A Private Matter
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A Private Matter
Plot
When Sherri Finkbine (Sissy Spacek), the host of the Sixties children's television program Romper Room, learns that her unborn child has been damaged by her use of the drug thalidomide, she and her husband decide to abort the fetus, setting in motion the media controversy that is the subject of Joan Micklin Silver's made-for-cable drama. ~ Jason Ankeny, RoviCast
- Sissy Spacek - Sherri Finkbine
- Aidan Quinn - Bob Finkbine
- Estelle Parsons - Mary Chessen
- Sheila McCarthy - Diane Callaghan
- Leon Russom - Steve Morris
Credit
Isis Mussenden - Costume Designer, Joan Micklin Silver - Director, Rick Shaine - Editor, James Newton Howard - Composer (Music Score), Victoria Paul - Production Designer, Paul Elliott - Cinematographer, William Nicholson - Screenwriter| A Private Life (1979 Film), A Private Life (1988 Film) | |
| A Private Scandal (1921 Film), A Private Scandal (1932 Film) |
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A Private Matter
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A Private Matter
| A Private Matter | |
|---|---|
 Film poster |
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| Directed by | Joan Micklin Silver |
| Produced by | David C. Thomas |
| Written by | William Nicholson |
| Starring | Sissy Spacek Aidan Quinn William H. Macy Estelle Parsons |
| Music by | James Newton Howard |
| Cinematography | Paul Elliott |
| Editing by | Rick Shaine |
| Distributed by | Home Box Office (HBO) |
| Release date(s) | June 20, 1992 (USA)[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
A Private Matter is a 1992 film made for television (HBO) drama based on the true 1962 story of Sherri Finkbine, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona in the first trimester of her fifth pregnancy. She was the popular hostess of the locally produced children's television show Romper Room.
She was taking the drug thalidomide -- a drug which was, at one time, commonly given to pregnant women in order to alleviate morning sickness and other uncomfortable symptoms associated with pregnancy. In the early 60s, it became known that the use of thalidomide while pregnant caused significant deformities to the fetus. Sherri expressed concerns about the well-being of her own baby, and consulted with her physician who scheduled a legal, therapeutic abortion at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix.[2]
The hospital refused the use of their facilities for an abortion so Finkbine filed a lawsuit to compel the use of Good Samaritan Hospital. A public and bitter struggle ensued, culminating with Finkbine terminating her pregnancy in Sweden.[3]
The movie premiered on HBO on June 20, 1992.[1] It was noted at the time of the movie's release that U.S. network television had shied away from stories dealing with abortion.[4]
References
- ^ a b Quindlen, Anna (18 June 1992). A Private Matter, The Baltimore Sun, Retrieved November 16, 2010
- ^ (14 June 1992). A Private Matter'; Sherri Finkbine's 1962 Abortion, The Washington Post, Retrieved November 16, 2010
- ^ Tucker, Ken (19 June 1992). A Private Matter, Entertainment Weekly, Retrieved November 16, 2010
- ^ Kogan, Rick (19 June 1992) The Finkbine case HBO's `A Private Matter' steps in where networks fear to tread, Chicago Tribune, Retrieved November 16, 2010
External links
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