Betrayed: A Story of Three Women (1995)

Joan Bixler and Amanda Nelson have known each other for several years and lead successful and seemingly functional families. However, their friendship is ripped to shreds and their families... See full summary »

Director:

William A. Graham

Writer:

James Duff

Stars:

Meredith Baxter, Swoosie Kurtz, John Terry

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Meredith Baxter	...	Amanda Nelson
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Joan Bixler
John Terry	...	Rob Nelson
John Livingston	...	Paul Nelson
Breckin Meyer	...	Eric Nelson
Nicholas Pryor
Clare Carey	...	Dana Bixler
Bill Brochtrup	...	Patrick McGraw
Janet Carroll	...	Patty
Janet Graham	...	Secretary
Cece Tsou	...	Receptionist (as CeCe Tsou)
Robert Kotecki	...	Waiter
Janet Cole Notey	...	Woman at BBQ

Storyline

Joan Bixler and Amanda Nelson have known each other for several years and lead successful and seemingly functional families. However, their friendship is ripped to shreds and their families shattered when the husband of one of the women has an affair with the other woman's daughter.

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Plot Keywords:

adultery | cheating husband | law firm | lawyer | attorney | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 March 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amizade Traída

Company Credits

Production Co:

Freyda Rothstein Productions, Hearst Entertainment Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

An Enjoyable Piece of Light Froth

Sometimes you have to approach a story in the spirit it is offered. This film makes no grand claims, and although it purports to be about three women, it is actually about two,Amanda Nelson,played by Meredith Baxter and Joan Bixler, played by Swoosie Kurtz.At 106 minutes the running time is a quarter of an hour longer than the classic 90 which permits plot anomalies in the interests of pace. Nonetheless the double hander that the two women frequently play works.

Amanda's stereotypical upper middle class world and family is an unambitious setting, understandably she is not impressed when her best friend, Joan's, daughter beds her husband.However there is a chemistry and dynamic which works between the two of them "Cagney and Lacey" style.The third woman, Joan's daughter Dana, has a curiously underwritten part much of which i suspect was left on the cutting room floor. Amanda's two sons have some cleverly written cameo roles and the erring husband Paul Nelson has almost a walk on part.

So what makes this film work? Its not about marital infidelity, it is about the loyalty between two women as friends.the message that friendship is important and that sometimes people let you down resonates throughout the tale.There are some fairly corny set pieces, but the film always lifts when Amanda and Joan are on screen together. there is even an elegiac moment in the "kitchen scene" at the end when Joan implores Amanda to discard the hopes and dreams of the past for the reality of today.Too few films these days are narrative driven,and this deserves praise for a solid effort in that regard.