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Consenting Adult

  • TV Movie
  • 1985
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
468
YOUR RATING
Martin Sheen, Marlo Thomas, and Barry Tubb in Consenting Adult (1985)
Drama

A young gay man tries to find acceptance from his shocked mother and disgusted father. Through this journey, he also learns to accept himself for who he is.A young gay man tries to find acceptance from his shocked mother and disgusted father. Through this journey, he also learns to accept himself for who he is.A young gay man tries to find acceptance from his shocked mother and disgusted father. Through this journey, he also learns to accept himself for who he is.

  • Director
    • Gilbert Cates
  • Writers
    • Laura Z. Hobson
    • John McGreevey
  • Stars
    • Marlo Thomas
    • Martin Sheen
    • Barry Tubb
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    468
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Gilbert Cates
    • Writers
      • Laura Z. Hobson
      • John McGreevey
    • Stars
      • Marlo Thomas
      • Martin Sheen
      • Barry Tubb
    • 11User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos4

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    Top cast20

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    Marlo Thomas
    Marlo Thomas
    • Tess Lynd
    Martin Sheen
    Martin Sheen
    • Ken Lynd
    Barry Tubb
    Barry Tubb
    • Jeff Lynd
    Talia Balsam
    Talia Balsam
    • Margie
    Ben Piazza
    Ben Piazza
    • Dr. Mark Waldo
    John Terlesky
    John Terlesky
    • Pete Roberts
    Corinne Camacho
    Corinne Camacho
    • Claire
    • (as Corinne Michaels)
    Matthew Laurance
    Matthew Laurance
    • Nate
    Joseph Adams
    Joseph Adams
    • Stu
    Richard Sargent
    • Pat Malone
    Thomas Peacocke
    • Dr. Daniels
    Moira Walley-Beckett
    Moira Walley-Beckett
    • Sue Wister
    • (as Moira Walley)
    Jeff Irvine
    • Hank
    Dave Sayer
    • Counterman
    Rebecca Staples
    • Maribel
    Kim Kondrashoff
    • Dev
    Roman Podhora
    Roman Podhora
    • Ray
    Peter Giaschi
    • Mark
    • Director
      • Gilbert Cates
    • Writers
      • Laura Z. Hobson
      • John McGreevey
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    7.3468
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    Featured reviews

    8rayinla-1

    Consenting Adult, a very early positive story of coming out to your loved ones

    Well, I was dealing with these very same issues, at the time that I saw this television show, in 1985. I actually taped the show, well of course, as Marlo Thomas was one of my favorite actors. This story, dealt with the very topical subjects of coming out to your parents, friends and family during a very scary period of time, when AIDS was devastating our community. Though somewhat superficial, due to the subject matter, and the fact that this was a broadcast television show, it had special meaning to anyone dealing with all of the conflicting emotions related to coming to terms with your own homosexuality during a very conservative time. A time whose conservatism, unfortunately, is being mirrored in 2005, nearly 20 years later.

    I believe this show should be made available for all to see as it treats the subject with some honesty and tenderness.

    I've just transferred the show from my old and deteriorating video tape to DVD and hope it will last another 20 years. Gosh, I can't believe how far we've come in 20 years, and yet how far we have yet to go.
    TexGuy

    This was a Good Coming Out Drama!

    I saw this movie back in 1985 when it premiered on television. Marlo Thomas plays Tess Lynd a mother whose son announces that he is gay. Tess' husband is not accepting of the son and a battle ensues. Tess is torn between the love of her son and her husband. Marlo Thomas gives a great performance!! I was a bit shocked though, parts of this film are pretty risque for the time and television! I can remember vividly how the viewer almost was part of the sexual activity the son was having, but it was done tastefully. I recommend this film!
    5moonspinner55

    Maybe a bit braver than "Making Love"...

    Movie-of-the-week about a gay young man who comes out to his parents. Martin Sheen plays the father--frustrated, embarrassed and angry--who turns his son away, but mom Marlo Thomas reaches out to her boy with love and understanding. TV not tackling taboo territory, but taking baby steps (still); it's about as sexually frank as the glossy coming-out opus "Making Love" from 1982 (and with just a whiff of a mention of "that disease" that dare not speak its name). Writer John McGreevey, adapting Laura Z. Hobson's novel, keeps shifting the narrative back to the parents--ostensibly because Sheen and Thomas are the movie's stars. Naturally, the straight-laced couple would be shocked and confused by their son's revelation (that's only natural), but just whose story is this?
    johncharles67

    this is a great movie about a son coming out to his family

    this movie is atrue example of a boy how had to come to realize he is gay and does not know how to deal with it. as we all have gone through this back in those days it was difficult for the whole family. but this movie gives us an insite of one parent coming to deal with the boys situation and the other who cannot.i saw this movie on TV here in Australia quite a few years ago and i still admire it and the wat it dealt with this situation. i give it 5 stars because when it was shown people in general could not deal with the fact their son or daughter were gay. still thought it was a disease or mental problem. i know i went through this and just left home and moved to a place where i was not know and eventually my family came to deal with it and all is OK now thanks charles ps. i am 70 years old now
    8javierubio

    Good American Movie To reflect About Many Subjects!

    Sometimes We Think That TV does not deliver anything better than The Real Cinema Theater Plays but with this film The director showed a good story, well done , good acting and most of all very well structured with many topics that were ahead to that edge in the middle of the 1980's Decade! It was about Love, Forgiving, Redemption, and Accepting! I enjoyed this movie, specially for focusing in discuss if Homosexuality was an illness or just a natural expression of sexual orientation! Good for the Director!

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    Drama

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The novel on which the film is based was set in New York City, which appears incidental until author Laura Z. Hobson gears the story's climax to erupt during the police riots in the Stonewall Inn, the famous Greenwich Village bar that is cited as the birthplace of the gay rights movement. The film version takes place in Seattle in the year 1985, which robs the story of one of its most powerful arcs, the fact that Jeff's coming of age parallels the birth of the gay revolution.
    • Quotes

      Jeff Lynd: Mom. I'm a homosexual.

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 4, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Wie sag ich's meinen Eltern
    • Filming locations
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • The Starger Company
      • David Lawrence and Ray Aghayan Productions
    • 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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