Family Secrets (2001)

A family hires a young widow to serve as their son's live-in tutor.

Director:

Sally Champlin (as Sally J. Champlin)

Writer:

Sally Champlin

Stars:

Angela Jones, Tim Redwine, Pamela Bellwood

Cast

Credited cast:
Angela Jones	...	Mary Drake
Tim Redwine	...	Brian Marley
Pamela Bellwood	...	Linda Marley
Edward Bunker	...	Douglas Marley
Lisa Amsterdam	...	Claudia
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kathy Garver

Storyline

Douglas Marley (Edward Bunker), patriarch of the Marley family, is a stern disciplinarian, while his wife, Linda (Pamela Bellwood), remains an emotionally shattered shut-in unable to cope with their brilliant yet troubled son, Brian (Tim Redwine), who teeters on the edge of sanity. In an effort to reach their son one last time, the Marleys hire a pretty young widow, Mary Drake (Angela Jones), to serve as the boy's live-in tutor.

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Plot Keywords:

f rated | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

User Reviews

Family Secrets

I have just watched this movie so this is all fresh in my mind. The cast is a solid one and I particularly think that the young boy's role is well-played. This is an emotionally charged film or, at least, could be.

The story surrounds a pre-WW1 family unable to express love and affection to one another. Each member, from father, mother, and more centrally, the son are scared by the events of recent years. Enter a childless widow, as teacher, who gently draws the boy from his imaginary world.

The script has relatively few words expecting the direction and acting to provide the electricity. It just doesn't quite get there. There are scenes of lonesome characters crying as the lightning strikes over their rich mansion, but I am simply unconvinced by their presumable deep ingrained distress.

Nice try. One for a rainy afternoon on cable.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Filming Locations:

Petaluma, California, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color