Little Girl Lost is an American drama television film directed by Sharron Miller from a teleplay by Ann Beckett, based on a story by Angela Shelley and C. Scott Alsop. The film stars Tess Harper, Frederic Forrest, and Patricia Kalember, with Lawrence Pressman, Christopher McDonald, Sandy Martin, Joel Colodner, William Edward Phipps, and Marie Martin in supporting roles. It premiered on ABC on April 25, 1988, and earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for its cinematography.
| Little Girl Lost | |
|---|---|
| Screenplay by | Ann Beckett |
| Story by |
|
| Directed by | Sharron Miller |
| Starring | |
| Composer | Billy Goldenberg |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Marian Rees |
| Producer | Robert Huddleston |
| Cinematography | Philip H. Lathrop |
| Editor | Art Stafford |
| Running time | 94 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | April 25, 1988 |
Plot
editA girl named Tella had been placed with foster parents Clara and Tim Brady when she was one-year-old due to neglect. When Tella was three the law forced her to have visitation with her biological father. One night during bath time then four-year-old Tella tells Clara her father touches her "down there" and she wonders if it's because she's a bad girl. The Bradys inform Children's Services they suspect child sexual abuse but Children's Services and the court side with the father, believing Tella is making up stories, and her foster parents are allowing her to act out.[1]
The Bradys have Tella taken from their home and, though they obtain help from an attorney and a local reporter, they must endure a two-year struggle to regain custody of their beloved lost child. In the end an older and quieter Tella is brought to the Bradys' home, and slowly remembers she had once been happy there, and is now back with people who love her.
Cast
edit- Frederic Forrest as Tim Brady
- Tess Harper as Clara Brady
- Kathy Tragester as Kelly Brady
- Marie Martin as Tella Brady
- Christopher McDonald as Wolff
- Sandy Martin as Violet Young
- Matthew Scott Carlton as Nathan Lees
- C. Jack Robinson as Judge Greer
- Gigi Cervantes as Brandy
- Rudy Young as Ed De Busk
- Annabelle Weenick as Gwynneth Soames
- Esther Benson as Mrs. Morella
- Suzanne Savoy as Dr. Deborah Meewsen
- Gil Glasgow as Police Officer
- Lee Ritchey as Earl Lockwood
- Libby Villari as Harriet Baker
- Deborah Winters as File Clerk
- Vernon Grote as Bailiff
- Hugh Feagin as Bruce Magnusen
- Lawrence Pressman as Lester
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 40th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Special | Philip H. Lathrop | Nominated | [2] |
| 1989 | 3rd American Society of Cinematographers Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Movie of the Week or Pilot | Won | [3] | |
| 10th Youth in Film Awards | Best Young Actress Under 9 Years of Age | Marie Martin | Nominated | [4] | |
| Best Family TV Special | Little Girl Lost | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ Heffley, Lynne, Pain of Child Abuse in 'Little Girl Lost', Los Angelos Times, April 25, 1988
- ^ "Little Girl Lost General Foods Golden Showcase". Television Academy. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ "Past Nominees & Winners | 3rd Annual ASC Awards". The American Society of Cinematographers. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ "Tenth Annual Youth in Film Awards 1987-1988". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
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