The Best Little Girl in the World (TV 1981)Casey Powell is a young teenage girl who is secretly suffering from anorexia nervosa, a mental and physical illness of deliberately starving herself or self-induced vomiting, because of her... See full summary » Director:Sam O'Steen |
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Title: The Best Little Girl in the World (TV 1981)
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Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Charles Durning | ... |
Frank Powell
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| Eva Marie Saint | ... |
Joanne Powell
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| Jennifer Jason Leigh | ... |
Casey Powell
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| Melanie Mayron | ... |
Carol Link
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| Lisa Pelikan | ... |
Gail Powell
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| Viveca Lindfors | ... |
Madame Seurat
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| David Spielberg | ... |
Dr. Garett
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| Jason Miller | ... |
Clay Orlovsky
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Richard Venture | ... |
Dr. Neil Holzer
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| Lenora May | ... |
Julie
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Laurence Lau | ... |
Mark
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| Michael Dudikoff | ... |
Chuck
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Stephanie Cannon | ... |
Mary
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| Ally Sheedy | ... |
1st Girl
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Andrea Pope | ... |
Michelle the Cheerleader
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Casey Powell is a young teenage girl who is secretly suffering from anorexia nervosa, a mental and physical illness of deliberately starving herself or self-induced vomiting, because of her troubled home life and problems at school in which her bickering parents must put aside their differences to help her recover before her condition kills her. Written by Anonymous
Taglines:
A drama of anorexia nervosa. A movie that just might save your child's life.Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
11 May 1981 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
A Mais Bela Rapariga do Mundo See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1
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Casey: I don't know... I don't want to know. I don't want it and I hate it.
Clay: What do you hate?
Casey: My family. I hate them... but I want them... and I hate wanting them.
Clay: Why do you hate it?
Casey: I hate wanting. Wanting something means that you'll never get it.
Joanne: Haven't we always given you what you wanted? You have everything you've asked for.
Casey: Tell me one damn thing that I ever asked for? What... what did I ever ask for? I asked for nothing... and that's what I got. Gail got ...
[...]
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Written by Don Henley (uncredited), Glenn Frey (uncredited), Bob Seger (uncredited) and JD Souther (uncredited)
Performed by Eagles (as The Eagles)
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The leading role originally went to Jodie Foster, but withdrew, since she was attending at Yale. See more »Quotes
Clay: How do you feel about all this, Casey?Casey: I don't know... I don't want to know. I don't want it and I hate it.
Clay: What do you hate?
Casey: My family. I hate them... but I want them... and I hate wanting them.
Clay: Why do you hate it?
Casey: I hate wanting. Wanting something means that you'll never get it.
Joanne: Haven't we always given you what you wanted? You have everything you've asked for.
Casey: Tell me one damn thing that I ever asked for? What... what did I ever ask for? I asked for nothing... and that's what I got. Gail got ...
[...]
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Soundtracks
"Heartache Tonight"Written by Don Henley (uncredited), Glenn Frey (uncredited), Bob Seger (uncredited) and JD Souther (uncredited)
Performed by Eagles (as The Eagles)
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"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.