An Early Frost (TV 1985)

A young lawyer hasn't told his parents about his homosexuality. Now he must tell them--at a time when the diagnosis was still a death sentence--that he has AIDS.

Director:

John Erman

Writers:

Ron Cowen, Daniel Lipman,

Stars:

Gena Rowlands, Ben Gazzara, Sylvia Sidney

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gena Rowlands	...	Katherine Pierson
Ben Gazzara	...	Nick Pierson
Sylvia Sidney	...	Beatrice McKenna
Aidan Quinn	...	Michael Pierson
D.W. Moffett	...	Peter Hilton
John Glover	...	Victor DiMato
Sydney Walsh	...	Susan Maracek
Terry O'Quinn	...	Dr. Redding
Bill Paxton	...	Bob Maracek
Cheryl Anderson	...	Christine
Christopher Bradley	...	Todd
Sue Ann Gilfillan	...	Nurse Lincoln
Don Hood	...	Dr. Gilbert
Barbara Hey	...	Meredith
Scott Jaeck	...	Phil

Storyline

Set in the mid-eighties Michael Pierson, a young gay man, is struck with AIDS in the prime of his life. He's forced to be open about the disease and his homosexuality for the first time with his co-workers (he's a successful lawyer) and family. He, and the people around him, must face up to the inevitablity of his death and the disease that's killing him. "An Early Frost" was many people's first look at an AIDS victim as a human being instead of a statistic.

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Plot Keywords:

lawyer | death | gay | brownie the food | piano duet | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 November 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Un printemps de glace

Company Credits

Production Co:

NBC Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the DVD commentary, Aidan Quinn (Michael) remembers that NBC's Standards and Practices department (the network censors) were a constant (in Quinn's words, "hovering") presence on the set. They regulated matters such as Quinn appearing in bed with D.W. Moffett (Peter) - they would not allow the two to be seen together in the characters' bed, only for Quinn to be in bed while Moffett sat, fully clothed, on its edge. Quinn says in the commentary that the censors were not only adamant that the two men were never allowed to kiss, but also that any physical contact between them had to be "balanced" by Michael's contact with his parents.

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Connections

Referenced in The Practice: An Early Frost (2001)

User Reviews

Groundbreaking and heartbreaking

Great film was groundbreaking at the time of its premiere, the information is obviously dated now but it doesn't diminish the pictures message.

Aidan Quinn is strong in the lead giving a firm center to the story and he's surrounded by top flight costars. Gena Rowlands and Ben Gazzara, both excellent as his parents, add to the film substance with the small details in their interactions with each other presenting them as a long time married couple reacting differently to devastating news but always believably being who they are. Sylvia Sidney is equally good as the loving, wise grandmother and John Glover wry and touching as a fellow victim who has been deserted by his family.

A powerful experience and a reminder of how fragile life can be.