Perfect detail and perfect acting aids this practically perfect television movie that easily could have been a theatrical film for film awards rather than TV awards in 1982. It's a fascinating look at a real life court case where the court of public opinion became passionately involved, following the life of this child up to her dying day just recently. For Gloria Vanderbilt Cooper, constantly in the public eye continued even after her death, and she look back at this film based on a best-selling book is a respectful document of American finance as it looks at a family who is one time America's wealthiest.
Lucy Gutteridge is perfectly fine as Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, an apparent descendant of European and Spanish royalty proof alleged neglect of her young daughter resulted in a custody battle with her sister-in-law, Angela Lansbury. it is quickly established that the paranoid rantings of Nanny Marine Stapleton got into the child's head and made her both desperately afraid of kidnapping and hate her mother for never being there and leaving her alone while she gallivanted around Europe. beginning Lansbury's motives for beginning the case are understandable, so she is not a villain, and Stapleton's character is simply a misguided woman who spoke to a child without much thought during the time the Lindbergh baby kidnapping.
Then there is Bette Davis as Lansbury's mother the matriarch of the family, only shown a few times but commanding and completely understanding of the dangers of such a case. By the time this is on the verge of happening, Alice Vanderbilt no longer has the power, yet through one word to her daughter expresses her displeasure. I of course wanted more of her, but I understand why her role is nothing more than an extended cameo.
Christopher Plummer is very good in his portrayal of Gloria's dipsomaniac father, with John Hillerman his delightfully droll self as a society editor, Barnard Hughes the obviously troubled judge on the case, Joseph Maher as the Vanderbilt's attorney and Martin Balsam strong as the defense attorney. Special mention should be made for Glynis Johns who is very amusing as Gutteridge's very eccentric mother. it's an ironic brief scene for Johns and Plummer who would play Julie Andrews' employers in both "Mary Poppins" and "The Sound of Music".
The three-hour running time without commercials of this two-part movie does not seem to be that links, because it is mesmerizing through the beautiful art direction and great period detail. I was reminded of other movies about poor little rich girls, Barbara Hutton and Doris Duke, by seeing this, but this was the one that started the trend of looking at the lives of little girls who were lost even though they had more than most people will ever have in their entire life.
Lucy Gutteridge is perfectly fine as Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, an apparent descendant of European and Spanish royalty proof alleged neglect of her young daughter resulted in a custody battle with her sister-in-law, Angela Lansbury. it is quickly established that the paranoid rantings of Nanny Marine Stapleton got into the child's head and made her both desperately afraid of kidnapping and hate her mother for never being there and leaving her alone while she gallivanted around Europe. beginning Lansbury's motives for beginning the case are understandable, so she is not a villain, and Stapleton's character is simply a misguided woman who spoke to a child without much thought during the time the Lindbergh baby kidnapping.
Then there is Bette Davis as Lansbury's mother the matriarch of the family, only shown a few times but commanding and completely understanding of the dangers of such a case. By the time this is on the verge of happening, Alice Vanderbilt no longer has the power, yet through one word to her daughter expresses her displeasure. I of course wanted more of her, but I understand why her role is nothing more than an extended cameo.
Christopher Plummer is very good in his portrayal of Gloria's dipsomaniac father, with John Hillerman his delightfully droll self as a society editor, Barnard Hughes the obviously troubled judge on the case, Joseph Maher as the Vanderbilt's attorney and Martin Balsam strong as the defense attorney. Special mention should be made for Glynis Johns who is very amusing as Gutteridge's very eccentric mother. it's an ironic brief scene for Johns and Plummer who would play Julie Andrews' employers in both "Mary Poppins" and "The Sound of Music".
The three-hour running time without commercials of this two-part movie does not seem to be that links, because it is mesmerizing through the beautiful art direction and great period detail. I was reminded of other movies about poor little rich girls, Barbara Hutton and Doris Duke, by seeing this, but this was the one that started the trend of looking at the lives of little girls who were lost even though they had more than most people will ever have in their entire life.