Will: G. Gordon Liddy is an American television film which first aired on NBC on January 10, 1982. The film depicts the rise and fall of Watergate co-conspirator G. Gordon Liddy. Liddy was portrayed by two different actors: American actor Robert Conrad played Liddy as an adult and child actor Danny Lloyd portrayed him in his youth. Other figures associated with the Watergate scandal and portrayed in this film include Jeb Magruder and John Dean. The movie was directed by Robert Lieberman and was based on Liddy's 1980 autobiography.
Plot
The film follows the rise and fall of convicted Watergate conspirator G. Gordon Liddy. Robert Conrad is cast as the adult Liddy, who is sentenced to 20 years in prison. The film follows the convicted felon through the four and half years he spent behind bars. While in prison, the film portrays Liddy as capable and able to match up to any man in the prison. The film includes several famous details from Liddy's 1980 autobiography including the legendary "hand held over the burning flame," and Liddy's oath, "I will kill for you, Mr. President."
Background and production
The film was based on Liddy's 1980 bestselling autobiography, Will: The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy, and directed by Robert Lieberman. Courtroom scenes for the movie were shot in Illinois, at the 1905 DeKalb County Courthouse. The film was a personal project of lead actor Robert Conrad; his daughter was billed as executive producer.
It was produced by John Ashley, a former actor who was a friend of Conrad's. Ashley recalls adapting the book being very difficult, not because of censorship but because it was hard to know what to leave out.
Cast
Robert Conrad as G. Gordon Liddy
Danny Lloyd as Young G. Gordon Liddy
Katherine Cannon as Fran Liddy
Gary Bayer as Jeb Magruder
Peter Ratray as John Dean
James Rebhorn as Peter Maroulis
Red West as Kaworski
Maurice Woods as Copperhead
John Byner as the voice of Richard Nixon
Distribution
The made-for-television film debuted in the United States on NBC on January 10, 1982. Copies of the film are held in the Nixon Presidential Materials collection of the U.S. National Archives.