Like Mother Like Son: The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny Kimes (2001) (TV)

Director:

Arthur Allan Seidelman

Writers (WGA):

Adrian Havill (book)
Paul Eric Myers (teleplay)

Release Date:

20 May 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

The Real-Life Case That's Still Making Headlines.

Plot:

Fans of Mary Tyler Moore may be taken aback by her performance in this fact-based drama, in which she...

Plot Keywords:

Domineering Mother | Tenant | Landlady | Murder | Female Psychopath

Cast

Mary Tyler Moore	...	Sante Chambers Kimes / Eva Guerrero
Robert Forster	...	Ken 'Pappa' Kimes
Gabriel Olds	...	Kenny Kimes / Manny Guerrin
Jean Stapleton	...	Irene Silverman
Ken Radley	...	Agent
Arianthe Galani	...	Beatrice
Mark Mitchell	...	Sante's Lawyer
Wayne Hope	...	Tony Vatelero
Alex Breden	...	Kenny at 4 Years
Jared Daperis	...	Kenny at 8 Years
Daniel Daperis	...	Kent at 12 Years
Matthew Vennell	...	Kent at 15 Years
Matt Robinson	...	Kent at 18 Years (as Matthew Robinson)
Leighton Phair	...	Ramos
Carolyne Cooper	...	Irene's Maid

Also Known As:

A Most Deadly Family (Europe: English title) (USA) (DVD title)
Socialite (USA) (working title)
The Kimes (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:PG | USA:TV-PG (D,L,V) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Crown Casino, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

SilverCreek Entertainment

Trivia:

The role of adult Kenneth Kimes Jr. was originally slated for Peter Facinelli before Gabriel Olds was cast.

Creepy, seemingly implausible, but Moore hits the bulls eye

"Like Mother, Like Son" is a study in the degeneration of the potential of a child due to the influence of a narcissistic and soul sick parent. We have to believe that even if the son Kenny had exhibited some personality problems at an early age (I believe that initially he was as normal as any other kid), they need not be cemented into his character as they would eventually be under the misguidance of the psychopathic Sante. Sante is a master at manipulation, which to quote the Bible: "....is as the Sin of Witchcraft",bending husbands too, to her will. You wish that one of her unlucky lovers could have really cared enough about the sons to try to free them from her grasp. The elder son does eventually break free; it comes at a point where he is mature enough to discern that Sante's endless scheming guarantees that a productive life is impossible for anyone connected with her. Mary Tyler Moore has clearly shown us her true range as an actress here because in this film SHE IS Sante Kimes in all her ugly glory. Good acting all around in this disturbing film based on the real like Kimes and her unlucky, lost son.