Mother Knows Best (1997)

A woman urges her daughter to get married. And when her daughter does, she doesn't think that she made a good choice. So she goes out and hires a killer to kill her son-in-law.

Director:

Larry Shaw

Writers:

Lisa Friedman Bloch, Kathy Kirtland Silverman

Stars:

Joanna Kerns, Christine Elise, Grant Show

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joanna Kerns	...	Celeste Cooper
Christine Elise	...	Laurel Cooper Rogers
Grant Show	...	Ted Rogers
Jessica Walter	...	Joan
Sherman Augustus	...	Dale Cutler
David Spielberg	...	George Cooper
Kristen Dalton	...	Lynn
Jeanette O'Connor	...	Harriet Rogers
Michael Covert	...	Burt Willis
Eric Robertson	...	Michael
Annabelle Weenick	...	Aide
Giselle Fernandez	...	Newscaster
Jeff Olson	...	Minister
Alan Gregory	...	IRS Supervisor
Douglas Caputo	...	Frank

Storyline

A woman urges her daughter to get married. And when her daughter does, she doesn't think that she made a good choice. So she goes out and hires a killer to kill her son-in-law.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | marriage | mother daughter relationship | hitman | based on true story | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Quotes

[last lines]
Celeste Cooper: [with the reporters] Laurel?
[Laurel glares at her]
Celeste Cooper: It's not too late to tell them, sweetheart. Tell them, Laurel. Tell them I did it all for you.
Laurel Cooper Rogers: [bows her head down in anger] Goodbye, mother.
Celeste Cooper: [leaves with the reporters] That's okay, she's just confused. When this is over, she'll know that I was right, and everything will be back to normal. Everything will be normal again.

User Reviews

Mother-in-Law Breaker

We open with the statement, "Although fictionalized, the following dramatization was inspired by actual events." The credits run over some forthcoming scenes, which seem to give away too much of the plot, but really make up for some lack of action during the early running (and give up nothing important). Until the drama picks up excitement, you can revel in the somewhat psychotic performance of perfect mother Joanna Kerns (as Celeste). A wealthy and socialite, Ms. Kerns has just won a "Woman of the Year" award for her charitable and charming good will. She worries about her desirable daughter's lack of manly attention, and places a "personal ad" for pretty blonde Christine Elise (as Laurel Cooper)...

At first Ms. Elise thinks her mother's idea will match her up with a "serial killer," but she goes out on a blind date with the respondent anyway. Elise is thrilled when the man turns out to be handsome entrepreneur Grant Show (as Ted Rogers). Coincidently, Mr. Show reveals his mother encouraged him to answer the personal ad. Elise and Show hit romance head on, and plan to marry. But, mother Kerns has decided Show is unfit for her daughter. He has his own business, but is an automobile mechanic. So, Kerns decides she must break up the young couple, by hook or by crook...

If this really happened, as revealed in the opening and closing, more than a little dramatic license must have been taken. It doesn't matter as this is one of the most fun (and suspenseful) TV movies from the "Lifetime" production team. Everyone is as perfect as Kerns' décor, with hired gunman Sherman Augustus (as Dick Cutler) and soundtrack contributor Patrick Williams standing out. Especially stick with it for Kerns' indignant comeuppance.

******* Mother Knows Best (4/12/97) Larry Shaw ~ Joanna Kerns, Christine Elise, Grant Show, Sherman Augustus

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Falso asesinato

Filming Locations:

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Von Zerneck-Sertner Films, Hallmark Entertainment, Mockingbird Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1