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An Unexpected Family

  • TV Movie
  • 1996
  • PG
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
317
YOUR RATING
An Unexpected Family (1996)
Drama

When Ruth Whitney (Christine Ebersole) abandons her two children with her sister Barbara (Stockard Channing), who is left to take care of them. At first, none of them like it, but soon they ... Read allWhen Ruth Whitney (Christine Ebersole) abandons her two children with her sister Barbara (Stockard Channing), who is left to take care of them. At first, none of them like it, but soon they grow to like each other. Then, over a year later, Ruth comes back saying she wants her kid... Read allWhen Ruth Whitney (Christine Ebersole) abandons her two children with her sister Barbara (Stockard Channing), who is left to take care of them. At first, none of them like it, but soon they grow to like each other. Then, over a year later, Ruth comes back saying she wants her kids and Barbara goes to court to fight for custody.

  • Director
    • Larry Elikann
  • Writer
    • Lee Rose
  • Stars
    • Stockard Channing
    • Stephen Collins
    • Christine Ebersole
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    317
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Larry Elikann
    • Writer
      • Lee Rose
    • Stars
      • Stockard Channing
      • Stephen Collins
      • Christine Ebersole
    • 7User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos

    An Unexpected Family (1996)
    An Unexpected Family (1996)
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    Top cast

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    Stockard Channing
    Stockard Channing
    • Barbara Whitney
    Stephen Collins
    Stephen Collins
    • Sam
    Christine Ebersole
    Christine Ebersole
    • Ruth Whitney
    Noah Fleiss
    Noah Fleiss
    • Matt Whitney
    Chelsea Russo
    • Megan Whitney
    Jenny O'Hara
    Jenny O'Hara
    • Harriet Rothman
    Ken Pogue
    Ken Pogue
    • Judge Whitlock
    Ben Immanuel
    Ben Immanuel
    • Harry Weinstock
    • (as Benjamin Ratner)
    Sarah Strange
    Sarah Strange
    • Claudia
    Kevin McNulty
    Kevin McNulty
    • Goldani
    BJ Harrison
    BJ Harrison
    • Court Clerk
    Fulvio Cecere
    Fulvio Cecere
    • Detective Barry Fox
    Barry W. Levy
    Barry W. Levy
    • Brian
    Rory J. Aylward
    Rory J. Aylward
    • Paramedic
    Charles Siegel
    • Dr. Fred
    Allan Lysell
    • Man In Apartment
    Robert Dawson
    • Mr. Blackford
    • (as Robert M. Dawson)
    Michael Hirano
    • Waiter
    • Director
      • Larry Elikann
    • Writer
      • Lee Rose
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    6.6
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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Barbara (Stockard Channing) tells Matt (Noah Fleiss) and Megan (Chelsea Russo) that she is nervous about them walking to school on thier own. Matt makes a comment on how she made them watch Without a Trace (1983) ten times. Channing appeared in that movie.
    • Quotes

      Megan Whitney: Could we go get ice-cream?

      Matt Whitney: She just forgave me for stealing a car. Let's not push our luck!

    • Connections
      Followed by An Unexpected Life (1998)

    User reviews7

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Nice sets, well shot, shame about the plot.
    This is the sort of film which provides schedulers with material to fill those mid-week afternoon slots, where the citeria is "family", "inoffensive" and "bland". A cast of competent actors, led by the talented Stockard Channing struggle with poorly written lines and a predictable, lame plot. One to watch when you've finished watching the paint dry.
    helpful•0
    2
    • sid-46
    • Sep 16, 1999

    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 4, 1996 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Familia inesperada
    • Filming locations
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Lee Rose Productions
      • MCA Television Entertainment (MTE)
      • Universal Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby

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