Intimate Strangers (1977 film)
Encyclopedia
Intimate Strangers is a 1977
made-for-tv drama film
directed by John Llewellyn Moxey
, and written and produced by Richard and Esther Shapiro
.
The film, starring Dennis Weaver
, Sally Struthers
, Tyne Daly
and Larry Hagman
, deals with the subject domestic violence
and has received positive reviews since it release, acknowledged as "an outstanding social drama" by the TV guide
. Daly received an Emmy Award
nomination in the category "Best Supporting Actress".
) loses a policy at work, leading to a financial setback. He takes out this personal and financial humiliation on his loving wife Janice (Sally Struthers
). After a fight over her daily spendings, he accidentally pushes her, causing her to spill coffee over herself. He immediately apologizes, and Janice does not wait long before forgiving him. The next morning, she runs into an old friend Karen Renshaw (Tyne Daly
), who once left town for Florida but is now working as a drafts woman. They quickly become best friends.
Donald, meanwhile, is convinced by his colleague and friend Mort Burns (Larry Hagman
) to give him company on a night's out with two attractive women. Donald spends the night with one of the women and cheats on his wife. He returns home at night to a worried Janice, though instead of apologizing, he admits to his unloyalty in a rage, and starts beating her when she gets mad at him for the affair. The police quickly arrive due to complaints of neighbors, though Janice lies about the situation to protect her husband.
The next morning, Janice's daughter Peggy (Quinn Cummings
) confronts her mother with the domestic violence, and Janice assures her that she will stick by her husband. Donald, meanwhile, visits his unloving father (Melvyn Douglas
), and learns that the rent for his retirement home has not yet been paid. At the local gym, Mort's wife Marilyn (Ellen Travolta
) among others notice that Janice has multiple bruises on her body, but she denies to have a problem. After class, she receives a crisis number for battered women. Even though Donald makes a convincing apology about his behavior, promising her to better his life, Janice attends a self help meeting with other battered women. There, she reacts in denial when others ask about the horrors of her husband, and ends up protecting Donald yet again, despite fearing that Donald will someday hit the children as well.
Donald attempts to make up with Janice by accompanying her to one of Karen's parties. There, he grows jealous when Janice talks to a younger man, and demands to leave with her immediately. At home, Janice gets upset for being humiliated, causing Donald to abuse her yet again. This time, the police show up and arrest Donald. Meanwhile, Janice is in hospital and is visited by an attorney, Shaola Reems, to sue her husband. Karen collects Janice's stuff at her home and tells Donald what a horrible man he is. Donald makes another promise to change, but Janice convinces him that he can't do this without the help of a therapist. Karen criticizes Janice for not leaving Donald, but Janice insists that she does not want to be a divorced woman.
Janice returns home, only to get into a fight with her husband over Karen, in which the youngest son Chris (Brian Andrews
) gets thrown through the room. Horrified, Janice takes the children immediately leaves her husband. She attempts to start a new life, which includes a job, though one night Donald breaks into his former home and both chokes and rapes his wife. Even though Donald can't be sued for rape, he will be accused for abuse. Donald pleads guilty for a lower penalty, though this deal includes a restraining order from his wife.
1977 in film
The year 1977 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*In the Academy Awards, Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight win Best Actor and Actress and Supporting Actress awards for Network....
made-for-tv drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by John Llewellyn Moxey
John Llewellyn Moxey
John Llewellyn Moxey is an Argentinian film and television director. He is best known for directing film The City of the Dead and directing episodes of The Saint, Magnum, P.I. and Murder, She Wrote.-Life and career:Moxey was born in Argentina in 1925...
, and written and produced by Richard and Esther Shapiro
Richard and Esther Shapiro
Richard Shapiro and Esther Shapiro are married American television screenwriters and producers best known as the creators of the long-running 1980s primetime serial Dynasty, its spin-off series The Colbys and the 1991 miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion.In 1984, Doubleday/Dolphin published the...
.
The film, starring Dennis Weaver
Dennis Weaver
William Dennis Weaver was an American actor, best known for his work in television, including roles on Gunsmoke, as Marshal Sam McCloud on the NBC police drama McCloud, and the 1971 TV movie Duel....
, Sally Struthers
Sally Struthers
Sally Ann Struthers is an American actress and spokeswoman, best-known for her roles as Gloria Stivic on All in the Family, for which she won two Emmy awards, and as Babette on Gilmore Girls.-Personal life:...
, Tyne Daly
Tyne Daly
Tyne Daly is an American stage and screen actress, widely known for her work as Detective Mary Beth Lacey in the television series Cagney & Lacey and as Maxine Gray in the television series Judging Amy. She is also known for her role as Alice Henderson in television series Christy...
and Larry Hagman
Larry Hagman
Larry Martin Hagman is an American film and television actor, producer and director known for playing J.R. Ewing in the 1980s primetime television soap opera Dallas and Major Anthony "Tony" Nelson in the 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.-Early life and career:Hagman was born in Fort Worth, Texas...
, deals with the subject domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
and has received positive reviews since it release, acknowledged as "an outstanding social drama" by the TV guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
. Daly received an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
nomination in the category "Best Supporting Actress".
Plot
Donald Halston (Dennis WeaverDennis Weaver
William Dennis Weaver was an American actor, best known for his work in television, including roles on Gunsmoke, as Marshal Sam McCloud on the NBC police drama McCloud, and the 1971 TV movie Duel....
) loses a policy at work, leading to a financial setback. He takes out this personal and financial humiliation on his loving wife Janice (Sally Struthers
Sally Struthers
Sally Ann Struthers is an American actress and spokeswoman, best-known for her roles as Gloria Stivic on All in the Family, for which she won two Emmy awards, and as Babette on Gilmore Girls.-Personal life:...
). After a fight over her daily spendings, he accidentally pushes her, causing her to spill coffee over herself. He immediately apologizes, and Janice does not wait long before forgiving him. The next morning, she runs into an old friend Karen Renshaw (Tyne Daly
Tyne Daly
Tyne Daly is an American stage and screen actress, widely known for her work as Detective Mary Beth Lacey in the television series Cagney & Lacey and as Maxine Gray in the television series Judging Amy. She is also known for her role as Alice Henderson in television series Christy...
), who once left town for Florida but is now working as a drafts woman. They quickly become best friends.
Donald, meanwhile, is convinced by his colleague and friend Mort Burns (Larry Hagman
Larry Hagman
Larry Martin Hagman is an American film and television actor, producer and director known for playing J.R. Ewing in the 1980s primetime television soap opera Dallas and Major Anthony "Tony" Nelson in the 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.-Early life and career:Hagman was born in Fort Worth, Texas...
) to give him company on a night's out with two attractive women. Donald spends the night with one of the women and cheats on his wife. He returns home at night to a worried Janice, though instead of apologizing, he admits to his unloyalty in a rage, and starts beating her when she gets mad at him for the affair. The police quickly arrive due to complaints of neighbors, though Janice lies about the situation to protect her husband.
The next morning, Janice's daughter Peggy (Quinn Cummings
Quinn Cummings
Quinn Cummings is an American inventor, businesswoman, television and film actress, and author best known for her Oscar-nominated role in Neil Simon's The Goodbye Girl and her humorous memoir "Notes From The Underwire" She is currently working on a second book, "The Year of Learning Dangerously",...
) confronts her mother with the domestic violence, and Janice assures her that she will stick by her husband. Donald, meanwhile, visits his unloving father (Melvyn Douglas
Melvyn Douglas
Melvyn Edouard Hesselberg , better known as Melvyn Douglas, was an American actor.Coming to prominence in the 1930s as a suave leading man , Douglas later transitioned into more mature and fatherly roles as in his Academy Award-winning performances in Hud...
), and learns that the rent for his retirement home has not yet been paid. At the local gym, Mort's wife Marilyn (Ellen Travolta
Ellen Travolta
Ellen Travolta is an American actress, the eldest sibling of John Travolta. She is probably best known for her portrayal of Louisa Arcola Delvecchio, the mother of Chachi Arcola in the 1950s-based sitcom Happy Days, and its unsuccessful spinoff, Joanie Loves Chachi...
) among others notice that Janice has multiple bruises on her body, but she denies to have a problem. After class, she receives a crisis number for battered women. Even though Donald makes a convincing apology about his behavior, promising her to better his life, Janice attends a self help meeting with other battered women. There, she reacts in denial when others ask about the horrors of her husband, and ends up protecting Donald yet again, despite fearing that Donald will someday hit the children as well.
Donald attempts to make up with Janice by accompanying her to one of Karen's parties. There, he grows jealous when Janice talks to a younger man, and demands to leave with her immediately. At home, Janice gets upset for being humiliated, causing Donald to abuse her yet again. This time, the police show up and arrest Donald. Meanwhile, Janice is in hospital and is visited by an attorney, Shaola Reems, to sue her husband. Karen collects Janice's stuff at her home and tells Donald what a horrible man he is. Donald makes another promise to change, but Janice convinces him that he can't do this without the help of a therapist. Karen criticizes Janice for not leaving Donald, but Janice insists that she does not want to be a divorced woman.
Janice returns home, only to get into a fight with her husband over Karen, in which the youngest son Chris (Brian Andrews
Brian Andrews (actor)
Brian Andrews is an American actor who has starred in movies and on television. He is best known for his role as Tommy Doyle in the classic John Carpenter horror movie Halloween, and reprised this role in Halloween II in a small appearance...
) gets thrown through the room. Horrified, Janice takes the children immediately leaves her husband. She attempts to start a new life, which includes a job, though one night Donald breaks into his former home and both chokes and rapes his wife. Even though Donald can't be sued for rape, he will be accused for abuse. Donald pleads guilty for a lower penalty, though this deal includes a restraining order from his wife.
Cast
- Dennis WeaverDennis WeaverWilliam Dennis Weaver was an American actor, best known for his work in television, including roles on Gunsmoke, as Marshal Sam McCloud on the NBC police drama McCloud, and the 1971 TV movie Duel....
as Donald Halston - Sally StruthersSally StruthersSally Ann Struthers is an American actress and spokeswoman, best-known for her roles as Gloria Stivic on All in the Family, for which she won two Emmy awards, and as Babette on Gilmore Girls.-Personal life:...
as Janice Halston - Tyne DalyTyne DalyTyne Daly is an American stage and screen actress, widely known for her work as Detective Mary Beth Lacey in the television series Cagney & Lacey and as Maxine Gray in the television series Judging Amy. She is also known for her role as Alice Henderson in television series Christy...
as Karen Renshaw - Larry HagmanLarry HagmanLarry Martin Hagman is an American film and television actor, producer and director known for playing J.R. Ewing in the 1980s primetime television soap opera Dallas and Major Anthony "Tony" Nelson in the 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.-Early life and career:Hagman was born in Fort Worth, Texas...
as Mort Burns - Melvyn DouglasMelvyn DouglasMelvyn Edouard Hesselberg , better known as Melvyn Douglas, was an American actor.Coming to prominence in the 1930s as a suave leading man , Douglas later transitioned into more mature and fatherly roles as in his Academy Award-winning performances in Hud...
as Donald's father - Brian AndrewsBrian Andrews (actor)Brian Andrews is an American actor who has starred in movies and on television. He is best known for his role as Tommy Doyle in the classic John Carpenter horror movie Halloween, and reprised this role in Halloween II in a small appearance...
as Chris Halston - Quinn CummingsQuinn CummingsQuinn Cummings is an American inventor, businesswoman, television and film actress, and author best known for her Oscar-nominated role in Neil Simon's The Goodbye Girl and her humorous memoir "Notes From The Underwire" She is currently working on a second book, "The Year of Learning Dangerously",...
as Peggy Halston - Julian Burton as Dr. James Morgan
- Ellen TravoltaEllen TravoltaEllen Travolta is an American actress, the eldest sibling of John Travolta. She is probably best known for her portrayal of Louisa Arcola Delvecchio, the mother of Chachi Arcola in the 1950s-based sitcom Happy Days, and its unsuccessful spinoff, Joanie Loves Chachi...
as Marilyn Burns