An Early Frost (1985) (TV)

Director:

John Erman

Writers:

Ron Cowen (writer)
Daniel Lipman (writer)

Release Date:

11 November 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Set in the mid-eighties Michael Pierson, a young gay man, is struck with AIDS in the prime of his life...

Plot Keywords:

AIDS | Death | Lawyer | Gay | Homosexual Son

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

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

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16

Company:

NBC Productions

Trivia:

This was the first feature film about AIDS made either for TV or theater release.

Movie Connections:

References I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955)

An Early Crusade

This 1985 TV Movie, was early for it's time in bringing out the truth of the "gay" disease of A.I.D.S. It showed great courage and sensitivity in it's telling the story of a young gay attorney, played with incredible honesty by Aidan Quinn, who comes down with the illness and must proceed to tell his parents, played with equal honesty by Gena Rowlands and Ben Gazzara of his lifestyle let alone that he is sick.

This is a must see film. It still holds up in it's approach to not only tell the story but educate us as to the disease and how it can affect those around us. It was written by Ron Cowen (QUEER AS FOLK writer and SUMMERTREE) and Daniel Lipman and well directed by John Erman. Also in this astounding cast are Sylvia Sidney, one of her last appearances, as the Grandmother who is not afraid to hold and love her grandson, D.W. Moffett, prior to his CROSSING JORDAN TV series, as the lover to Quinn who might have given him the disease through a disloyal tryst in the baths, Sydney Walsh as the pregnant sister afraid to touch her brother for fear he might infect her unborn child. Don't worry she eventually comes around to his side and John Glover, that underrated actor, LOVE VALOUR COMPASSION, as a man dying of the disease whom Quinn befriends in the hospital. Glover looks so much like the dying man he portrays, it's frightening.

This film seemed to be a labor of love for certainly all the actors were giving such dedicated performances. And some of the moments were so real you felt it in your heart. This is one of Quinn's early performances before he went on to do such films as LEGENDS OF THE FALL. He brings gentleness and sensitivity to the role. I'd like to see him do the story of Montgomery Clift one day as he reminds me of Clift's style of acting. The relationship between Quinn and Moffett was well played and not stereotyped. The scene when Quinn tells his parents his disease was brilliant. You could feel in their not saying a word what was going on in their hearts.

A beautiful film, ahead of it's time, brilliantly presented with such an accomplished roster of performers, director and writers.