The Best Place to Be is a 1979 American TV film produced by Ross Hunter. It marked Donna Reed's return to acting after 13 years.[1] Hunter planned a sequel but this did not eventuate.[2]
The Best Place to Be | |
---|---|
Genre | Drama |
Directed by | David Miller |
Starring | Donna Reed Efrem Zimbalist Jr. Mildred Dunnock |
Music by | Henry Mancini |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers | Aaron Spelling Leonard Goldberg |
Producers | Ross Hunter Jacques Mapes |
Cinematography | Terry K. Meade |
Editor | Richard Bracken |
Running time | 195 min. 240 min. |
Production company | Ross Hunter Productions Inc. |
Original release | |
Network | NBC |
Release | May 27, 1979 |
Plot
editA widowed mother has an affair with a younger man.
Cast
edit- Donna Reed as Sheila Callahan
- Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Bill Reardan
- Mildred Dunnock as Rose Price
- Betty White as Sally Cantrell
- John Phillip Law as Dr. Gary Mancini
- Stephanie Zimbalist as Maryanne Callahan
- Michael J Shannon as Patrick Callahan
- Gregory Harrison as Rick Jawlosky
- Timothy Hutton as Tommy Callahan
- Lloyd Bochner as Bob Stockwood
- Madlyn Rhue as Emily Stockwood
- Rick Jason as Paul Bellinger
- Alice Backes as Kitty Rawlings
Production
editReed said of her character, "In a way, she is a child-woman. She must learn to grow up and earn her own way. It's a long, hard battle. The children get into trouble. She takes on the wrong lover, a younger man. It's really about a woman who grows up enough to know the difference between a really good, old-fashioned man and a rogue and a playboy. She learns the lesson and finally meets a man who is right for her."[3]
Reception
editOne review called it "a two part corpse".[4]
References
edit- ^ Donna Reed to Return to TV Los Angeles Times 3 Oct 1978: e12.
- ^ Donna Reed: Back Where She Wants to Be Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 4 Dec 1978: f1.
- ^ Donna Reed back on TV in NBC drama The Globe and Mail 8 Jan 1979: P.14.
- ^ TV REVIEW: Any where Else Is 'Best Place to Be' Rosenberg, Howard. Los Angeles Times 26 May 1979: c2.
External links
edit