The Good Mother

• Director: Leonard Nimoy
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Drama
• Movie Type: Feminist Film, Family Drama
• Themes: Custody Battles
• Main Cast: Diane Keaton, Liam Neeson, Jason Robards, Jr., Ralph Bellamy, Teresa Wright
• Release Year: 1988
• Country: US
• Run Time: 104 minutes
• MPAA Rating: R

Plot

Anna Dunlap (Diane Keaton) is a divorced mother living is Boston with her 6-year-old daughter Molly (Asia Viera). She supports herself and her daughter by working part time in a lab and teaching piano. Her ex-husband Brian (James Naughton) is a Washington lawyer who has since remarried. Anna meets Leo Cutter (Liam Neeson) and she and the Irish sculptor begin a torrid and passionate love affair. Molly walks in while the two are making love and lies down to sleep next to her mother, oblivious of their act of intimacy. Molly innocently relates the incident to Brian, and the livid lawyer sues for custody of the little girl. An ugly courtroom battle begins, with Leo being accused of molestation of a minor and Anna branded as an amoral, unfit mother. Her attorney Muth (Jason Robards) levels with Anna and tells her she must choose between Molly and her lover. Directed by Leonard Nimoy, this powerful drama is taken from the best-selling novel by Sue Miller. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Cast

• Diane Keaton - Anna Dunlap
• Liam Neeson - Leo Cutter
• Jason Robards, Jr. - Muth
• Ralph Bellamy - Grandfather
• Teresa Wright - Grandmother

James Naughton - Brian Dunlap; Asia Vieira - Molly Dunlap; Joe Morton - Frank Williams; Katey Sagal - Ursula; Tracy Griffith - Babe; David Gardner - Judge; Charles Kimbrough; Nancy Beatty - Anna's Mother; Marvin Karon - Bobby (older)

Credit

Hilton Rosemarin - Art Director, Richard Harrison - Art Director, Stuart Aikins - Casting, Barbara Hewson Shapiro - Casting, Susan Becker - Costume Designer, Tony Lucibello - First Assistant Director, Daniel Jason Heffner - First Assistant Director, Leonard Nimoy - Director, Peter E. Berger - Editor, Elmer Bernstein - Composer (Music Score), Stan Jolley - Production Designer, Hilton Rosemarin - Production Designer, Richard Harrison - Production Designer, David Watkin - Cinematographer, Arnold Glimcher - Producer, Anthony Greco - Set Designer, Richard Lightstone - Sound/Sound Designer, David Lee - Sound/Sound Designer, Michael Bortman - Screenwriter, Warren Hamilton - Sound Effects Editor, Sue Miller - Book Author

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