting this!

Thanks for this extraordinary documentary. I've looking for this story for years.

Thanks so much for uploading this. I watch everything I can with Ellen Burstyn.

Toxic relationship indeed

What in interesting film ! so much like a real trial , the acting is superbe . Ellen Burstyn is magnificent as always . Thank you for sharing .

Brad Fiedel, the composer who went to on score many stunning projects. Like the first "Terminator" movies, "True Lies", "Fright Night" and more. For the Emmy-nominated TV movie "The People vs. Jean Harris" aired on NBC in 5/7/1981, his musical score as composer made an extraordinary contribution. Most of the crew who worked on the 1981 TV movie for the first time and they are: conductor Shirley Walker, violinist Ross Levinson, music editor Allan K. Rosen, associate music editor Patty von Arx and scoring mixer Tim Boyle.

The Washington Post article on Jean Harris reads very similar to Betty Broderick's case in that Jean was used and discarded by a man she loved, then taunted and humiliated by his much younger, new lover. However, in no way does this excuse their actions.

Ellen Byrstyn is a great actress!!!!

fantastic movie so well acted love these oldies thank you so much for the upload

Annette Benning did a version of this in the film “Mrs. Harris.”

awesome, thank you

Love your channel!!!

Very enjoyable film, Ellen Burstyn is so brilliant. 🤩

A little known movie with a great cast. Ellen Burstyn was incredible.

Great film very interesting! Thank you for sharing this. I love older film. Peter looks so young here. Jean Harris was a great documentary movie. Watch the whole movie. Thank you!

Great channel!!

Thanks. I never thought I’d see this when I read about it in her book. Never knew much about this case.

Well, two things I do not understand as a lawyer. First, at about 1:20, the prosecutor asks her about a letter she sent to the doctor, which she describes. He then asks the defence lawyer for the letter. It is a basic part of the pre-trial process that all documents are traded in Dicovery/disclosure. hence, he would already have had the letter. He knew of it, its details and questioned her on direct about it. so, why would he need to ask the defense for a copy? Second, he then introduces what he calls a 'surprise witness'. That is a massive no-no in any trial. Both parties trade witness lists and are able to see and know what the witness is expected to say so that they can both prepare for direct and cross-examination of the witness. A surprise witness would be disallowed in the way it is shown here. The word used is ambush and that is never permitted. Both sides, in order to have equality of arms as the law guarantees for fairness, would be fully aware of every item of evidence or possible witness. Maybe this is just a dramatisation but it is meant to be based on the known facts and neither of these things would be allowed.

Ellen Burstyn is such a wonderful and amazing actress... wow what a performance! 🤗

I believe she did murder him and deserved to go to prison. With that being said i also believe the doctor was a shlep, used her up then threw her away like trash.

Why do these women get so overwrought to such men as these they are not married to ? Dump them and get on with life.

Sad that women ruin their lives over these sh**** men. I got close here & there. But I moved on & got myself together. I realized that love of men is not as important as loving myself. It’s an addiction to some degree. 🙏🌈🌺🌼

Excellent, really engaging!

Thank you soso much!!

Thank you so much , I love Ellen Burstyn, she is from Detroit Mi.

42:58 ADA Boland added 5# to (deceased) Dr Tarnowner's weight (175# vs 170# as previously stated during opening arguments) and subtracted 5# from Jean Harris' weight (110# vs 115# as previously stated during same)

I remember Jean Harris' story & the televised/print news re: the Madera School for Girls, but have never before seen this film. Thank you, so much, for sharing! (So good to see Richard Dyshart in his role as the judge).

Why did she go up to his room in the middle of the night with a gun anyway? I kmow she was depressed but why did an intelligent woman like her did not seek help elsewhere?!

Enjoyed the movie .thanks for sharing your channel 😀 👍🏼 😊

What happened to Jean Harris? Was she granted parole after 15 years? Did she die in prison?

41:59 This seemingly insignificant detail about Tarnower's chest wound is what did Harris in. The defense disputed the prosecution claim that the wound contained tissue from Tarnower's hand. But upon closer inspection, the prosecution found that the residue surrounding the chest wound did not contain gunpowder (which would have indicated a direct hit), but consisted entirely of dried blood. That makes it much more likely than not that Tarnower had held up his hand defensively because Harris was pointing a gun at him; and that Harris deliberately pulled the trigger, sending a bullet through his hand before it entered his chest.

I love how men are judging her here in the end. It’s always the way. The prosecution would have you believe, they know exactly what was happening, in her mind, & in that bedroom! It is however, precisely because, men are not that intuitive, that Mr. Tarnower, found himself, ending up dead! 🤷🏼‍♀️ Be very careful, whose heart you break! 🤷🏼‍♀️✌🏼🇨🇦

Had Thanksgiving in her former residence 1980. There was something I read, somewhere, than caused me to believe she was wrongfully convicted...but, this indeed is a "man's world". Will hope for a better place on the other side.

This was great watching

I remember this!!!

hell hath no fury like a woman scorned

Wonderful acting.

The first witness with the German accent did such a corny overacting job, she reminded me of Mama on the old Carol Burnett show.

Great movie ! Have seen it many times !

errrr if the prosecution performs discovery correctly, there are no surprise witnesses. He failed to allow the defense to prepare correctly for the case.

That judge was 49? Must be tough work.

jean harris was the headmistress at my high school lol

In all the years I've heard about the Scarsdale diet, I thought they were talking about Scarsdale in Toronto, Ontario. lol

How is this film related to Joan Crawford?

Jean Harris in a good film would have a great role for St Joan Crawford.

Wow! Awesome judge! Love him!..✌🏼🇨🇦

Very good movie.

2:55 he's 47 years old? Wow, he's had a hard life! The actor, Martin Balsam, was actually in his 60s. lol

Peter Coyote sounds a lot like Henry Fonda without the drawl. And Lol to the “who shot JR”!!

This movie is what you should watch even when you are on the wrong side. Chances are you win.

Unrequited love can take one by surprise. I was going through it also, during these same years, but I was a lot younger than she was. With a lot less to lose, I chalked it up to experience and bounced back, becoming a little older, wiser and not to be fooled again, type of woman. I hope she helped other women with some of their problems while she was in prison. I don't doubt the doctor was a narcissist, sadist and perhaps, probably got some of what he asked for. Karma's a bitch, as they say!

TRUE LOVE LETS GO. MOVE ON after an engagement/marriage break up. Otherwise the UNREPENTANT disloyal/unfaithful one will CONTINUE to USE & ABUSE & DUMP .... times enough leading to useless murder/death & imprisonment. NOT worth it .... as true love lets go.

She WAS NOT GUILTY IF I`m one of those stupid juries...!!!

Perception - general perception of what a brilliant woman so in love is capable of - this tips evem an impartial jury against a brilliant woman cuz its so opposite feeling sorry for a helpless woman. This perception for a brilliant man is the opposite. Jean Harris garnered no sympathy because of her brilliance; jury didnt feel sorry for her. She wasnt prosecuted baeed on facts, cuz they were just too ambiguous and prosecution failed to prove any guilt bwyond shadow of and doubt.

It would have been very interesting to know what went on in the jury room. _"We the Jury"_ gives some insights ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IkuW6BOv4bc.html

" I WAS A PERSON, AND NOBODY EVER KNEW " 😢 Such a powerful statement, from a strong endearing passionate devoted woman 😢

Judge was 43. Ha.

Harris as portrayed by Ellen Burnstyn comes across as a woman obsessed, controlling and calculating. Her attention to details is laboriously pedantic.

Notice the discussion at 4 minutes 28 seconds the judge and lawyers talk about the cross the witness is wearing. The one lawyer wanted the witness to remove it but the judge said no I am not going to have her remove it. Irony above the judge it reads on the wall IN GOD WE TRUST

I lost interest as soon as I heard that the judge worked his way up . Should have said that he knew certain people and kissed the right ass 's and white privilege and being appointed to the position was the reason he was there ! As was the way things were openly done during those times . So this is what entertainment has been reduced to in the age of social media . Bullshit !