A Private Matter (1992) (TV)

Director:

Joan Micklin Silver

Writer:

William Nicholson (writer)

Release Date:

20 June 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The true story of Romper Room host "Miss Sherri" Finkbine, who, after the devastating effects of thalidomide were discovered in the early 1960s...

Plot Keywords:

Thalidomide | Abortion | Based On True Story

Cast

Sissy Spacek	...	Sherri Finkbine
Aidan Quinn	...	Bob Finkbine
Estelle Parsons	...	Mary Chessen
Sheila McCarthy	...	Diane Callaghan
Leon Russom	...	Steve Morris
Xander Berkeley	...	Peter Zenner
Richard Venture	...	Dr. Werner
Jeff Perry	...	Randall Everett
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gregg Almquist	...	Doctor #2
Mark Anderson	...	Reporter #3
Dawn Arnemann	...	Parking lot mom
Michael Bofshever	...	TV host
Michael Byrne	...	Reporter #2
Susie Duff	...	Dotty Harper
Lance Edwards	...	Ray Becker
Taylor Fry	...	Sandra Harper
Steven Gilborn	...	Harvey
Marc Grapey	...	Reporter #1
Jessica Griffis	...	Tracy Finkbine
Nicole Griffis	...	Tracy Finkbine
Stanley Grover	...	Judge
Carla Gugino	...	Mary Beth
Michael Halpin	...	Tom Crawford
Baxter Harris	...	Doctor #1
Greg Heimer	...	TV doctor
Derek Hoxby	...	FBI agent #1 (as Scott Hoxby)
Atanas Ilitch	...	Security guard
Ken Jenkins	...	Frank Kearns
Michael Keeler	...	Tv Camera Operator #2
Ben Lemon	...	FBI Man #2
John Lordan	...	Dennis Callaghan
Allison Mack	...	Terri Finkbine
William H. Macy	...	Psychiatrist (as W.H. Macy)
Kristin Moneagle	...	TV Studio Mother
Reilly Murphy	...	Boy in Parking Lot
Trever O'Brien	...	Mark Finkbine
Virginia Pratt	...	Ice Cream Mother
John Rhode	...	TV Camera Operator #1
David Sage	...	Doctor #3
Tony Salome	...	Mailman
Jessica Seely	...	Kelly
James Quill Smith	...	Steve Finkbine
Noley Thornton	...	Carol Callaghan
Robyn Truxal	...	Nurse
William Utay	...	Jimmy Gillespie

Also Known As:

Miss Sherri (USA) (alternative title)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:PG | USA:PG-13

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Goofs:

Continuity: Sherri gives story about her upcoming abortion to a friend identified as a reporter for The Arizona Republic (actual Phoenix newspaper that broke the story). But when story appears in print, masthead of newspaper in which story appears is fictional 'Arizona Examiner'.

HBO on the 1960's Romper Room scandal

Sissy Spacek plays real life Sherri Finkbine in Phoenix Arizona in 1962, Miss Sherri on television's Romper Room. She finds that by having taken thalidomide tranquilisers, she has endangered her unborn baby, and she must decide whether to abort, as there is a strong chance that the child will be severly deformed. The law on abortion in Arizona is that it can only be done when the birth presents a risk to the mother's life, and the sentence for an illegal abortion is 2 - 5 years in jail. The teleplay by William Nicholson initally presents Sherri as a progressive woman, working against the wishes of her husband (Aiden Quinn), though we might think the cost of feeding their 4 children would demand both parents be employed. However as the narrative enfolds and the stress of the situation impacts on the couple, we observe the weaknesses in the base relationship. Her mother (Estelle Parsons) praises Sherri as a "good girl", someone who has been selfless, but Sherri reveals that this has been something she has created to conceal her true rebellious nature. Sherri also feels disempowered by the patriarchal system of husband and doctors and judges who want to control what she does with her body. Nicholson uses the Finkbone husband and wife to reinforce stereotypes of men as unemotional and rational, and women as the opposite. He also repeats Quinn's line "Do we have to do this now", as "We don't have to do this now" in variation, which still doesn't free it from being false dialogue, on the level of "We can get beat this thing". Director Joan Micklin Silver's approach seems to determined not to sensationalise that she overdoes the 60's kitsch, opening with When I Fall in Love, giving the women unflattering hairstyles, using a banal music score by James Newton Howard, and even hackneyed slow motion as Sherri battles through crowds so we can see how heroic/tragic she is. Apart from Spacek's bursts of edgy anger, and the use of a glove puppet called Krazy Cat which allows her to use a different speaking and singing voice, the only unexpected thing is a girl children fight. The best scene is when Spacek baits Quinn in frustration, screaming in their backyard at 3am, calling him a coward and taunting him to hit her, even if Silver resolves the argument in dull sentimentality. Watch for William H Macy in one scene, here billed as WH Macy, funny as a psychiatrist assessing Spacek.