''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 The CTV Television Network, commonly known as CTV, is a Canadian English-language terrestrial television network. Launched in 1961 and acquired by BCE Inc. in 2000, CTV is Canada's largest privately owned television network and is now a divis ...

in 1999. The film centres on

David Milgaard David Milgaard (July 7, 1952 – May 15, 2022) was a Canadian man who was wrongfully convicted for the 1969 rape and murder of nursing student Gail Miller in Saskatoon and imprisoned for 23 years. He was eventually released and exonerated. Up u ...

, a Canadian man who was

wrongfully convicted A miscarriage of justice occurs when a grossly unfair outcome occurs in a criminal or civil proceeding, such as the conviction and punishment of a person for a crime they did not commit. Miscarriages are also known as wrongful convictions. In ...

in the 1969 rape and murder of Gail Miller, and his 22-year quest for justice until being released from prison in 1992. The film stars

Ian Tracey Ian or Iain is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, derived from the Hebrew given name (Yohanan, ') and corresponding to the English name John. The spelling Ian is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic forename ''Iain''. It is a popular name in Sc ...

as David Milgaard and Gabrielle Rose as his mother Joyce Milgaard, as well as Tom Melissis,

Garwin Sanford Garwin Sanford (born 14 March 1955) is a Canadian film and television actor known for his roles on ''Stargate SG-1'' and ''Stargate Atlantis''. Career Sanford's most notable roles are Narim in ''Stargate SG-1'' and Simon Wallace in ''Stargate ...

Hrothgar Mathews Hrothgar Mathews (born January 27, 1964) is a Canadian actor known for his performance as Gill St. George in the 1999 television film ''Milgaard.'' Career He has also played the recurring roles of Mark Fellows in '' Tom Stone'', Det. Charlie Klot ...

Jaimz Woolvett James "Jaimz" Woolvett (born April 14, 1967) is a Canadian actor. Woolvett's highest-profile role was the Schofield Kid, a near-sighted aspiring gun-fighter in Clint Eastwood's Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, a ...

Sabrina Grdevich Sabrina Grdevich is a Canadian actress. Sabrina portrayed Dana Ballard in the 1999 made-for-TV movie '' Ultimate Deception'' with Yasmine Bleeth. Her starring roles include ''Mile Zero'' and ''Lola''. Other roles included playing Cathy Blake in ...

, Bernie Coulson and

Reagan Pasternak Reagan Jae Pasternak (born March 8, 1977) is a Canadian actress known for her role as Julianne in the TV series ''Being Erica''. Biography Pasternak was born in Toronto, Ontario. She is the youngest of four. She has two older sisters and an olde ...

in supporting roles. Larry Fisher, who had been arrested for Miller's murder and was awaiting trial in

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...

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. 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. The film was broadcast on April 11, 1999 across most of Canada, except Saskatchewan. 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 The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television's 14th Gemini Awards were held on November 7, 1999, to honour achievements in Canadian television. The awards show, which was hosted by Rick Mercer, took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and ...

ceremony in November, as Fisher's trial had not yet concluded. 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 The ''Moose Jaw Times-Herald'' was a daily newspaper serving the city of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, and the surrounding area. It was printed Tuesdays through Saturdays (Monday editions ended in 2016). J.N. McDonald founded the ''Times'' as ...

'', December 19, 1999.

Awards

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0178551 1999 films 1999 television films Canadian drama television films English-language Canadian films Gemini and Canadian Screen Award for Best Television Film or Miniseries winners Canadian films based on actual events Films about miscarriage of justice 1990s Canadian films