Deadly Care (1987) (TV)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

David Anspaugh

Writer:

Lane Slate (written by)

Release Date:

22 March 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

True story about a nurse's descent into the nightmarish world of substance abuse which endangers her life and the lives of her patients. |

Plot Keywords:

Nurse | Drugs | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Cheryl Ladd
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Belinda Balaski	...	Terry
Judy Jean Berns	...	Airport Clerk
Frank Biro	...	Mr. Cafarelli
Patrick Campbell	...	Mr. Skinner
Noel De Souza	...	Dr. Wasanta
Joe Dorsey	...	Mr. Halloran
Paddi Edwards	...	Mrs. Kellerman
Scott Richard Ehredt	...	Dr. Jackson
Troy Evans	...	Dr. Derwin
John Christy Ewing	...	Dr. Lloyd Lucas
Phyllis Flax	...	Mrs. Reardon
Silvana Gallardo
Gerry Gibson	...	Farther O'Brien
Beth Grant	...	Madge
S.A. Griffin	...	The Stranger
John Hammond	...	Larry
Ann Hearn
Patricia Huston	...	Marsha Foland
Peggy McCay	...	Mrs. Halloran
Troy Melton	...	Mr. Duffy
Micole Mercurio	...	Greta
Jason Miller	...	Dr. Miles Keefer
Suzanne O'Donnell	...	Stewardess
Willard E. Pugh	...	Male Nurse
Ron Recasner	...	Dr. Mallory
Jennifer Salt	...	Carol
Suzanne Schmitt	...	Stewardess
John Howard Swain	...	Joel
Arthur Taxier	...	Dr. Davidson
Patricia Wilson	...	Ethel
Daryl Wood	...	Woman in Elevator

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12

Company:

Universal TV

Wonderful performance by Cheryl Ladd...

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

The main attraction of this film for someone would be if they're a fan of Cheryl Ladd, like me. Or if you identify with the subject matter.

Cheryl puts in a fantastic performance. Be warned though, the film has a rather depressing tone to it. Things get worse and worse for Cheryl's character. She begins with a mild dependance on drugs from the hospital she works in as a nurse. But when her sister dies and she loses her job, she battles with alcoholism and relies on drugs more and more. She really hits rock bottom before realising she needs help, and is not accepting of the help she gets when she ends up in a hospital. Things are wrapped are rather quickly, and so you are not left with a good feeling that she turned things around for herself. We are told through a voice over. A "Five Years Later" scene would have been more effective in terms of how you feel when the film ends. But this is no major flaw for the film.

Cheryl Ladd is at her best her, with heavy going material. In other roles she has had she has not had to be so rude to her friends and people who are trying to help her. She plays a woman who relies on drugs, and when her life stops becoming manageable, it completely takes over. As I said at the start, a film for Cheryl fans, and an excellent one at that.