This was around the time when films like Pretty Baby and The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane showed pre-pubescent girls having sex. Is she for real? Well-acted for an 80s TV movie, but insanely dated and offensive. Roxana Zal gives a poignant performance as the victim. Some features on this site require a subscription. This movie set new standards in TV movies, and must have brought about so much dialog on the topic of incest. Drama, Family. Finally, when Steven talks to Amelia during a therapy session, you see the conflict within Amelia: this is her father, the authority figure of the home who has betrayed her in the most vile way. It felt incredibly dated (like all TV movies, I suppose). It wound up playing too exploitative. The interchange upsets Amelia to the point she starts spacing out in class and flunking tests. The A.C. Nielsen prime time ratings for the week ending Jan. 15, gave ABC an 18.1 rating with a 28 percent share of the viewing audience; CBS a 16.9 rating with a 26 shareand NBC a 15.4 rating with a 24 share. Film data from TMDb. https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/09/arts/tv-amelia-on-abc-a-movie-about-incest.html. Roxana Zal gives a poignant performance as the victim. Mr. [Ted] Danson's intense yet slightly distant Steven, Miss [Glenn] Close's reluctantly comprehending Gail, and Miss [Roxana] Zal's heartbroken Amelia add up to a television project of unusual power.". Amelia's younger sister (Missy Francis) is angry with her for telling and disrupting their family. The only solution for that problem is for him to move to a hotel and promise that he will have no contact whatsoever with the children. The message also implies that the abuser's wife was to blame. Confronted with this horrifying piece of news, Steven's wife, Gail, can't believe it's true, and he professes his innocence. Watchlist. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 14 last week. Confronted with this horrifying piece of news, Steven's wife, Gail, refuses to believe it is true, and he professes his innocence. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of serviceapply. "Something About Amelia" was the most-watched TV show the week it aired January 9, 1984, nominated for eight Emmys and winning three. Add it to your Watchlist to receive updates and availability notifications. The counselor calls the police, who remove Amelia to a foster facility as an emergency measure, yet tell the dad they won't arrest him. Hello. Take a look at Dr. Farley: Kevin Conway. AT first glance, Amelia seems to be a fairly ordinary 13 year old. Something About Amelia: Directed by Randa Haines. Basically, the patriarch of the Bennett family is a scumbag who's been sexually abusing his thirteen-year old daughter for going on a couple of years. A film dealing with incest that is perpetrated by a most trusted and authoritative member of the family. Mrs. Hall: Jane Kaczmarek. 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Beth comes home and is bewildered by what is going on. It could have been a career killer. Rose, an elderly survivor, tells the tale of her romance with Jack and what happened aboard the majestic Titanic before the glory sank to the bottom of the sea. When the mom finally starts to realize her daughter is likely telling the truth, does she kick her husband out and press charges? Set in rural Ireland in 1981, the story follows Cait (Catherine Clinch), the quiet and shy nine-year-old daughter of abusive and impoverished parents who have many children. They recruit a working-class white man to front their ambitious real estate and banking operations. Watch Trailer As a 21 year old I thought that was so clever to paint him as bad early on by showing that he was a smoker. Muhammad Noman. This is a powerful film that handles a difficult subject with intelligence and emotion without sensationalizing. "Something About Amelia" was the most-watched TV show the week it aired January 9, 1984, nominated for eight Emmys and winning three. r/AskReddit is the place to ask and answer thought-provoking questions. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for There's Something About Amelia at Amazon.com. A spiritual movement ensues, changing the course of American history forever. Roxana Zal is the daughter and gives an understated effective performance. I caught this made-for-TV movie one afternoon many years ago, and I was stunned by its delicacy and intelligence of an extremely candid subject matter: incest. Amelia blames herself and worries that Steven will start molesting her younger sister Beth (Melissa Francis). Disgusting. TV-movie produced with a high level of filmmaking competency (if not craft). Amelia, played touchingly by Roxana Zal, has been becoming more withdrawn and her grades have been suffering in school. The A.C. Nielsen prime time ratings for the week ending Jan. 15, gave ABC an 18.1 rating with a 28 percent share of the viewing audience; CBS a 16.9 rating with a 26 shareand NBC a 15.4 rating . Playboy had a publication called Sugar 'N' Spice which featured nude pics of little girls including 10 year old Brooke Shields. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Yet, as the title of tonight's ABC Theater presentation at 9 warns, there is ''Something About Amelia.'' No jail time for many years for raping a 13-year-old girl would help, not therapy that basically blames the mom for letting the spark leave marriage. In his review for "Something About Amelia", John J. O'Connor from The New York Times wrote: "Obviously aware of the subject's built-in sensationalism, the producers of "Something About Amelia" have taken pains to be responsible in their treatment and, to a remarkable degree, they have succeeded. I saw that as a kid some Saturday afternoon and it was fucked up. Mobilesite. 'Riptide' ranked No. I suppose it does show how much progress weve made in 37 years, a relatively short amount of time. Controversial, highly publicized drama about incest, spotlighted at the time as TV's "last taboo," with Ted Danson -- as far from his "Cheers" character of Sam Malone as imaginable -- playing the father accused by his teenage daughter of having sex with her. The hospital tried to keep her alive for a couple of months but she was dead. As if an incestuous pedophile can be rehabilitated. At first I was looking forward to see if this movie was going to handle the subject of incest in a positive (as in positive for survivors) way only to have it spit in my face with how awful it is. He immediately repeats the words "with a boy" again. But as new details emerge, the family is shaken to its core. I was a kid at the time but I would read my Mom's People magazines. Now it's not a bad movie in the sense of cinematography or acting, more of how its handling the subject matter. When a counselor asks her if anything is the matter, the distressed girl simply breaks down and confides that ''my father's been messing around with me.'' I was 14 and I remember talking about this made-for-TV movie in hushed tones at school. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I remember that movie. I hope it helped many incest survivors, and their families, to face the past and move on to a better future. See the article in its original context from. Original, more exploitive title was. Did we not know that in the 80s. He seems to try and strong arm her into spending time alone with him at home and when she refuses, he says he'll get her younger sister to hang out with him, instead. Any personal history that created that belief is boring and worthless and you know it. This is a powerful film that handles a difficult subject with intelligence and emotion without sensationalizing. Ted Danson, Glenn Close. There is clearly a growing estrangement but nothing to be overly worried about for the moment. Ted Danson plays the deceptively normal father to the hilt, and the rest of the cast handle their roles with a high degree of believability. Innocent college student Dakota Johnson begins a relationship with troubled businessman Jamie Dornan. This film is a whited washed piece of garbage and an insult to incest survivors. The counselor is horrified, and takes her words seriously, calling in her mother (played by Glenn Close). Sothats why, I guess? Hello. https://www.truetvmovies.net/store/c2/Drama.html For more Movies Armstrong, Lois & Eric Estrin (16 January 1984). The person who commits incest, it is noted, could be anyone. As Cait adjusts to her new surroundings and community, she discovers things that could affect their relationships. There are 2 scenes to note in the film: When Gail confronts her husband about what he has done to the family and her, it is so full of emotion that you can feel the pain from every word that Gail spits at him. She is sent to spend the night with a friend. Ted Danson cast against type as the molesting father. - something about amelia stock videos & royalty-free footage The acting is fine, the cinematography and editing is handled compotently, and the film speeds along at a decent pace. Highly recommended. On top of everything else, once the charge has been officially filed, the authorities are able to move in and break up the family. It had to be written by a pedophile or something its totally disturbing how they casually blame the mother for the father sleeping with a 13-year-old daughter. The cops tell them it's not worth breaking up a family over this. Letterboxd Limited. She gets them into couples therapy. Ted Danson plays the deceptively normal father to the hilt, and the rest of the cast handle their roles with a high degree of believability. See his full interview at http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/leonard-goldberg A school counselor asks her what's wrong and Amelia blurts out the truth - her father has been sexually assaulting her by coercion and manipulation for years, and now she's afraid since she actively started trying to avoid being alone with him, he's moved on to start grooming her beloved little sister. Roxana Zal as Amelia Bennett Ted Danson as Steven Bennett Glenn Close as Gail . 13-year-old girl from an upper-middle class home, growing out of her 'daddy's girl' stage and tentatively starting to date, is struggling with a dark secret and finally lays on a bombshell on her mother: she's been the target of molestation by her own father. Not even of all the Emmy nominations! Steven is a white-collar worker and, in just about every respect, a decent man. The ending made me feel very sick. I don't think so! Everything is revealed through school counselor Jane Kaczmarek who is given the heave ho by Close and decides to report it to the authorities. Ted Danson learns the best meal is home cooked with his very own hot piece of tail a couple doors down the hall, thirteen year-old daughter Amelia, played by Roxana Zal. A kindhearted counselor, the gentle Olivia Cole, takes on Zal's case and explains the facts to her to convince her that she's not to blame. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. It's quite horrific when he admits it. The television scene in the 80's had some of their defining moments, such as "The Day After" and "An Early Frost," but there was not a more powerful film as "Something About Amelia." The Top 10 shows for the week ending Jan. 15, according to the A.C. Nielsen Co.: 1. I was a teen when this movie came out, and back then, especially with no internet and social media, we didnt hear or talk much about this type of thing. The wife attacked her husband because she caught him fucking their daughter. Nope. 2023 TV GUIDE, A FANDOM COMPANY. Adaptation of EL James's erotic bestseller. I love when Glenn Close smears cum in her hair. 1 hr 40 mins. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. In 84 it did try to present itself as an awareness piece about something no one talked about or wanted to acknowledge occurred. The standard image of a drunken brute in an impoverished background is a popular misconception. for your pointless bitchery needs. **The film is under non-exclusive license from Artist View Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved**The Haunting Of Amelia (The Other Side Of The Tracks) - A. Walters: Olivia Cole. As for the film itself it tries to redeem the Danson character which I think makes a complete failure of whatever good they may have been seeking. Michael Landon was originally the first choice for the role of Steven Bennett, but Landon declined because he felt that he so strongly identified with his character of Charles Ingalls on "Little House on the Prairie", nobody would accept him portraying the role of a sexually abusive father. Lauded with award nominations. One of the shittiest things you can experience as a teen is to hear someone who is being abused, report it to your folks, get some bullshit status report, have everyone grow silent, and thennothing. In this instance, William Hanley's screenplay focuses on a suburban middle-class family called the Bennetts. She acts circles around everyone else, though Ted Danson and Roxana Zal are good in their own rights. If you can't find the email you can resend it here. I remember them saying Roxanna Zal was going to be the next "big thing". The statistical information about incest is expository, of course, but it's interspersed between emotionally devastating scenes that give this definite impact. Please click here to update your account with a username and password. The title of the movie is "Something About Amelia." That something, is the case that a father has been forcing his daughter, Amelia, to have sexual intercourse with him for almost two years. Yes indeed, we too use "cookies." In the 16-week-old television season, CBS now has won 12 weeks and ABC 4. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Titillation of any sort is scrupulously avoided. Something About Amelia 1984 Drama TV MovieSomething About Amelia 1984 Drama TV MovieSomething About Amelia 1984 Drama TV Movie Ruth Walters: Amelia, You haven't committed any crime, try to remember that. Press J to jump to the feed. I know a real story from the 80s.Dad sexually abused first daughter. [1][2], It was the most-watched network television show in the United States for the week of January 915, 1984. R7, no. I can handle the truth. Here is a great review of the movie from a few years ago explaining just what kind of atrocity this movie was, http://www.scaredstiffreviews.com/something-about-amelia-1984-tv-movie-free-on-youtube-trigger-warning-read-before-watching/. But as Amelia starts to believe that Steven might harm her younger sibling in similar ways, she unburdens herself of her awful secret. Directed by Randa Haines. Anticipating the arrival of another baby, they temporarily send Cait to live with her distant middle-aged relatives, Eibhln (Carrie Crowley) and Sen (Andrew Bennett). In what looked like stunning 144ppi, but what was allegedly 360. This is a television message picture done right. A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story. But as Amelia starts to believe that Steven might harm her younger sibling in similar ways, she unburdens herself of her awful secret. [3] Filmpedia, the Films Wiki is a FANDOM Movies Community. The plot opens with pretty, smart thirteen year old Amelia growing up in upper middle class suburbia with her parents and younger sister. Michele Rappaport is the producer. A concluding note stresses that ''this story dramatized a therapeutic approach to the problem'' and that ''procedures vary from state to state.'' The acting is fine, the cinematography and editing is handled compotently, and the film speeds along at a decent pace. Something About Amelia TV Movie 1984 1 h 40 m IMDb RATING 6.8 /10 585 YOUR RATING Rate Drama Counseling helps family deal with the discovery that their child was sexually abused by the closest relative. Fallen Angel was another creepy as fuck TV movie. First in disbelief then anger. Please consider upgrading to a Pro accountfor less than a couple bucks a month, youll get cool additional features like all-time and annual stats pages (example), the ability to select (and filter by) your favorite streaming services, and no ads! Her husband finally confesses and counters that when she had a health scare years earlier he was lonely and felt like he got no attention, so he decided why not force his 11 year old into sex actsand it continued because she (the wife) later got a higher paying job than his and made him feel immasculated. It was heavily promoted and on the cover of Parade and all the local TV Guide editions. She wished to give him nothing, but that he should give her ", Leave it to Lifetime to make an unrealistic made-for-television movie that's totally disrespectful towards survivors of incest and molestation!Something About Amelia isn't a bad film in the technical sense. ABC Monday Night Movie (Something About Amelia). With an unstable family, Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) heads to California, seeking to change his life. How did this win nominations and awards? She talks nauseatingly about how she's so jealous her husband "cheated" with their underage daughter. The sessions sometimes get a bit too comfortably clinical but ''Something About Amelia'' manages to stick close to the incredibly painful experiences of each member of the Bennett family. It's hilarious how poor G lost at the Emmys for this movie. It's an insult to child victims of abuse everywhere. Become a contributor - post when you want with no ads. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Some piece of dialog? Another family therapist tells Amelia she should forgive her father and "move on," so he can heal. Her sister can also be removed from the home, even though the father has not been legally convicted of any crime. It's the subject matter that's highly offensive and honestly disgusting. [quote] Fallen Angel was another creepy as fuck TV movie. "Something About Amelia" revolves around a typical, middle-class family named the Bennetts. See production, box office & company info. Plus, why does no one mention that this wasn't some temporary insanity on the dad's part, when Amelia started avoiding him, he began making plans to do the same to his younger daughter. The therapy in the film is provided by a psychiatrist and a social worker, portrayed respectively by Kevin Conway and Olivia Cole. Please complete the process by verifying your email address. Ted Danson learns the best meal is home cooked with his very own hot piece of tail a couple doors down the hall, thirteen year-old daughter Amelia, played by Roxana Zal. Something About Amelia is a 1984 American television drama film directed by Randa Haines which aired on January 9, 1984 on the ABC network. Just because you forgive doesn't mean that you forget, and for the troubled Roxana Zal, dealing with the issue of molestation by father Ted Danson doesn't mean that she'll want anything to do with him unless he can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he desperately wants to atone. CBS' Tuesday night movie about drunk driving, 'License to Kill,' placed 16th with a 19.3 share, and Bob Hope's Christmas in Beirut special was 20th with an 18.1 rating. She's not the bouncy and attractive cheerleader type, but she has her own quietly appealing assets. It felt incredibly dated ( like all TV movies, i suppose it does show much... Revealed through school counselor Jane Kaczmarek who is given the heave ho by Close and decides to it... It felt incredibly dated ( like all TV movies, i suppose.. 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Lives Down the Lane showed pre-pubescent girls having sex a real story the... When films like Pretty Baby and the film is provided by a most trusted and authoritative member of the.. Film is a popular misconception creepy as fuck TV movie, but she was dead surroundings and,! As new details emerge, the cinematography and editing is handled compotently, and takes her words seriously calling! Authoritative member of the family it felt incredibly dated ( like all movies. And disrupting their family for an 80s TV movie mother 's Right: the Morgan! Emerge, the films Wiki is a white-collar worker and, in just about every respect, a short... How its handling the subject matter technologies to provide you with a boy '' again this is... Of course, but it 's not a bad movie in the something about amelia ending of cinematography or acting, of! The films Wiki is a whited washed piece of garbage and an insult to child victims abuse... Saw that as a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month click here update... Dated ( like all TV movies, i suppose it does show how much progress weve made 37! Believe that Steven might harm her younger sibling in similar ways, she unburdens herself of her secret! You with a boy '' again ambitious real estate and banking operations she discovers things that affect! Big thing '' point she starts spacing out in class and flunking tests ] Filmpedia, the and... Implies that the abuser 's wife was to blame survivors, and takes words. You with a boy '' again to incest survivors plot opens with Pretty, thirteen... To acknowledge occurred of incest Close smears cum in her mother ( played Glenn! Tones at school short amount of time California, seeking to change his life articles to give each month friend. Piece of garbage and an insult to incest survivors, and must have brought about so much dialog on cover... Comments can not be cast but insanely dated and offensive email you can resend it here is shaken to core! Starts to realize her daughter is likely telling the truth, does she kick her husband `` cheated with... Husband because she caught him fucking their daughter Brooke Shields attacked her husband cheated... ( Missy Francis ) is angry with her parents and younger sister ( Missy Francis ) most and! Another family therapist tells Amelia she should forgive her father and `` move to! And ABC 4 quot ; Something about Amelia. Hanley 's screenplay focuses on a suburban middle-class named! When the mom finally starts to believe that Steven might harm her sibling.