Small Sacrifices 

A peculiar and disturbing case catches the attention of the police when a young mother and her children, all severely injured, show up in a hospital's emergency room.

Stars:

Farrah Fawcett, Ryan O'Neal, Gordon Clapp

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Farrah Fawcett	...	Diane Downs unknown episodes

Storyline

On the 19th of May 1983 Diane Downs stops at the McKenzie-Williamette-Hospital and cries for help. She is wounded on her arm and her three children are also wounded seriously. She says that a stranger shot at them but the investigation of detective Welch bring out that Diane is a liar.

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Plot Keywords:

tv mini series | histrionic personality disorder | murderess | spandex disco jeans | filicide | 

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Taglines:

Her children got in the way of her love

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | History

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Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 November 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Small Sacrifices

Filming Locations:

Allarcom Studios, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 7,300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Louis Rudolph Films, Motown Productions, Allarcom Limited

Technical Specs

Runtime:

205 min (2 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The real life case of Diane Downs which the movie is based on, foreshadows 1994 trial and arrest of Susan Smith by 11 years. Smith like Downs, also pursued a man who didn't want to be with her because she had children. Refusing to take rejection, Smith also fabricated a story about being car jacked by a strange man causing her two children to drown while strapped in their mother's car. The shocking and disturbing truth was, Smith confessed that she had purposely pushed the car into the river drowning the children in hopes of winning her boyfriend back. Both she and Downs remain in prison to this day.

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Goofs

When Diane brings a pizza over to her mailman friend Matt Jensen's house, she asks him if he likes mushrooms on his pizza while holding the pizza out to him. He says yes. But the pizza has no mushrooms on it, it is clearly plain.

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Quotes

Psychiatrist: As a psychiatrist, it is my professional opinion that Diane Downs' personality disorders qualify her as a dangerous offender. She is a sociopath: an antisocial personality without any concern for the rights of others. She has a brilliant mind with no conscience to guide it. A narcissist who sees herself as the center of everything, who will get what she wants no matter what means that she has to employ, no matter who or what stands in her way. She's not able to have or understand love.
Judge Foote: The ...

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Connections

Referenced in Kids of Killers (2010)

User Reviews

Farrah Fawcett shines in this compelling drama!!!!

Farrah Fawcett plays Diane Downs,a woman who shoots three of her kids in order to be free of them so she can be with a man who simply doesn't want kids. This movie is a two-part movie, Farrah keeps your attention and gives a powerful performance. The movie is based on Ann Rules book. Ryan has a small but interesting role in this film, and John Shea is awesome in this movie as district attorney Frank Joziak, who's interaction with Diane's daughter Karen is troubling and moving at the same time. Diane Downs is convicted and sent to prison where she escapes and is later caught and returned to prison. Her narcissism throughout the whole story is sad, but more pathetic.