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IMDb > The Best Little Girl in the World (1981) (TV)

The Best Little Girl in the World (1981) (TV) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   216 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Contact:
View company contact information for The Best Little Girl in the World on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 May 1981 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
A drama of anorexia nervosa. A movie that just might save your child's life.
Plot:
Casey Powell is a young teenage girl who is secretly suffering from anorexia nevosa, a mental and physical... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Primetime Emmy. more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Aaron Spelling: 1923-2006
 (From IMDb News. 25 June 2006)

Aaron Spelling: 1923-2006
 (From IMDb News. 24 June 2006)

User Reviews:
Worth The Rental... more (6 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Charles Durning ... Frank Powell

Eva Marie Saint ... Joanne Powell

Jennifer Jason Leigh ... Casey Powell
Melanie Mayron ... Carol Link

Lisa Pelikan ... Gail Powell
Viveca Lindfors ... Madame Seurat

David Spielberg ... Dr. Garett
Jason Miller ... Clay Orlovsky
Richard Venture ... Dr. Neil Holzer

Lenora May ... Julie
Laurence Lau ... Mark

Michael Dudikoff ... Chuck
Stephanie Cannon ... Mary

Ally Sheedy ... 1st Girl
Andrea Pope ... Michelle the Cheerleader
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Additional Details

Runtime:
USA:100 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Under medical supervision, Jennifer Jason Leigh wasted down to 87 pounds for her role. more
Quotes:
Carol: They got some new drugs they want to try on me to see if they can cure my bulmarexia.
Casey: What's that?
Carol: What's bulmarexia? I got a lot to teach you. Bulmaxeria is binging, then getting rid of it. You see, it's kind of like eating through the refrigerator, then hitting the pizza joints, burger places, doughnut shops, wherever you can eat, you eat. I can eat three weeks non-stop. I could win awards.
Casey: If you eat like that, then how come, I mean, how come you don't weigh 500 pounds?
Carol: Vomiting.
Casey: I'd rather not eat.
[...]
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5 out of 6 people found the following review useful.
Worth The Rental..., 28 August 2003
Author: Bolesroor from New York, NY USA

"The Best Little Girl In The World" is a made-for-TV movie dealing with anorexia/bulimia. While it does have that "After-School Special" feel, it features good performances from great actors. Charles Durning is excellent as always as Casey's angry, disinterested father, and Jennifer Jason Leigh really establishes herself here as a great actor. The downside to this movie? It's a bit melodramatic- for example, every time Casey stumbles from weakness a dozen horns blare from the soundtrack. And there are laughably funny moments, such as the New Year's Eve sequence, where Charles During tries to force-feed Casey peanut butter sandwiches until she gains weight. She winds up biting his hand like a snarling dog. Or when Casey takes off her robe to reveal her sickly-thin body, it's obviously a body double. But if you are looking for a movie that deals with this subject honestly and respectfully (as opposed to all those Lifetime movies in which a man is always at fault), "The Best Little Girl In The World" is worth tracking down.

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DVD anorexiamorbidhunger
Close to the bone goonieuk
originally a book angelic_tears17
anyone know where I can purchase this movie prncsssitajenni
anyone? toritheexplorerr
One of the best films dealing wit a difficult subject chesters9
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