STOLEN BABIES (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television movie is inspired by actual
events surrounding a Memphis, Tennessee black market
baby ring. Annie Beales is a social worker trying to
save abused children in one of Memphis's worst areas in
1947. One day, wealthy society belle Bekka Fields
arrives at Annie's office, wanting to help with the
program. Annie assumes that Bekka is a spoiled
dilettante and gives her the difficult first assignment
of trying to find the parents of two abused and
discarded children. Bekka does one better and captures
the children's deadbeat father in her car trunk, making
for an instant friendship with Annie. Bekka teaches
Annie that she must be more "political" to succeed in
Memphis and encourages her to attend the upcoming
Memphis Gala Fund party. At the party, Bekka introduces
Annie to Georgia Tann, rescuer of children at the
Tennessee Children's Home Society. Though Tann is her
idol, Annie thinks something may be amiss when Tann
quickly finds a baby for the childless Bekka to adopt.
Coincidentally, a poor couple discovers to their horror
that Tann has taken their baby away and had it adopted
elsewhere. Annie wonders if Tann is correct in her
seemingly overzealous efforts to make poor children into
wards of the state. When Annie voices her suspicions
that the Tennessee Children's Home and Tann are
engaging in some questionable practices, Tann retaliates
by making Annie's life a living hell. With a little
help from Bekka, Annie decides to fight back. After the
unexpected death of an antagonist, Annie figures out
that babies were being sold to rich couples via a black
market. Trying to unravel the injustices, however,
proves the beginning of a long road for Annie, with some
decidedly tragic turns ahead. Commercials deleted.
This program is closed-captioned.
(This program contains minor technical problems. This
represents the best copy of this program currently
available to the Museum)
Details
- NETWORK: Lifetime
- DATE: March 25, 1993 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:31:41
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:35360
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: She Made It Collection (Mary Tyler Moore)
- SERIES RUN: Lifetime - TV, 1993
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ian Sander … Executive Producer
- Kim Moses … Executive Producer
- J. Moses … Executive Producer
- Ann Kindberg … Producer
- Eric Laneuville … Director
- Sharon Elizabeth Doyle … Writer
- Mason Daring … Music by
- Lea Thompson … Cast, Annie Beales
- Kathleen Quinlan … Cast, Bekka Fields
- Mary Nell Santacroce … Cast, Judge Camille Kelley
- Mary Tyler Moore … Cast, Georgia Tann
- Brett Rice … Cast, Robert Taylor
- Tom Nowicki … Cast, Bascom Fields
- Jenny Krochmal … Cast, Mary Wester
- Judson Vaughn … Cast, Jasper Bell
- Kenny Jones … Cast, Jim Wester
- Clarinda Ross … Cast, Claudia Bell
- Jillian Boyd … Cast, Bessie Mae
- Ed Grady … Cast, Abe Waldauer
- Edith Ivey … Cast, Jane Hamm
- Janell McLeod … Cast, Postmistress
- Terry Beaver … Cast, Mr. Phelps
- Martha Burgess … Cast, Gert Levoe
- Janette Lane Bradbury … Cast, Meg Wilder
- Aubrey Bond … Cast, Little Girl
- Matt Berry … Cast, Ronald Wester
- Chuck Lawlor … Cast, Mr. Cather
- Dan Biggers … Cast, Mr. Crump
- Peet Munro … Cast, Judge Medard
- Rebecca Wackler … Cast, Nurse Higgins
- Laurie Beasley … Cast, Woman at Home
- Wilbur T. Fitzgerald … Cast, Reporter #1
- Larry Black … Cast, Reporter #2
- Bert Bryant … Cast, Tann's Butler