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Baby Snatcher

  • TV Movie
  • 1992
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
485
YOUR RATING
Baby Snatcher (1992)
Drama

A woman is delighted to have given birth to a baby girl. Her life is turned into a nightmare, however, when her daughter goes missing. The police mount a frantic search, but, to the woman's ... Read allA woman is delighted to have given birth to a baby girl. Her life is turned into a nightmare, however, when her daughter goes missing. The police mount a frantic search, but, to the woman's horror, she finds out that the police suspect her of the crime.A woman is delighted to have given birth to a baby girl. Her life is turned into a nightmare, however, when her daughter goes missing. The police mount a frantic search, but, to the woman's horror, she finds out that the police suspect her of the crime.

  • Director
    • Joyce Chopra
  • Writer
    • Susan Rhinehart
  • Stars
    • Veronica Hamel
    • Nancy McKeon
    • Michael Madsen
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    485
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joyce Chopra
    • Writer
      • Susan Rhinehart
    • Stars
      • Veronica Hamel
      • Nancy McKeon
      • Michael Madsen
    • 12User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos4

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    Top cast33

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    Veronica Hamel
    Veronica Hamel
    • Bianca Hudson
    Nancy McKeon
    Nancy McKeon
    • Karen Williams
    Michael Madsen
    Michael Madsen
    • Cal Hudson
    David Duchovny
    David Duchovny
    • David Anderson
    Penny Fuller
    Penny Fuller
    • Ruth Benson
    John Evans
    • DePaul
    Roger Bearde
    • Lt. Bailor
    Paul Joseph McKenna
    • Russell Bauer
    Gretchen Grant
    • Lindsey Bauer
    Jason Reed Green
    • Kevin Williams
    Caitlin Brady
    • Jenny Williams
    Richard Elmore
    • Dr. Beinart
    Peter Vilkin
    • Kurt
    Ernesto Ravetto
    • Captain Montoya
    Christine P. Bump
    • Linda
    Sarah DeAngelis
    • Dinah
    Vilma Silva
    • Lianna Turro
    Pamela Kay Davis
    • Air Force Wife
    • Director
      • Joyce Chopra
    • Writer
      • Susan Rhinehart
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews12

    5.8485
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    Featured reviews

    9stalaro9

    See the true story on Lt. Joe Kendra Homicide Hunter!

    This true story was shown on the tv series, Lt. Joe Kendra, Homicide Hunter. He was the detective played by by David Duchovny! It was neat to see it from a detective's point of view!
    Scarlett-42

    I loved this heart warming, real life story, want to see it again.

    This is one of those "real" movies that one can relate to. The acting was superb. It was like watching a real event happen in front of me. I was "in" that film and quite frustrated when the commercial breaks interrupted it. I was totally absorbed throughout "Baby Snatcher." I feel this film is excellent viewing about some real problems plaguing our society. It was real, sincere, gripping, intense. Great direction by Joyce Chopra. I feel this film should have been in movie houses, not just a TV movie. The performances by the leading four actors: Veronica Hamel, Nancy McKeon, Michael Madsen and David Duchovny were excellent. I would have given Nancy McKeon an academy award for her performance in "Baby Snatcher" and I'd love to see David Duchovny in a "Harrison Ford" type epic drama. He would make the film and the industry proud! I hope "Baby Snatcher" is not shelved and that it will be shown again or made available to those who want it. The only thing I would have changed is the title. Examples: "Where Is My Baby", "Bring Back My Child", "Empty Cradle".
    vchimpanzee

    Good enough

    In this fact-based story, Air Force Capt. Cal Hudson does not want to be married any more. His wife Bianca announces that she is pregnant, but all Cal cares about is that his C.O. will think he's a bad person for walking out on a pregnant wife.

    Cal comes home to find Bianca on the floor and takes her to the military hospital. The doctor there tells Bianca she has diabetes and should terminate the pregnancy. If she does not, the baby could have serious problems (and while he didn't say this, remember what happened to Julia Roberts' character in "Steel Magnolias"?). Bianca claims she and Cal are too religious to consider such a thing, and she asks to tell Cal herself. Cal has changed his mind about leaving her, so of course Bianca can't say she is ending her pregnancy. Actually, there may be another way, and the title of the movie sort of gives that away.

    Karen was a receptionist where David works until they had an affair and she got pregnant. Karen, who had been married, has moved with her two kids and gotten a job in a pizza joint with an unreasonably demanding boss. Her mother, who disapproves of her relationship, reluctantly helps take care of Karen's kids. David's wife does not know about Karen, but he claims to love Karen and shows signs of ending his marriage.

    It's not too hard to figure out what will happen from here, but of course the most interesting thing is watching Bianca's scheming. It's hard to believe an Air Force captain could be so clueless as to what is going on. The search for the missing baby is also fascinating to watch.

    Veronica Hamel gives a very good performance here. Bianca is mostly unpleasant but frequently just plain creepy. Michael Madsen's best moment comes when Cal wants to come back to Bianca. Nancy McKeon has many good scenes, mostly in the sequined half. As for David Duchovny, I know he is a respected actor, but I don't think this could be proved from anything he does here.

    Jason Reed Green is particularly good for a child, playing Karen's young son.

    Also giving good performances are the actors playing two of the FBI agents--John Evans as DePaul, who suspects Karen and David of being behind the abduction and possible murder of a child he thinks they didn't want, and the actor playing the black man who showed compassion. I don't see his name in the credits, but I think the character's name was Thompson or something that sounded like it.

    This was pretty much a standard Lifetime style movie, but it had some really good moments.
    3drjgardner

    Boring and mis-cast

    "Baby Snatcher" claims it's based on a true story, and that's probably right. But it doesn't necessarily make for a good film. One of the problems is the casting. Michael Madsen plays the clueless husband. Madsen is the award winning actor famous for such films as Reservoir Dogs (1992), Getaway (1994), Species (1995), Kill Bill (2003), and The Hateful Eight (2015), so his playing against type here is not entirely believable.

    Veronica Hamel, on the other hand, is known for her work in the TV series Hill Street Blues (1981-7) and Lost (2004-10), and her desperate scheming wife doesn't seem to fit.

    Setting aside the casting issues, the story itself takes a long time to evolve.
    6Judger

    Compelling, if standard fare

    This film illustrates why the "torn from today's headlines, woman in trouble" genre is such staple for made for TV flicks.

    There is nothing particularly exceptional about this film, yet it is very compelling story. Not that the cast, that included some very good actors, are bad. It's just they are not the one's the carry this story. This is a plot driven tale that tugs at the most basic human emotions and there is nothing too subtle about it. The makers of this film were smart enough to tell this story very cleanly and not get in the way.

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    Related interests

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

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is the true story of the kidnapping of Rachael Ann White who was taken from her grandmother's home on February 19, 1988 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The kidnapper was 38-year old Maritza Rentz. Rentz had an abortion in October 1987 for medical reasons. She stated at her trial that she was trying to save her third marriage to Paul Rents, an Air Force Captain, and was hoping the baby would help. She expressed remorse and stated she had not gone to the Abbott home to kidnap the baby, but that when she arrived she felt that God wanted her to take the child. She gained entry into the home by posing as babysitter. Friends stated that Rentz was obviously pregnant before October 1987, but after a time did not appear to be pregnant anymore. Friends also noticed that when they saw the baby, who Rentz called Aurora Helen, she was much older than four days. Knowing there had been a kidnapping the same day as Rentz supposedly went into labor, friends contacted the Air Force police. Baby Rachael was returned to her mother, Cora Abbott, four days later.
    • Goofs
      When Cal marks the due date of the baby on the 20th and 21st, a February calendar is shown with 28 days. The real kidnapping happened on February 19, 1988. February 1st was on a Monday in 1988 and it was a leap year with the 29th also on a Monday. So, this calendar is not correct for 1988, however, it is also not correct for 1992, the year this movie was released.
    • Quotes

      Karen Williams: I want you out of my house.

      Reporter: You haven't answered my q...

      Karen Williams: [interrupting] You can walk or you can crawl.

      Reporter: Are you threatening me?

      Karen Williams: I said GET OUT!

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 3, 1992 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Викрасти дитину
    • Production companies
      • Hearst Entertainment Productions
      • Morgan Hill Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 33m(93 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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