The Best Place to Be (1979)
Directed by David Miller
Genres - Drama |
Sub-Genres - Family Drama, Melodrama |
Run Time - 200 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
This attenuated adaptation of Helen Van Slyke's novel stars Donna Reed (her first TV appearance in 12 years) as a widow with financial and domestic problems. Her adult daughter Stephanie Zimbalist has turned to drugs; her sons Michael Shannon and Tim Hutton have less severe but no less time-consuming personal difficulties; and her mother Mildred Dunnock is aloof and remonstrative. In addition, Reed is torn between two loves: old flame Efrem Zimbalist Jr., and doctor John Phillip Law, who is young enough to be her son. The above-mentioned plot contrivances would seem to be sufficient to fill the four hours (and two parts) of The Best Place to Be several times over; still, there's time enough left over for a tragedy to strike Reed's family before she finally settles down with the elder Zimbalist.
Characteristics
Keywords
love-triangle, parent/child-relationship, widow/widower, drug-addiction, love-choices, problems