MyCatLovesTV wrote:

There was a 2017 made-for-TV movie starring Scott Foley as Jeffrey MacDonald entitled "Final Vision" (assuming it's based on Joe McG's book of the same name). I was looking for it and it appears that it is not available to stream anywhere. Did anybody watch this and, if so, was it any good? 

Started to watch it, and was drawn away. Never went back, but it didn’t catch me. I did read at the time of it’s release that Scott Foley said he believed MacDonald might be innocent. Could never find out why he felt that way. No evidence supports his opinion. I would still like to see it, just for comparison. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.

Yes the movie was based on the McGinnis book. Did some searching myself, interesting that version is not out there.

Last edited by TexasPoet (3/12/2023 12:54 pm)

MyCatLovesTV wrote:

I was thinking that even Investigation ID thought the movie sucked and pulled it! (I really cannot believe anybody who has researched the MacDonald case even minimally could believe in Jeff's innocence. Bad, Scott, bad! - smacks him with a newspaper.)

ROfLOL! Hot coffee squirting from my nose! Stop it Cat!

OneWhoCares wrote:

I watched it back then, and I cannot find anything that it is streaming on now BUT I did find some reviews.

Final Vision (TV Movie 2017) - Final Vision (TV Movie 2017) - User Reviews - IMDb

Thank you OWC. Read reviews and now I remember why I stopped watching and never went back. Cheap, cheesy movie. The original was so well done with a great cast. Gary Cole nailed it.

Be well and safe.

Tim2020 wrote:

I throw this out for open discussion.  Supposed cm had pleaded temporary insanity due to the speed/diet drug he was taking 15 mg Dextroamphetamine and 7.5 mg Compazine and he admitted to taking 3-5 daily.  I wonder what would have happened.  He might have been able to explain how he attacked Colette, accidently hit Kimberly.  He would always had trouble explaining away Kristen, which was premeditated, cold blooded murder.  If nothing else, he was a smart man, so I am surprised, he didn't go this route or at least give it serious consideration.

From all that I have read, I don’t believe MacDonald ever would have been capable of such a decision or such actions. He is a narcissist with a deep need to be viewed as perfect in all ways and couldn’t admit he wasn’t the perfect husband, father, Doctor, etc. Add to that his belief that he was the smartest guy in the room who expected everyone to believe him. According to Fatal Vision; right up to the jury reading the verdict, MacDonald believed he would be acquitted. He was supposed  to be the “Golden Boy”.

I have always found it interesting, how he always attempted to spin things. For instance, when it was revealed he cheated on Colette multiple times with multiple partners; it was not an affair because it was just sex, he still deeply loved Colette, and at that time everyone was doing it.

I have always thought that if things had stopped immediately after he struck Kimberley and he had rendered aid and called for help, it would have ended there. Given the behavior of the military at that time I don’t believe they would have pursued any charges. And, domestic violence was viewed differently back then. Colette probably would have divorced him, he would have had an ex-wife and three children to support, including a brain-damaged child to support for the rest of her life if Kimberley had survived, and a major blemish on his background. His image would have taken a hit. He probably still would have ended up out in California living the good life. And I believe, he eventually would have blown up again. It was more than just drugs, there is a very ugly monster inside the man.

Last edited by TexasPoet (3/23/2023 10:04 pm)

Grandfather wrote:

Agree TP, as usual, you are on the money.
It did not have to end the way it did. I believe there was a pause, where the initial rage was spent, and he had time to think. The evidence shows that he took the time to flip through a magazine, with blood on his hands. We know that Colette got up and walked into Kristen's room under her own power, so she could have survived at that point. Her baby boy would have survived, and Kristen too. What a different world this would be for both sides of the family. Even if Kimmy had died, it wouldn't have been the end of his life.  As others have pointed out, attitudes towards domestic violence were different, and he could have claimed the drugs affected him. And to some extent, that was true.
He could have rebuilt his life. After a few years he would have been free. I think he would have changed his name, and done quite well in a medical related field, such as a salesman for expensive medical equipment. Maybe today he would have been a proud father and grandfather.
But he made another choice. To go all in.  He wanted full freedom. He didnt want to suffer, even a little bit. So he had to finish what was started. It would take a strong determined effort, but he was up to the challenge. And he knew he would need a cover story to deflect and distract. And then go toe to toe with the investigators. But he was confident that he would succeed. He thought he was much smarter than everyone else, and he thought a good lawyer is capable of almost anything.
And once he went down that road, there was no turning back.  Later on he thought that just by saying something, he could make it true. Such as, i didn't kill them. Or, they have no evidence!  Nothing!
He also misunderstood terms like reasonable doubt, and made up terms like factual innocence.
Then he thought by appealing on grounds like speedy trial, or prosecution or judge misconduct, he could get off that way. But none of it worked. And so he is stuck. He gambled and lost.

Bravo GF, well said. I believe that if MacDonald had stopped when he hit Kimberley, that would have been the end of it. At the most, there would have been a cursory investigation by the military, probably divorce proceedings by Colette, and personal turmoil and angst, until MacDonald was discharged and began practicing medicine full time, somewhere else. He would have remained a doctor. Eventually he would have come up with a story that blamed Colette and portrayed him as the aggrieved. As I stated, domestic violence was viewed differently in 1970 and at that time the military had it’s hands full with bad publicity and public disapproval. They would have been happy to sweep everything under the “rug”. 

But, as you say, “ he chose to go all in.”

About the same time, beginning in 1970, there was a famous domestic murder in Houston Texas by a doctor, Dr. John Hill The case  culminated with  a trial and then mistrial. No one believed Dr. John Hill would ever be convicted. (Racehorse Haynes was the attorney). Joan Hill’s father pursued justice another way, Dr. Hill was murdered.

https://thecrimewire.com/true-crime/Blood-Money-and-Murder-In-Texas-The-Strange-Case-of-Dr-John-Hill

Last edited by TexasPoet (3/24/2023 11:00 am)