In the Best Interest of the Child (1990): Cast & Plot
In the Best Interest of the Child is a 1990 drama directed by David Greene, starring Meg Tilly as Jennifer Colton, Marta Woodward and Michael O'Keefe. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 40m (100 min)
- Director
- David Greene
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Robert Papazian Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is In the Best Interest of the Child About?
The premise of In the Best Interest of the Child without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After being sentenced for defending an innocent, Jennifer begins to notice her daughter suffering from nightmares and sudden aggression. The behavior leads her to suspect the child is being sexually abused by her husband. Facing a court that seems unsympathetic, she must decide how to protect her child and confront the abusive father.
In the Best Interest of the Child Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- stepfather stepdaughter sex
- mother child relationship
- father daughter sex
- woman in a shower
- implied female nudity
- red ford mustang convertible
- male cousin female cousin relationship
- woman in jail
- prison shower
- 5 year old girl
- sleeping girl
- stuffed animal
+38 more Show fewer
- anatomically correct doll
- night terror
- girl wears pajamas
- female architect
- accused of a crime
- nude statuette
- father has sex with daughter
- suspected child abuse
- playing squash
- reference to laurence olivier
- halloween
- trick or treating
- medical examination
- testifying in court
- multiple personality disorder
- social services
- cross examination
- child visitation rights
- hysterical girl
- judge
- overheard telephone conversation
- contempt of court
- woman handcuffed
- abusive stepfather
- history of child abuse
- stepdaughter murders stepfather
- child therapist
- telephone game
- being followed
- giving someone the slip
- losing a tail
- bus trip
- pay phone
- 555 phone number
- wearing a disguise
- lullaby
- woman wears a blonde wig
- wanted by the fbi
In the Best Interest of the Child Cast & Characters
Meg Tilly leads the cast as Jennifer Colton, with Marta Woodward as Mandy Colton and Michael O'Keefe as Walt Colton. Directed by David Greene; 20 actors are credited in all.
- Director David Greene
- Meg Tilly as Jennifer Colton
- Marta Woodward as Mandy Colton
-
Michael O'Keefe as Walt Colton -
Ed Begley Jr. as Howard Feldon
Also Starring in In the Best Interest of the Child
· 16 more- Michele Greene Nora
- Sierra Pecheur Dr. Garfield
- Peter Hansen Dr. Innes
- Lance Davis Dr. Roedicker
- Angela Bassett Lori
- James Eckhouse Chilton
- Jim Byrnes Kurt
- David Wohl Judge Dunham
- Rosanna Huffman Mrs. Thacker
- Kenneth Tigar Fred Hulbert
- Tom Irwin Frank
- Maria O'Brien Carla
- Robin Pearson Rose Mrs. Stapleton
- Cynthia Mace Liz
- Roger Rook Sergeant Blaine
- Robert Pescovitz Federal Agent
More from David Greene
More films directed by David Greene, best-rated first: Godspell, The Girl Next Door, Bella Mafia and Breach of Faith: A Family of Cops II.
In the Best Interest of the Child Plot Summary
What happens in In the Best Interest of the Child from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Meg Tilly’s Jennifer Colton is a divorced architect and devoted mother who retains custody of her five-year-old daughter Mandy Colton while her ex-husband is granted regular visitations. Jennifer notices her daughter’s restless sleeping and increasingly violent episodes, and she becomes horrified to suspect that Walt Colton may be sexually abusing her. With the support of her cousin and attorney Howard Feldon, her next-door neighbor and trusted friend Nora, and a team of doctors and therapists—Dr. Garfield, Dr. Innes, and Dr. Roedicker—Jennifer fights to shield Mandy from harm and to suspend the father’s unsupervised access.
Full summary
The whole story of In the Best Interest of the Child, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know In the Best Interest of the Child?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays Jennifer Colton, the divorced mother fighting to protect her daughter?
Seen In the Best Interest of the Child?
Movies Like In the Best Interest of the Child
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including A Mother’s Worst Fear, Betrayed by Innocence and Dangerous Child.
In the Best Interest of the Child FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of In the Best Interest of the Child, each answered in a sentence.
How long is In the Best Interest of the Child?
In the Best Interest of the Child runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).
When was In the Best Interest of the Child released?
In the Best Interest of the Child was released on May 20, 1990.
Who directed In the Best Interest of the Child?
In the Best Interest of the Child was directed by David Greene.
More films by David Greene Who is in the cast of In the Best Interest of the Child?
In the Best Interest of the Child stars Meg Tilly as Jennifer Colton, Marta Woodward as Mandy Colton and Michael O'Keefe as Walt Colton, among 20 credited actors.
Does In the Best Interest of the Child have a post-credit scene?
No. In the Best Interest of the Child has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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