In the Best Interest of the Children (1992)

Fact-based story of a legal battle fought over custody of five siblings.

Director:

Michael Ray Rhodes

Writers:

Peter Nelson (story), Peter Nelson (teleplay)

Stars:

Sarah Jessica Parker, Sally Struthers, Lexi Randall

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sarah Jessica Parker	...	Callie Cain
Sally Struthers	...	Patty Pepper
Lexi Randall	...	Jessica Cain
Gary Graham	...	John Birney
Susan Barnes	...	Donna Evans
Jayne Atkinson	...	Wanda Birney
John Dennis Johnston	...	Harlan Pepper
Tom Hodges	...	Ray Jacobs
Elizabeth Ashley	...	Carla Scott
Jessica Campbell	...	Julie Cain
Lacey Guyon	...	Susan Cain
Amanda Laughlin	...	Cindy Cain (at 5)
Molly Laughlin	...	Cindy Cain (at 3)
Harry Lennix	...	Tim Coffey
Sonny Stinnett	...	Baby Jason Cain

Storyline

This story is about the five Cain children whose mother suffers from mental instability. When she is finally committed to an institution, the children are fostered by a childless couple who soon grow to love them as their own. Just as they are settling down to their new lives and enjoying the affection and warmth that they have never had, Callie re-appears in their life and decides she wants them back. The children's lives are in danger of being torn apart as they are caught up in a desperate tug of war between the mother they have learned to fear and the foster parents they have grown to love.

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Plot Keywords:

children | foster parent | custody | reference to judas | prayer | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 February 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

A gyerekek érdekében

Filming Locations:

Iowa, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

NBC Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Callie Cain returns from grocery shopping, she shows Jessie the cartons of milk she bought. When she picks them up, one by one, in one hand and sets them back down its obvious the cartons are empty.

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Quotes

[In the school yard]
Susan Cain: [to the other children] Save it! You don't know nothing! Zero! Nothing!
Jessica: What happened?
Susan Cain: They say we stink, they say we wear garbage can clothes.
Jessica: You don't stink, they do. They're such butts.
Susan Cain: You butts!
Julie: Big butts!
Susan Cain: Big, fat, stinky butts!

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Connections

Referenced in Best in Show (2000)

User Reviews

In the Best Interest of the Children

This movie is one of the best if not the best for accurately portraying the roles of Human Resource Departments all over. I am a social worker and this movie hit home in several areas. The actors and actresses all did a wonderful job. Sarah Jessica Parker's portrayal of a conflicted mother with mental problems was believable and wonderful. The girl who played Jessica did an outstanding job as the oldest child who was the "adult" to her younger siblings. This movie was just outstanding all the way around. The supporting actors and actresses strengthened the title roles. Sally Struthers was brilliant as a foster mom who wanted children. Her portrayal was true to life in that in my job I have experienced similar tactics by foster parents wanting to adopt the children placed with them, even though reunification is trying to be worked for with the biological parent. It happens all the time. BRAVO! We need more realistic portrayals like this movie.