Where Are the Children? (1986)

Two children are kidnapped and held for ransom by a madman. Soon, however, the children's father begins to suspect that their mother may possibly have had something to do with the crime.

Director:

Bruce Malmuth

Writers:

Mary Higgins Clark (novel), Jack Sholder

Stars:

Jill Clayburgh, Max Gail, Harley Cross

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jill Clayburgh	...	Nancy Holder Eldridge
Max Gail	...	Clay Eldridge
Harley Cross	...	Michael Eldridge
Elisabeth Harnois	...	Missy Eldridge
Elizabeth Wilson	...	Dorothy Prentiss
Barnard Hughes	...	Jonathan Knowles
Frederic Forrest	...	Courtney Parrish
James Purcell	...	Robin Legler
Clifton James	...	Chief Coffin
Eriq La Salle	...	Deputy Bernie Miles
Joseph Hindy	...	Detective Morella
Devin Ratray	...	Neil Keeney
Zev Braun	...	J.D. Quill
Christopher Murney	...	Lenny Barron
Ted O'Brien	...	Newscaster

Storyline

On her birthday, San Francisco resident Nancy Harmon's two kids Peter and Lisa disappear, later to be found dead. The police wrongfully accuse a devastated Nancy of being the killer. Nancy is found guilty and sentenced to the gas chamber, but her attorney manages to get her conviction overturned. Much to the District Attorney's dismay, Nancy can't be put back on trial because key witness Rob Legler has left the country. And Nancy's husband, college professor Carl Harmon, commits suicide. Seven years later, Nancy has relocated to a town in Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Nancy has changed her identity, re-colored her hair, and has married a realtor named Ray Eldridge, with whom she has two kids named Michael and Missy, and the terrible pain from what happened to Peter and Lisa has begun to heal. But today is Nancy's birthday. She has allowed Michael and Missy to go out to play in the back yard. Nancy opens the newspaper and is stunned to find, in the local section of the paper, her picture ...

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Plot Keywords:

psychological thriller | thunderstorm | child kidnapping | birthday | murder | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 September 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Az első számú gyanúsított

Filming Locations:

Bourne, Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Braun Entertainment Group, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Delphi V Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The novel by Mary Higgins Clark was inspired by the real-life case of Alice Crimmins, who was accused of murdering her children in New York in 1965.

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Soundtracks

I Fell In Love Long Ago
Music & Lyrics by Fred F. Forrest Sr.
Performed by Frederic Forrest Jr.

User Reviews

Moody, atmospheric thriller with Frederic Forrest a standout

A moody, atmospheric thriller based on a novel by Mary Higgins Clark, with Jill Clayburgh in the lead as a woman-with-a-past who just might have murdered her own children. Max Gail (remember him from *Barney Miller*?) has a thankless role as her husband; but the real treat is that under-rated chameleon of an actor, Frederic Forrest, who will probably be remembered as the best character actor of his generation. Besides Forrest, the most memorable character here is the setting--a small New England village on a lush autumn day with a storm brewing. How wonderful it would be to have Max and Jill's house . . ..