The Thin Blue Line

The Thin Blue Line chronicles the case of Randall Dale Adams, who was wrongfully convicted of murdering Dallas police officer Robert Wood in 1976. Directed by Errol Morris, it presents a detailed account of the events surrounding the crime and the subsequent investigation through interviews with key witnesses and dramatic reenactments of the murder scene.

Adams, a 27-year-old drifter, was picked up by 16-year-old David Harris after his car ran out of gas. The two spent several hours together, drinking beer, smoking marijuana, and watching a movie at a drive-in theater. Their accounts of what happened next diverged significantly. Adams claimed he returned to his motel and went to sleep, while Harris alleged that Adams shot the police officer during a routine traffic stop later that night.

Morris’s film reconstructs the case, highlighting the flaws in the investigation and the prosecution’s reliance on questionable evidence. It reveals how three witnesses erroneously identified Adams as the driver of the car seen at the crime scene, and how Harris, the actual murderer, testified against Adams. It also exposes instances of prosecutorial misconduct, concealment of evidence, and police perjury that contributed to Adams’s wrongful conviction.

Through his investigation, Morris was able to discredit the testimony of five key prosecution witnesses, demonstrating that each had committed perjury during the trial. The documentary’s revelations, including a taped confession from Harris, played a crucial role in bringing national attention to Adams’s case and ultimately led to his release from prison after serving over 12 years.