The Thin Blue Line is a 1988 documentary film directed by Errol Morris. The film focuses on the murder case of Dallas police officer Robert W. Wood, which occurred in 1976. Morris spent years investigating the case, conducting interviews with witnesses, law enforcement officials, and others who were involved.
The film uses a unique approach to storytelling, incorporating dramatic re-enactments of the crime scene and investigation. These sequences feature actors playing the key figures in the case, and are combined with archival footage and interviews to create a vivid and engaging account of the events leading up to Wood's murder.
Through his investigation, Morris uncovers inconsistencies in the evidence, and suggests that the man convicted of the murder, Randall Dale Adams, may have been wrongly accused. The film argues that Adams was the victim of a flawed justice system, and that he was ultimately convicted based on little more than circumstantial evidence and the testimony of dubious eyewitnesses.
The Thin Blue Line is widely regarded as a landmark documentary, both for its innovative visual style and its impact on the case itself. Following the release of the film, Adams was granted a new trial and eventually exonerated of the crime. The film is often cited as an example of the power of documentary to effect real-world change.