Kids Don't Tell
| Kids Don't Tell | |
|---|---|
 JoBeth Williams & Michael Ontkean in a scene from Kids Don't Tell | |
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | Maurice Hurley |
| Directed by | Sam O'Steen |
| Starring |
Michael Ontkean JoBeth Williams Ari Meyers Leo Rossi Joaquin Phoenix |
| Music by | Fred Karlin |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Rick Rosenberg Robert W. Christiansen |
| Producer(s) |
Barry Greenfield Bruce Hendricks (associate producer) |
| Cinematography | Michael D. Margulies |
| Editor(s) | Randy Roberts |
| Running time | 101 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Chris/Rose Productions Viacom Productions |
| Distributor | CBS |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release |
|
Kids Don't Tell is a CBS television movie about child molestation starring Michael Ontkean and JoBeth Williams. The docudrama, which was directed by Oscar-nominated film editor Sam O'Steen (Chinatown, Postcards from the Edge), was broadcast on March 5, 1985.[1]
Plot
Driven by a duty to his young daughter (Ari Meyers), filmmaker John Ryan (Michael Ontkean) agrees to produce a documentary on the sexual abuse of children in the American status quo. However, his loving wife Claudia (JoBeth Williams) becomes increasingly despondent and troubled as the filmmaker immerses himself further into the project. Ryan obtains participation from a host of experts in the field, including a Los Angeles police detective (Leo Rossi), who provides powerful insight into how the legal system fails, and a habitual molester (Jordan Charney) who tells of his technique for choosing and assaulting his victims.[2]
Cast
- Michael Ontkean ... John Ryan
- JoBeth Williams ... Claudia Ryan
- Leo Rossi ... Detective Rastelli
- Ari Meyers ... Nicky Ryan
- John Sanderford ... Eli Davis
- Jordan Charney ... Tatum
- Joaquin Phoenix (credited as Leaf Phoenix) ... Frankie
- Robin Gammell ... Dr. Houghton
- Shelley Morrison ... Carol
- Jean Bruce Scott ... Clare
- Matthew Faison ... Evan Harris
- David S. Aaron ... Waiter
- Roger Askin ... Man at Wedding
- Judith Barsi ... Jennifer Ryan
- Gary Bayer ... Speaker at Meeting
- Earl Billings ... Terry
- Dennis Bowen ... Ted
- Sally Brown ... Jill
- Victor Campos ... Dale
- Diane Cary ... Sandra Luce (as Diane Civita)
- E.M. Fredric ... Cocktail Waitress
- Kristin Gamboa ... Linda
- Mari Gorman ... Macy
- Nancy Lee Grahn ... Puppet Lady
- Natalie Gregory ... Krista Mueller
- David Kaufman ... Kenny
- Charles Lanyer ... Scotty
- Michael Laskin ... Man at Park
- Christopher Lofton ... Charles
- Oceana Marr ... Mildred
- Bob Minor ... Pool Player
- Milton Murrill ... Detective Timmy
- John Napierala ... David
- David Lloyd Nelson ... Lyle
- Greg Nourse ... Bartender
- Steve Pershing ... Officer at Desk (as Stephen Pershing)
- Branscombe Richmond ... Pool Player
- Jack Thibeau ... Donny
- Cori Wellins ... Lisa
- Jaleel White ... Christofer
- Barbra Rae ... Daphne