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IMDbPro

In the Best Interest of the Children

  • TV Movie
  • 1992
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
540
YOUR RATING
In the Best Interest of the Children (1992)
Drama

Fact-based story of a legal battle fought over custody of five siblings.Fact-based story of a legal battle fought over custody of five siblings.Fact-based story of a legal battle fought over custody of five siblings.

  • Director
    • Michael Ray Rhodes
  • Writers
    • Peter Nelson
    • Jud Kinberg
  • Stars
    • Sarah Jessica Parker
    • Sally Struthers
    • Lexi Randall
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    540
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Ray Rhodes
    • Writers
      • Peter Nelson
      • Jud Kinberg
    • Stars
      • Sarah Jessica Parker
      • Sally Struthers
      • Lexi Randall
    • 7User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos3

    View Poster
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    Top cast36

    Edit
    Sarah Jessica Parker
    Sarah Jessica Parker
    • Callie Cain
    Sally Struthers
    Sally Struthers
    • Patty Pepper
    Lexi Randall
    Lexi Randall
    • Jessica Cain
    Gary Graham
    Gary Graham
    • John Birney
    Susan Barnes
    • Donna Evans
    Jayne Atkinson
    Jayne Atkinson
    • Wanda Birney
    John Dennis Johnston
    John Dennis Johnston
    • Harlan Pepper
    Tom Hodges
    Tom Hodges
    • Ray Jacobs
    Elizabeth Ashley
    Elizabeth Ashley
    • Carla Scott
    Jessica Campbell
    Jessica Campbell
    • Julie Cain
    Lacey Guyon
    • Susan Cain
    Amanda Laughlin
    • Cindy Cain (at 5)
    Molly Laughlin
    • Cindy Cain (at 3)
    Harry Lennix
    Harry Lennix
    • Tim Coffey
    Sonny Stinnett
    • Baby Jason Cain
    Alex Stinnett
    • Baby Jason Cain
    Matthew Chapin
    • Newborn Jason Cain
    Mark Chapin
    • Newborn Jason Cain
    • Director
      • Michael Ray Rhodes
    • Writers
      • Peter Nelson
      • Jud Kinberg
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews7

    6.9540
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    Featured reviews

    vande01

    I was an extra in this movie!

    I was an extra in this movie. I was nine or ten at the time. Making this movie was a wonderful experience. I'm in the carnival shot, standing in front of the Sally and the rest of the cast (accident). I was supposed to be a home-made super mouse. But I lost my ears half way through production. We (the extras) were supposed to dress like it was fall in the mid of summer.

    The my scene should have been cut, it dragged on to long and didn't have a point, but hey I, the earless mouse will forever play on cable. So cool!

    The movie itself is sad, so I usually fast forward to the carnival!

    In summary watch the movie..a lot of extras sweated all day for that 2 second carnival scene, and enjoyed every minute!
    Darlawood80

    A good plain tearjerker!

    This movie makes me cry everytime. I truly wish the children's court would look beyond "for the best interest of the children" and look from a child's point of view. I know people who were in child protective custodies as children and who have not fully recovered from being shipped from home to home. Some who ended up with messed up lives, and some who came clean. This movie I think was very good. It reminds me alot of the book "Homecomming" which about four children trying to run away from the system and end up living in their grandmother's home, but this movie has a sad ending. If I were the kids, I'd keep on running to that loving home that every child dreams about.
    10mrforrest

    In the Best Interest of the Children

    This movie is one of the best if not the best for accurately portraying the roles of Human Resource Departments all over. I am a social worker and this movie hit home in several areas. The actors and actresses all did a wonderful job. Sarah Jessica Parker's portrayal of a conflicted mother with mental problems was believable and wonderful. The girl who played Jessica did an outstanding job as the oldest child who was the "adult" to her younger siblings. This movie was just outstanding all the way around. The supporting actors and actresses strengthened the title roles. Sally Struthers was brilliant as a foster mom who wanted children. Her portrayal was true to life in that in my job I have experienced similar tactics by foster parents wanting to adopt the children placed with them, even though reunification is trying to be worked for with the biological parent. It happens all the time. BRAVO! We need more realistic portrayals like this movie.
    10Lorina N. Subega

    Children taken away from their mother...for their best interest

    I saw this movie a while back..I enjoyed it....Its about a single young mother with many children....a mother who has been going through a lot of boyfriends.....most of the kids are from different dads.....and the only thing that helps the mother take care of all her children is a welfare check.......the boyfriends that she brings home...don't always treat the kids that well....when the mother is to weak to fight...its up to the eldest child to fight for her siblings......as the mother gets too weak and crazy to care.....her kids get taken away to live with foster parents.......the kids struggle to stay together......and pray that they will never get separated.......

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jessica Campbell's debut.
    • Goofs
      When Callie returns from grocery shopping, she shows Jessie the cartons of milk she bought. When she picks them up one by one in one hand and sets them back down, it's obvious that the cartons are empty.
    • Quotes

      Julie: They're so nice.

      Jessica: They get paid to be nice. They don't really mean it.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Best in Show (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Take Me Home, Country Roads
      Written by Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert and John Denver

      Performed by Sarah Jessica Parker, Lexi Randall, Jessica Campbell, Lacey Guyon, Amanda Laughlin, Molly Laughlin, Gary Graham, Jayne Atkinson

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 16, 1992 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Por el bien de los niños
    • Filming locations
      • Iowa, USA
    • Production company
      • NBC Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 36m(96 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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