Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story
| Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story | |
|---|---|
 UK release of "Thicker Than Blood" | |
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | Judson Klinger |
| Directed by | Michael Dinner |
| Starring |
Peter Strauss Rachel Ticotin Lynn Whitfield |
| Theme music composer | Johnny Harris |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Julian Marks |
| Editor(s) | James Austin Stewart |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | Columbia Broadcasting System Network (CBS) |
| Original release | March 6, 1994 |
Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story is a drama television film starring Peter Strauss, Rachel Ticotin and Lynn Whitfield. It was directed by Michael Dinner and written by Judson Klinger. The film first aired on March 6, 1994 on the Columbia Broadcasting System.[1]
The film is based on a true story of a Californian custody battle.[2][3]
Background
The film stars Peter Strauss as Larry McLinden, Rachel Ticotin as Diane and Lynn Whitfield as Bobbie Mallory. Others in the film include Brenda Bazinet as Mary, Jacob Zelik Penn as Larry Jr., Bob Dishy as Glen Schwartz, Susan Hogan as Dr. Sandra Baldwin, Carolyn Dunn as Nikki Amato and Patricia Gage as Judge Lara Parkes.
Today, the film remains unavailable in America (where it is also known as The Larry McLinden Story), having never received a VHS or DVD release. In the UK, it was released on both VHS and DVD in 2004 via Odyssey under the title Thicker Than Blood.[4][5] During the 1990s, the film was also released on VHS in Brazil via Mundial Filmes.[6]
The film's tagline on the UK VHS/DVD release reads "Some bonds go deeper than blood."[4]
The film was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1]
Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story was created by production companies Alexander/Enright & Associates, Front Street Pictures and World International Network (WIN).[6]
Four years after the film's release, main stars Peter Strauss and Rachel Ticotin married, on 31 December 1998.[7]
Plot
Securities broker Larry McLinden (Peter Strauss) and Diane Middleton (Rachel Ticotin) are experiencing a rocky affair when Diane announces that she's pregnant. When it's discovered that infant Larry Jr. has traces of cocaine in his blood, the couple's romance is over. Except Larry - now far more enthusiastic about parenthood - wants custody of the child, whom Diane has taken to Florida. Larry's attorney (Lynn Whitfield) sues, and a custody arrangement is set up, which Diane soon breaks, explaining that her son needs more time with her. Then she marries David Meadows (Booth Savage), and tells Larry that the two will try to adopt Larry Jr. As the fight drags on, Diane surprises everyone by suddenly truthfully claiming, contrary to everything she'd said before, that Larry is not the child's biological father, causing things to become even more complicated.[8]
Cast
- Peter Strauss as Larry McLinden
- Rachel Ticotin as Diane
- Lynn Whitfield as Bobbie Mallory
- Brenda Bazinet as Mary
- Jacob Zelik Penn as Larry Jr.
- Bob Dishy as Glen Schwartz
- Susan Hogan as Dr. Sandra Baldwin
- Carolyn Dunn as Nikki Amato
- Patricia Gage as Judge Lara Parkes
- Mark Wilson as Jay Kessler
- Booth Savage as David Meadows
- Maia Filar as Tina (11)
- Tara Strong as Tina (16)
- Gil Filar as Andy (7)
- Anthony Dean Rubes as the Doctor
- Graham McPherson as Tod Fuller
- Elizabeth Lennie as the Social Worker
- Marion Gilsenan as Larry's Mother
- Ian Neeson as Larry's Father
- Sherry Miller as Linda
- Victoria Snow as Claudia
- John Nelles as Judge Smith
- Kevin Zegers as Larry (1954)
Critical reception
Allmovie gave the film a rating of two and a half out of five stars.[9] Digiguide.TV gave the film three out of five stars.[10]
Variety Magazine gave the film an unfavorable review, stating "Title and casting lead to belief that sympathy is supposed to be with McLinden, but in Judson Klinger's diffuse script, Larry is dumb as a stump. Everybody plays this in deadly earnest among generic Toronto locations. Michael Dinner's rote direction shows no energy; tech credits are routine."[8]
Locate TV gave a favorable review and described the film as a "Powerful tug-of-love drama."[11]
References
- 1 2 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111411/
- ↑ "Man Receives Custody of Child, 4, He Didn't Father : Family law: Custody struggle may set precedent in state. Boy's most likely biological father consents to suspension of his rights. - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 1993-10-20. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
- ↑ "Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story (1994) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
- 1 2 "Thicker Than Blood [VHS] [2004]: Peter Strauss, Lynn Whitfield, Rachel Ticotin, Vincent Laresca, Dick Latessa: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
- ↑ "Thicker Than Blood [2004] [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Peter Strauss, Rachel Ticotin, Lynn Whitfield: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
- 1 2 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111411/companycredits
- ↑ "Bio". Peterstrauss.net. 1947-02-20. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
- 1 2 Everett, Todd (1994-03-07). "Variety Reviews - Thicker Than Blood: The Larry Mclinden Story - TV Reviews - - Review by Todd Everett". Variety.com. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
- ↑ "Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story (1994) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ↑ "Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story (1993) : Film". Digiguide.tv. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ↑ "Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story - Movie (1994)". LocateTV. Retrieved 2012-08-04.