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The Children Nobody Wanted

  • TV Movie
  • 1981
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
277
YOUR RATING
Michelle Pfeiffer in The Children Nobody Wanted (1981)
Drama

Based on the true story of Tom Butterfield and his crusade to provide family life for homeless children, becoming not only the first bachelor caretaker, but the youngest single adult to beco... Read allBased on the true story of Tom Butterfield and his crusade to provide family life for homeless children, becoming not only the first bachelor caretaker, but the youngest single adult to become a legal foster parent in the state of Missouri.Based on the true story of Tom Butterfield and his crusade to provide family life for homeless children, becoming not only the first bachelor caretaker, but the youngest single adult to become a legal foster parent in the state of Missouri.

  • Director
    • Richard Michaels
  • Writer
    • Lee Hutson
  • Stars
    • Fredric Lehne
    • Michelle Pfeiffer
    • Matt Clark
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    277
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Richard Michaels
    • Writer
      • Lee Hutson
    • Stars
      • Fredric Lehne
      • Michelle Pfeiffer
      • Matt Clark
    • 15User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top cast37

    Edit
    Fredric Lehne
    Fredric Lehne
    • Tom Butterfield
    • (as Fred Lehne)
    Michelle Pfeiffer
    Michelle Pfeiffer
    • Jennifer Williams
    Matt Clark
    Matt Clark
    • Bill Westbrook
    Noble Willingham
    Noble Willingham
    • McNaulty
    Anne Haney
    Anne Haney
    • Mrs. Lightheart
    Joey Turley
    • Joey
    Barbara Barrie
    Barbara Barrie
    • Hanna
    Jerry Hardin
    Jerry Hardin
    • Dr. Watson
    F. William Parker
    • George Meuschke
    Earl Boen
    Earl Boen
    • Madden
    Ryan Barcroft
    • The Butter Boys - Andrew
    Patrick Holcer
    • The Butter Boys - Dwayne
    James Spinks III
    • The Butter Boys - Zim
    Van Stapleton
    • The Butter Boys - Bobby
    Gary Riefle
    • The Butter Boys - Pete
    John Murphy
    • The Butter Boys - Danny
    Ron Christopher Nielsen
    • The Butter Boys - Ray
    Jeffrey Todd Nielsen
    • The Butter Boys - Billy
    • Director
      • Richard Michaels
    • Writer
      • Lee Hutson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews15

    6.3277
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    Featured reviews

    g-bpearse

    We think it should be No.1

    We seen the movie by Tom Butterfield The Children Nobody Wanted.we really enjoyed the movie, My shows that I like to watch are of true stores and that was just a wonderful movie It sure would be nice if we could get to buy the movie.
    10Zinone

    True story of Tom Butterfield

    This movie is one that will touch your heart. Tom Butterfield a young man in living MO adopts a orphan and then another and then another until he has a house full of kids. Saving them from the terrible orphanages they live in and abuse, with the help of his girlfriend, played by the wonderful Michelle Pfeiffer, in one of her best roles ever. It is a loving story of how one mans drive and open heart saved many young lives and continues to do so even today.
    9msmovieholic

    A wonderful true life story

    Frederic Lehne stars as the real-life Tom Butterfield, a college student distressed by the plight of homeless children. He'd like to adopt a few of these kids, but Missouri law prohibits such a circumstance for an unmarried man. At great personal cost to himself both financially and emotionally, the 21-year-old Butterfield becomes the youngest single adult ever to be granted a foster-parent license, using this privilege to set up a Boy's Town-like home for unwanted youngsters. Lehne's costar is Michelle Pfeiffer, on the threshold of bigger things. Tom Butterfield, the subject of The Children Nobody Wanted, died less than a year after this TV movie's debut. I wonderful real life movie, showing the difference one man can do.
    jaychris2010

    Amazing true story respect two you TOM

    What an eye opening film makes you wonder why . There are not a lot more people like tom in this world .Brilliant true story good on you tom.Shows you that there are people out there that do care for our young and vulnerable. But for such a young man two take so much responsibility at such a young age without thought for his self and just for others puts us all two shame .The performance by both main characters was tear jerking.May be we can all learn something from this film. I have that it is for us all two help out in this world no matter how big or how small it all helps in the end .So my message two a lot of people is two watch this truly amazing film you wont regret it trust me .
    10donnabateman

    I am Tom's niece

    This movie is the true story of my uncle, Tom Butterfield. I wanted to clarify that the reason the black character was introduced in the movie, is because there really was a black boy that Tom adopted into the boys ranch. Tom truly had a heart for all youth, and never even considered their race to be a factor. I even met the "real" black boy while visiting the ranch, and he was such a joy. So please know that when watching this film, it was not a fake scene just to be politically correct. The Butterfield Youth Services in Marshall, Missouri, still exists today, and has expanded into several more group homes that also include boys and girls ranches and inpatient/outpatient treatment centers. Even though my uncle Tom is in heaven now, his legacy continues to live on. Thank you for continuing to pay tribute to him by watching this film. He worked so hard to get this story out so that others would be helped, that might have been forgotten. Thank you for listening.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was Michelle Pfeiffer's first leading role.
    • Soundtracks
      Happy Birthday to You
      (uncredited)

      Written by Patty S. Hill and Mildred J. Hill

      Performed by Fredric Lehne, Michelle Pfeiffer and the children

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 5, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der junge Adoptiv-Vater
    • Filming locations
      • Marshall, Missouri, USA
    • Production companies
      • Blatt-Singer Productions
      • Warner Bros. Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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