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Switched at Birth

  • TV Mini Series
  • 1991
  • PG
  • 2h 56m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
829
YOUR RATING
Ariana Richards, Bonnie Bedelia, and Brian Kerwin in Switched at Birth (1991)
Drama

This is the story of the two babies who were switched at birth. A few years later when one of the girls gets sick, tests reveal that she was not the daughter of the couple who raised her. Ev... Read allThis is the story of the two babies who were switched at birth. A few years later when one of the girls gets sick, tests reveal that she was not the daughter of the couple who raised her. Eventually she dies. And the couple, most especially the mother, search for their real daugh... Read allThis is the story of the two babies who were switched at birth. A few years later when one of the girls gets sick, tests reveal that she was not the daughter of the couple who raised her. Eventually she dies. And the couple, most especially the mother, search for their real daughter. Eventually they suspect that it's a widower who has their child. While they try to fi... Read all

  • Stars
    • Bonnie Bedelia
    • Brian Kerwin
    • John M. Jackson
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    829
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Bonnie Bedelia
      • Brian Kerwin
      • John M. Jackson
    • 14User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 2 wins & 4 nominations total

    Episodes3

    Browse episodes
    1 Season1991

    Photos

    Bonnie Bedelia and Erika Flores in Switched at Birth (1991)
    Ariana Richards in Switched at Birth (1991)
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    Top cast

    Edit
    Bonnie Bedelia
    Bonnie Bedelia
    • Regina Twigg
    Brian Kerwin
    Brian Kerwin
    • Robert Mays
    John M. Jackson
    John M. Jackson
    • Ernest Twigg
    Eve Gordon
    Eve Gordon
    • Darlena
    Judith Hoag
    Judith Hoag
    • Barbara Mays
    Caroline McWilliams
    Caroline McWilliams
    • Lois Morehead
    Lois Smith
    Lois Smith
    • Margaret
    Kelli Williams
    Kelli Williams
    • Irisa
    Ariana Richards
    Ariana Richards
    • Kimberly Mays, Age 9-11
    Erika Flores
    Erika Flores
    • Arlena Twigg, Age 9-11
    Edward Asner
    Edward Asner
    • Ted Marx
    Beth Grant
    Beth Grant
    • Sophie
    Rance Howard
    Rance Howard
    • Frank Hill
    Jacqueline Scott
    Jacqueline Scott
    • Ruth Mays
    Vivian Bonnell
    Vivian Bonnell
    • Nurse Ford
    Andrew Magarian
    • Steven Tate
    Luana Anders
    Luana Anders
    • Nurse Ames
    John Wesley
    John Wesley
    • Lester Dodge, P.I.
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Switched at Birth: Kimberly's Story

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is the true story of Kimberly Mays and Arlena Twigg
    • Connections
      Featured in The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Great Big Bunches Of Lovin'
      Words & Music written by Regina Twigg

    User reviews14

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    A film of how selfishness can ruin a child's life
    'Switched at Birth' is a two-part series based on the case of Kimberly Mays and Arlena Twigg who were accidentally switched shortly after their births in 1978. Both the Mays and Twigg families carry on unaware of this until Arlena falls ill with cardiac problems and blood tests reveal she cannot be the biological child of her parents Ernest and Regina Twigg. When Arlena succumbs to her condition at the age of nine, the Twiggs' then embark on a search to find their real daughter leading them to Kimberly who is living with her widower father Bob. As the custody battle begins, Kimberly finds herself caught between two families and Bob faces the possibility of losing the child he loves and cherishes as his own.

    The adult leads all portrayed their roles well, fleshing out their characters, with Ariana Richards (better known as Lex in 'Jurassic Park') giving a touching performance as the bewildered and vulnerable Kimberly. She had a nice father/daughter rapport with Brian Kerwin, only enhancing the idea of how the young Kimberly never knew anyone other than Bob as her father.

    In many ways, this is a very tragic film about how the selfishness of the Twigg family eventually shattered two families and ripped a young girl's life apart. Motivated only by their own needs to know their biological daughter to replace the child they had just lost, they paid no heed to the fact Kimberly was just a little girl who wasn't ready to deal with the emotional ramifications of the truth around her birth. Instead, they barged into her life, forcing Bob Mays into endless court battles as they pursued full custody of Kimberly and creating a media frenzy around the story.

    Unlike the fictional film 'The Face on the Milk Carton', where the biological family let go when they see the trauma they are putting their child through, 'Switched at Birth' shows the results of what happens when selfish parents put a confused young girl through a custody battle. It does leave the audience considering how things could have gone much smoother if the Twiggs had only sought visitation rights or stayed away until Kimberly was older and more able to deal with things. It also leaves one wondering if Bob would have been so wrong to have ran off with his daughter until she was eighteen. Having read how Kimberly is now leading a destitute, unstable life, barely able to keep a roof over her head and maintain a job, this film goes a long way to explaining the contributing factors to her life as an adult today.
    helpful•14
    2
    • cosmic_quest
    • Oct 11, 2006

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 28, 1991 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cambiadas al nacer
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures Television
      • Morrow-Heus Productions
      • O'Hara-Horowitz Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 56 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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