A man and his wife are not getting along because of the wife's jealousy and drinking problems. When the wife disappears, her sister begins a vigorous search involving the local police, state government, and a television crime show. What she finds out stuns the entire community. Good drama with lots of fine performances; based on a true story.
11 Reviews
Based on a true story, and there are a few
MarieGabrielle17 November 2006
decent performances, including Ann Jillian, as Vonnie's sister, and Graham Beckel as Detective Broadhearst (look for him in "Jennifer 8" as the villain, and also in the more recent "Brokeback Mountain").
Joe Penny delivers a decent performance as Ron Rickman, a man who spent time in a hospital for the criminally insane, after shooting two men (it is never explained how, or why). It may have helped the story if the writer had delineated the characters a bit more.
Alicia Witt and some of the other neighborhood teens belong to a youth group ("TOPS") which is run by Penny, apparently as an aide to the community, and to help teens become interested in positive community issues. Because Penny is believable as somewhat shady, and Gillian as the sister, the film holds some interest. The characterization of Vonnie is weak; a woman who smokes too much, and we just see her interaction with daughter Amy briefly, in the beginning of the film.
Overall passable, not the worst we are being offered. I would rather watch this than a soccer mom who solves crimes, which is the latest attempted serial offered by LMN network. 6/10.
Joe Penny delivers a decent performance as Ron Rickman, a man who spent time in a hospital for the criminally insane, after shooting two men (it is never explained how, or why). It may have helped the story if the writer had delineated the characters a bit more.
Alicia Witt and some of the other neighborhood teens belong to a youth group ("TOPS") which is run by Penny, apparently as an aide to the community, and to help teens become interested in positive community issues. Because Penny is believable as somewhat shady, and Gillian as the sister, the film holds some interest. The characterization of Vonnie is weak; a woman who smokes too much, and we just see her interaction with daughter Amy briefly, in the beginning of the film.
Overall passable, not the worst we are being offered. I would rather watch this than a soccer mom who solves crimes, which is the latest attempted serial offered by LMN network. 6/10.
Loved the movie and cast
lroy-9926822 February 2022
My problem is the inability to discern the real characters and the real sentence for the crime committed. The movie clearly showed Ron RicKman as the killer but I had to search to find his true sentence....he died in prison YAY!! For the crime.
this is based on a true story
annbear29 November 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This is based on a true story that happened in Green Bay, Wi. Many items in the movie don't represent the real thing but the main story is true. I know this because I was friends with many of the original people from the true story. I was also part of the law enforcement group that was portrayed but at a later date then was in the movie. The home that the Rickmans lived in wasn't as nice as the one in the movie. I happen to know what the other house looked like and where it had been located, it is now not there. I would like to state that many of the people involved in this story we innocent of knowing what had been happening. Ron was very good at hiding things he didn't want anyone to know about. Vonnie was also a devoted mother to her daughter. She lived for her daughter.
Intriguing story told without embellishment
OneAnjel16 July 2022
This is obviously a low-budget film but one would presumably watch for the content of this case. They portray only actual facts here without embellishing, the way it might be done today. There are few reviews but it's interesting to see how some call the wife things like 'nagging' or 'jealous' instead of acknowledging that the husband was a narcissist who was constantly gaslighting her -- terms we now find frequently but which were not used back then -- and we now are much more aware of how such victims might exhibit frustration and have difficulty making sense of the things their partner is doing or saying. A couple of reviews seem to think there was no 'evidence', but we now understand that things like the purse and items in the loft; the lack of use of social security or bank cards; the lack of eye-witness sightings; and the odd behavior such as insisting the daughter stay home for the shopping trip and immediately telling her that her mother won't be back are all evidence. Add to that his prior crime and his predatory behavior, and it's easy to see why he was convicted. In today's court system the first set of evidence would be enough to convict without a body - it's happened many times since then. It's sad to realize, however, that most of abusers who are convicted is only after they end up killing the women; most other cases where the woman tries to expose the abuser are shamed and disbelieved like AH, having everyone turned against them and perceiving their psychological anguish as some form of co-abuse or even the instigator. Such a sad situation. Most victims don't see it coming.
Very very disappointing
nicholas.rhodes23 October 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Saw this on French TV today and was most disappointed ! The film starts off reasonably well but nothing is elucidated and at the end we are no farther forward than in the beginning. As to seeing the husband for the murder of his wife, this is just not plausible. You need tangible proof to convict someone and a minimum of evidence. In this case there is none at all so it just is not plausible. Remember the old adage "innocent until proved guilty". The fact that a woman has disappeared without trace is no proof that her husband killed her. So I really don't know what kind of point this film was trying to make. The outcome is totally illogical and incomprehensible, no incriminating evidence is revealed to the spectator. So quite frankly, viewing it is a complete waste of time. After all, a film must be entertaining .... this is completely untrue in the case of this one and I suggest it be irrevocably consigned to the dustbin where it belongs !
I was there.
handiman-2342415 October 2021
The tittle speaks well where is and what happened to Vonnie
Magicpearl197417 September 2004
A great suspenseful thriller the acting is first rate and the plot keeps you guessing. This well performed and directed movie is based on a true story and well worth while Joe Penny is cast extremely well and Ann Gillian is convincing as the concernened and terrified sister. Joe again prove he's acting ability is amazing and the ending well done. It,s worth watching I hope they repeat it soon on any channel, I will definitely record it. For Penny and Gillian fans it's worth your time. Rent it if you can better still try to buy it I going to. Perfect early nineties thriller watch this
movie it's great.
movie it's great.
True Story Brought To TV Movie
jkess12326 January 2014
Another true story starring Joe Penny and Ann Jillian. When her sister disappears she tries to find out the truth. Joe's character as Ron Rickman is brought to life and he tries to make everyone believe he is the one that has been left, he doesn't know where she could be. When questioned he cannot produce evidence that he says has been left behind by his missing wife. Add to this that a little girl has been left without a mother and the father tries to get a little too close to the babysitter then the twists and turns keep you guessing as to who could have done this to a mother and wife. Joe performance once again speaks for itself. Ann Jillian does great as the sister. Jos also adds a fear factor with Ann's character when she tries to question him and get answers.
very interesting...
ladyval3 October 2000
This story takes place in Wisconsin. I was half heartedly watching my tape when I heard the name Appleton. I wasn't sure where it was taking place until I heard them say Green Bay & then I figured it was Wisconsin. Watching further confirmed it.
Anxiously awaiting the outcome I could really feel Corrine's frustration. I did not know it was based on fact until the end. It left me glad but sad and wanting to know more.
Anxiously awaiting the outcome I could really feel Corrine's frustration. I did not know it was based on fact until the end. It left me glad but sad and wanting to know more.
It is hard to take something seriously when a woman wails "she would never leave her cigarette case behind..."
Goon-222 March 2001
I saw this one of Lifetime, and of course it is Based on a True Story, since what else would life time show. This one is Based on the True Story of the disappearance of Yvonne "Vonnie" Nelson Rickman(or maybe it is Pickman, as it says here), who went away without coming back, uncharacteristically leaving her cigarette case behind...
She also leaves behind her estranged husband Ron, daughter Amy, and caring and concerned sister Corrinne, who suspects Ron had something to do with The Disappearance of Vonnie.
I think that has something to do with the fact that Ron is Very Close to Amy's babysitter Janine, since she's always on and her and Ron act very...odd together. Yuck. Plus Ron doesn't like Corrinne, and even forbids her to see Amy. Corrinne finds this out when she stops by Amy's house and finds Amy with an ugly haircut that makes her look like a boy that Janine gave her because Ron was "tired of combing it out every morning." Considering that Amy is about nine, can't she do that herself? Anyway, for some reason THAT is really what motivates Corrinne to pursue that search for Vonnie, or at least of any evidence that would relate to her disappearance. That what leads to the discovery of her purse, which after nosily digging through it, Corrinne finds her cigarette case, and just somehow KNOWS that something terrible happened to Vonnie because she did not have it with her. Because she didn't have her cigarette case??? Please. I mean, I can see how that relates to the suspiciousness behind her departure, but that just makes Vonnie sound so... shallow. I'm sure the real one wouldn't have wanted to be known for that.
Of course that all leads to the arrest of Ron and the Big Court Case that happens in every movie Based on a True Story, all with the big question of "can somebody be convicted of murder without the evidence of a body?" I...can't say, except to say that this is no more or less predictable than any other TV movie, and I was still getting over the stupidity of the whole trial and such basically happening because Amy got a bad haircut.
What a "classic."
She also leaves behind her estranged husband Ron, daughter Amy, and caring and concerned sister Corrinne, who suspects Ron had something to do with The Disappearance of Vonnie.
I think that has something to do with the fact that Ron is Very Close to Amy's babysitter Janine, since she's always on and her and Ron act very...odd together. Yuck. Plus Ron doesn't like Corrinne, and even forbids her to see Amy. Corrinne finds this out when she stops by Amy's house and finds Amy with an ugly haircut that makes her look like a boy that Janine gave her because Ron was "tired of combing it out every morning." Considering that Amy is about nine, can't she do that herself? Anyway, for some reason THAT is really what motivates Corrinne to pursue that search for Vonnie, or at least of any evidence that would relate to her disappearance. That what leads to the discovery of her purse, which after nosily digging through it, Corrinne finds her cigarette case, and just somehow KNOWS that something terrible happened to Vonnie because she did not have it with her. Because she didn't have her cigarette case??? Please. I mean, I can see how that relates to the suspiciousness behind her departure, but that just makes Vonnie sound so... shallow. I'm sure the real one wouldn't have wanted to be known for that.
Of course that all leads to the arrest of Ron and the Big Court Case that happens in every movie Based on a True Story, all with the big question of "can somebody be convicted of murder without the evidence of a body?" I...can't say, except to say that this is no more or less predictable than any other TV movie, and I was still getting over the stupidity of the whole trial and such basically happening because Amy got a bad haircut.
What a "classic."
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
