There Was a Little Boy (1993) (TV)

Director:

Mimi Leder

Writers (WGA):

Claire R. Jacobs (novel)
Wesley Bishop (teleplay)

Release Date:

16 May 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Wealthy Gregg and his wife, English teacher Julie, were happy parents until their little boy Robby was stolen while she took a bath...

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | Title Directed By Female | Kidnapping | Based On Novel

Cast

Cybill Shepherd	...	Julie
John Heard	...	Gregg
Scott Bairstow	...	Jesse
Elaine Kagan	...	Esperanza
Teri Ivens	...	Nilda
Vondie Curtis-Hall	...	Danforth
Bert Remsen	...	Father McHenry
Gary Werntz	...	Jack
Gloria Gifford	...	Martha
Ellen Gerstein	...	Tina
Adam G.	...	Frankie (as G. Adam Gifford)
Adolph Coleman	...	Freddy
Michael Krawic	...	Chuck Anderson
Jennifer Rhodes	...	Dr. Blum
Lara Steinick	...	Cindy
Craig Benton	...	Jim
Roger Hewlett	...	Duty Officer
Elise Neal	...	Young Woman
Steve Carlisle	...	Father Moran
Penny Santon	...	Maria
Charles Champion	...	Clerk
Bill Zuckert	...	Manager
Sage Allen	...	Sister Ellen
Mary-Pat Green	...	Parent
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ford Rainey	...	Father Ramirez (uncredited)

Directed by
Mimi Leder

Writing credits (WGA)
Claire R. Jacobs		(novel)
Wesley Bishop		(teleplay)

Produced by
Philip L. Parslow	....	producer

Original Music by
Anthony Marinelli

Cinematography by
Kees Van Oostrum

Film Editing by
Jacque Elaine Toberen

Production Design by
Garreth Stover

Costume Design by
James Echerd
Van Broughton Ramsey

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lucille Ouyang	....	key second assistant director

Art Department
Chris Forster	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Lawrence L. Commans	....	boom operator
Jacob Goldstein	....	production sound mixer
G. Michael Graham	....	supervising sound editor
Frank Fleming	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ellsworth Chou	....	electrician

Music Department
Anthony Marinelli	....	musician
Anthony Marinelli	....	orchestrator
Andrew Silver	....	music editor

Production Companies

• Craig Anderson Productions
• Lorimar Television

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1993) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Craig Anderson Productions

Movie Connections:

References The Outsiders (1983)

TV movie with a difference

Films like this generally personify for me everything that is wrong with TV movies. They take a situation, usually with a high emotional content, and milk it for as much as it is worth. The emotion arises more out of the narrative rather than anything the actors do or say. This, however, is different.

The opening sequence, showing the kidnap of the baby, is well-handled and sets up what is essentially a mystery that has to be solved. There is a real sense of loss and bewilderment. The action then springs forward fifteen years and we see Shepherd in the school where she teaches. These school scenes are also done well; aside from the fact that she is a teacher of English, as is always the case when movie deal with teachers, the film avoids the usual cliches. She has the respect of most, but not all, of the kids and the school itself is a mix of the rough and the smooth.

The scenes are intercut with the progress of the couple in their search for the child. Greg is much more intense in his desire to keep going as he feels he was ultimately responsible for the loss, although in a later scene Shepherd's character confesses she feels it was really her fault. Basically there are powerful emotions at work here and although we guess early on who her child is there is much work to be done before the final resolution.

The acting is the real reason to watch this movie. The film belongs to Cybill Shepherd and she does very well, particularly convincing in the classroom sequences. John Heard, who can do this sort of thing in his sleep, works like the true professional he is.