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IMDbPro

In the Best Interest of the Child

  • TV Movie
  • 1990
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
154
YOUR RATING
Meg Tilly in In the Best Interest of the Child (1990)
Drama

Jennifer's daughter is having nightmares and acting violently. It dawns on Jennifer that Mandy might be sexually abused by her father. What will she do when the court isn't favourable in Man... Read allJennifer's daughter is having nightmares and acting violently. It dawns on Jennifer that Mandy might be sexually abused by her father. What will she do when the court isn't favourable in Mandy's hour of need?Jennifer's daughter is having nightmares and acting violently. It dawns on Jennifer that Mandy might be sexually abused by her father. What will she do when the court isn't favourable in Mandy's hour of need?

  • Director
    • David Greene
  • Writer
    • Hal Sitowitz
  • Stars
    • Meg Tilly
    • Ed Begley Jr.
    • Michael O'Keefe
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    154
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David Greene
    • Writer
      • Hal Sitowitz
    • Stars
      • Meg Tilly
      • Ed Begley Jr.
      • Michael O'Keefe
    • 6User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos4

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    Top cast20

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    Meg Tilly
    Meg Tilly
    • Jennifer Colton
    Ed Begley Jr.
    Ed Begley Jr.
    • Howard Feldon
    Michael O'Keefe
    Michael O'Keefe
    • Walt Colton
    Michele Greene
    Michele Greene
    • Nora
    Marta Woodward
    • Mandy Colton
    David Wohl
    David Wohl
    • Judge Dunham
    James Eckhouse
    James Eckhouse
    • Chilton
    Jim Byrnes
    Jim Byrnes
    • Kurt
    Angela Bassett
    Angela Bassett
    • Lori
    Peter Hansen
    Peter Hansen
    • Dr. Innes
    Rosanna Huffman
    • Mrs. Thacker
    Tom Irwin
    Tom Irwin
    • Frank
    Cynthia Mace
    Cynthia Mace
    • Liz
    Maria O'Brien
    Maria O'Brien
    • Carla
    Robin Pearson Rose
    Robin Pearson Rose
    • Mrs. Stapleton
    Kenneth Tigar
    Kenneth Tigar
    • Fred Hulbert
    Sierra Pecheur
    • Dr. Garfield
    Lance Davis
    • Dr. Roedicker
    • Director
      • David Greene
    • Writer
      • Hal Sitowitz
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews6

    6.0154
    1
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    Featured reviews

    8hannahmc

    Confusion!

    I was confused by the end scene. Who is the woman that Mandy runs to in the country? Is it her Grandma? It just seems weird because Mandy looked super happy to be seeing her, why didn't Jennifer give her daughter to this woman at first? Instead of running away with her? I don't get it. I hate it how Jennifer goes to jail for protecting her child from a rapist. I think that's sick. She deserves better. I really hate her husband too, he is such a sicko, he hurt his own child and continues to want to see her, to abuse her (emotionally, psychologically) and he shows no remorse for what he has done. He acts as though he didn't do a thing wrong and that what he did was normal behaviour between a father and daughter.

    Where is the justice in this film?
    4margoletta

    Where's the closure?

    This movie was interesting and it held my attention but I was very disappointed in the end at the lack of an ending. When the courts are wrong and people fight for justice, I feel the viewer needs to know that there are alternatives to the choices the main character has made. This movie just ended and left you feeling pretty cheated.
    7EdmondDantes424

    A film that goes a bit of the way to demonstrate the callous actions of family courts.

    There is worldwide distress caused by cps and the family courts. They imprisoned me for similar reasons to the woman in the film. The film does not bring out enough just how corrupt the family court system is, or how cps workers thrive on bullying people. A top psychiatrist told me that their was a huge trail of very long term distressed children and families left in the wake of social services. The film also fails to show that the family courts readily allow things to happen that the criminal courts would put people imprison for. The film misses that this situation is a pandemic. The idea that the system is run by sociopaths does not come over strong enough.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Judge Dunham: Do you understand that you are now facing a charge of felony kidnapping?

      Jennifer Colton: [defiantly] Yes, Your Honor, I understand.

      Judge Dunham: And are you aware that your willingness to cooperate with this courtroom will directly affect the manner in which the district attorney chooses to prosecute those charges?

      Jennifer Colton: Yes, Your Honor.

      Judge Dunham: Mrs. Colton, I believe you are an honest woman and a concerned mother, and I believe you were certain in your view. But I cannot let that judgment affect the rules of law that all citizens must live by. Do you understand that?

      Jennifer Colton: I do.

      Judge Dunham: I will give you one more chance to perhaps diminish the circumstances in which you are currently trapped. Where is your daughter?

      [Jennifer goes silent and defiant still]

      Judge Dunham: Please, Mrs. Colton, answer the question. Where is your daughter?

      Jennifer Colton: I'm sorry, Your Honor, I cannot answer that question.

      Judge Dunham: Cannot or will not?

      Jennifer Colton: [turns and looks at him] I would say both, Your Honor.

      Judge Dunham: Then you do know of her whereabouts at this time?

      Jennifer Colton: I will not answer that question.

      Judge Dunham: Have you had recent contact with her?

      Jennifer Colton: [repeats, enunciates calmly] I will not answer that question.

      Judge Dunham: Then you give me no choice but to inform the district attorney of your unwillingness to cooperate with this court.

      [Jennifer lightly nods]

      Judge Dunham: One last time, Mrs. Colton: Do you understand that you are now facing a felony kidnapping charge?

      Jennifer Colton: I tried to follow the law in everything I did. But the law doesn't work, and if the law doesn't work, then it ought to be changed. But that would take time, and Mandy couldn't afford to wait.

      [the next scene shows Jennifer back in prison being escorted to her cell by the warden]

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 20, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ohne Zeugen
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Robert Papazian Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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