An American Crime (2007) on Netflix
R20071h 38mBiographyCrimeDrama
In 1965, carnival workers Lester and Betty Likens leave their daughters Sylvia and Jenny with Gertrude Baniszewski, a single mother in Indiana. Money is tight and Gertrude turns on Sylvia.
- Netflix3.7/5
- IMDb7.2/1040,245 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes40%
Trailer
Plot summary
When the Likens parents go on tour with the carnival in 1965, they leave sixteen-year-old Sylvia and her fifteen-year-old sister Jenny with Gertrude Baniszewski, a church acquaintance in Indianapolis who has children of her own and little money. Gertrude agrees to keep the girls for twenty dollars a week. When a payment arrives late, Gertrude beats the sisters with a belt. A letter from the parents arrives with the money, and Gertrude throws it away without telling the girls. After Sylvia reveals that Paula Baniszewski is pregnant, Gertrude has her son Johnny hold Sylvia down while Paula beats her. After a church lunch, Gertrude says Sylvia flirted with Andy and locks her in the basement, telling the household to say the girl was sent to juvenile detention.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about An American Crime (2007)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Catherine Keener originally turned down the film's central role, but after she could not get the story out of her head she met with director Tommy O'Haver and agreed to do the film.
- Most of the cast were completely unaware of the real murder case until after they read the script, which was based largely on actual court transcripts from the case.
