No One Would Tell (1996 film)

No One Would Tell is a 1996 American teen crime drama television film directed by Noel Nosseck from an original script by Steven Loring. The film premiered on NBC on May 6, 1996. It is based on the true story of 14-year-old Amy Carnevale, who was physically abused and murdered by her 16-year-old boyfriend Jamie Fuller, on August 23, 1991, in Beverly, Massachusetts.[1] A remake debuted on Lifetime on September 16, 2018.

No One Would Tell
A boy in a varsity jacket holds a frightened-looking girl and seems to be threatening her in front of a lake
DVD cover
GenreDrama
Teen
Thriller
Sport
Crime
Biography
Written bySteven Loring
Directed byNoel Nosseck
StarringCandace Cameron
Fred Savage
Michelle Phillips
Theme music composerMichael Tavera
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersArtie Mandelberg
Randy Sutter
CinematographyPaul Maibaum
EditorMichael Brown
Running time96 minutes
Production companiesFrank & Bob Films II
Hallmark Entertainment
von Zerneck-Sertner Films
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseMay 6, 1996 (1996-05-06)

Plot

edit

In Phoenix, Arizona, 16-year-old Bobby Tennison starts talking to classmate Stacy. He eventually invites Stacy and her friends to a late night lake party. There, Bobby and Stacy sneak off, and eventually learn that their fathers abandoned them. Meanwhile Stacy's mom, Laura, is dating Rod, who is emotionally abusive.

Bobby eventually starts showing possessive behavior. He wants Stacy to always be home at night when he calls and not hang out with anyone when they are together. He occasionally apologizes after getting mad at Stacy, says that he loves her, and gives her gifts.

While shopping with her friend Nicki, Stacy reveals bruises on her back. They come from the night Stacy lost her virginity to Bobby. At school, boys start to notice Stacy after Nicki convinces her to wear a mid-thigh length skirt. Eventually, a boy compliments Stacy. Outraged, Bobby later says that she looks like a slut and forces her to wear pants for the rest of the day. After Stacy says that she was only dressing up for him, he slams her into a wall. A school coach considers reporting the incident, but Stacy defends Bobby by saying that she “slipped”. Stacy starts missing events because Bobby has limited her time with friends. Nicki learns that Bobby's last girlfriend changed schools after being hit by him. Nicki later notices more bruises on Stacy's arm. Stacy, frustrated, says that she can take care of herself.

Stacy later bumps into Bobby's mother, whom he forbade her to meet. After catching them talking to each other, Bobby slams Stacy into a truck. Upset, Stacy refuses to see Bobby again. Bobby, however, sneaks into her house after Laura goes out with Rod. He coaxes Stacy back into a relationship by relating to her with stories of his estranged dad, who was an abusive alcoholic. They later attend a school dance, where he eventually sees her talking to another boy. Bobby pulls Stacy into the parking lot and slaps her.

Nicki gets worried, but Stacy defends Bobby, saying that he has been through a lot. Returning home, Stacy hears Laura arguing with Rod and decides to stay at Nicki's. Laura ends things with Rod that night. Stacy breaks up with Bobby, as well. Carla, a mutual friend who is in love with Bobby, tries to make plans with him. He takes advantage of this opportunity to offer to pick Stacy up and have her hang out at his place. He invites Carla too. There, he accuses Stacy of being with another guy and slaps her. In private, Bobby kisses Carla and says that if anyone asks, Stacy and him fought and she left.

Later that night, Bobby, accompanied by friend Vince, convinces Stacy to take a ride in his car. He drives them to the lake and walks off with her while Vince waits in the car. The next day, it is reported that she is missing.

Laura and Nicki go out searching for her. Laura suspects that Bobby was involved in the disappearance and finds Stacy's purse in his room. Pretending to be concerned about Stacy, Bobby enlists people to help look for her. Meanwhile, Nicki interrogates Carla, who repeats what Bobby told her to say. Nicki eventually informs Laura and Detective Anderson about how abusive Stacy's relationship was. Carla later admits that Bobby and Vince took Stacy to the lake.

Bobby and Vince get arrested, and Bobby blames Stacy's disappearance on Vince. After admitting that Bobby was the one last seen with her, Vince is free to go. Cornered, Bobby eventually admits that he slit Stacy's throat when she refused to resume their relationship.

Stacy's body is found in the lake, wrapped in a trash bag bound and tied down with cinder blocks. A court trial follows, where lots of classmates admit that they saw Bobby hit Stacy but did nothing figuring that she would leave him eventually. He is eventually found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

Cast

edit

Reception

edit

The film received mixed reviews from critics, but Candace Cameron Bure and Heather McComb were praised for their acting performances.[2]

Remake

edit

The film was remade by Lifetime, with Shannen Doherty as Laura Collins, Matreya Scarrwener as Sarah Collins, and Callan Potter as Rob Tennison, and premiered on September 16, 2018.[1][3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Curry-Reyes, Traciy (September 11, 2018). "'No One Would Tell': Lifetime Movie True Story Remake Inspired By Jamie Fuller, Amy Carnevale, Shoe Pond Murder". TV Crime Sky. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  2. ^ McCarthy, John P. (May 6, 1996). "Nbc Monday Night at the Movies No One Would Tell". Variety. Retrieved September 13, 2018. Cameron is realistic as the gullible and willful teen. The highest acting marks go to Heather McComb, who's able to take up the emotional slack in the script and performances.
  3. ^ Li, Shirley (September 7, 2018). "Shannen Doherty fights for justice against a domestic abuser in No One Would Tell trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
edit