A Question of Love (1978) (TV)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Jerry Thorpe

Writer:

William Blinn (writer)

Release Date:

26 November 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Gay Parent | Lesbian | Lesbian Mother

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Gena Rowlands	...	Linda Ray Guettner
Jane Alexander	...	Barbara Moreland
Ned Beatty	...	Dwayne Stabler
Clu Gulager	...	Mike Guettner
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Joan Saltzman
James Sutorius	...	Richard Freeman
Keith Coogan	...	Billy Guettner (as Keith Mitchell)
Josh Albee	...	David Guettner
Jocelyn Brando	...	Mrs. Hunnicutt
Gwen Arner	...	Dr. Tippit
John Harkins	...	Dr. Berwick
Nancy McKeon	...	Susan Moreland
S. John Launer	...	The Judge
Philip Sterling
Donald Hotton

Also Known As:

A Purely Legal Matter

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L

Company:

Blinn/Thorpe Productions

Phenomenal, poignant made-for-TV drama about a lesbian woman fighting for custody of her son.

Groundbreaking drama of lesbian mother (Rowlands), happily sharing a home with her lover (Alexander) and their respective children. Rowlands' children were previously unaware of the sexual relationship. When the oldest son finds out, he leaves and moves in with his father, who then proceeds to initiate legal proceedings to win custody of the other children. Extraordinarily well-acted and directed, with very little sentimentality and virtually no political dogma. This film set the standard for mature, thoughtful presentations of homosexuality in everyday life, and every one of the players is exceptional. Oddly, this received very little backlash at the time it first aired, while today it would bring the pious out in droves to stage protests and boycotts. As the forerunner of a long string of films tackling the subject matter in the 80s and 90s, this is the film to look at to see just how far we haven't come.