''Empty Cradle'' is a

1993 File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peace ...

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

directed by Paul Schneider. The film is based on actual events, but the scenario has been fictionalized for entertainment purposes.

Plot

Jane Morgan (

Lori Loughlin Lori Anne Loughlin (; born July 28, 1964) is an American actress. From 1988 to 1995, she played Rebecca Donaldson Katsopolis on the ABC sitcom ''Full House'', and reprised the role for its Netflix sequel '' Fuller House'' (2016–2018). Loughlin ...

) is the mother of two children, Sally (

Camilla Belle Camilla Belle Routh (born October 2, 1986), known professionally as Camilla Belle, is an American actress, director, and producer. Early life Belle was born to Deborah Cristina Gould and Jack Wesley Routh, a country music performer and compose ...

) and Sam (

Zachary Browne Zachary Browne (born March 28, 1985) is an American former television and film actor. Browne has had guest roles on '' ER'', '' 7th Heaven'' and ''Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman ''Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'' is an American Western drama televisio ...

), and pregnant with a third. She has been separated from her husband Bob (David Lansbury) for a while, who is desperate to win back his wife's affection. At five days past her due date, Jane goes into labor. Everything is going well, until she is suddenly sedated by a nurse, Rita Donahue (

Kate Jackson Lucy Kate Jackson (born October 29, 1948) is an American actress and television producer, known for her television roles as Sabrina Duncan in the series '' Charlie's Angels'' (1976–1979) and Amanda King in the series ''Scarecrow and Mrs. Kin ...

). Hours later, she regains consciousness. The doctor wrongly informs her that she went into labor prematurely and that her baby was

stillborn Stillbirth is typically defined as fetal death at or after 20 or 28 weeks of pregnancy, depending on the source. It results in a baby born without signs of life. A stillbirth can result in the feeling of guilt or grief in the mother. The term i ...

. Noticing the level of drugs that were in her body after labor, he suspects that she has abused pills, which he thinks caused the death. Little does Jane know that Rita - with the help of her teenage son Patrick (

Jonah Blechman Jonah Ethan Blechman (born February 8, 1975) is an American actor. He has appeared in ''This Boy's Life'' with Leonardo DiCaprio and stars in ''Another Gay Movie'' alongside Jonathan Chase and Michael Carbonaro and the sequel '' Another Gay Seq ...

) - kidnapped her baby daughter, and switched records between a stillborn child and healthy child to make it appear as if Jane's baby was stillborn. Rita faked a pregnancy for months to keep her drifting lover Frank (Don Yesso) from leaving her. When Frank- who is married to another woman- shows his disappointment that "their" child is not a boy, Rita responds in anger and immediately sets out to somehow get a baby boy as well. Sometime later, she announces that she is pregnant again, and poses under the assumed name Elaine Crisp to take care of a pregnant woman who will deliver a boy. When Rita finds out that the woman knows about her true identity, she instead induces the labor of a 30-year-old woman named Theresa Richland (

Elizabeth Daily Elizabeth Ann Guttman, (born September 11, 1961) better known as E. G. Daily and Elizabeth Daily, is an American actress and singer. Daily is best known for her animation voice roles as Tommy Pickles on ''Rugrats'' and its spin-off '' All Grown ...

) in her home, cuts her throat, and steals her baby. Meanwhile, Jane becomes convinced that her baby wasn't stillborn, but instead of receiving support, her relatives and best friend Sharon (Michelle Joyner) believe that she is addicted to drugs and suffering from a depression, and suggest her to visit a psychiatrist. Even though she is estranging herself from everyone she knows, Jane continues to find out the truth and slowly recollects all the memories of her labor. In the hospital, she runs into Nurse Ramsey (Karmin Murcelo), who helped her with her labor before Rita stepped in. Ramsey admits that she remembers that her baby was alive and healthy when she last checked up on her, but she is too afraid to support her theories. Therefore, Jane hires attorney Gail Huddle (

Penny Johnson Penelope Jane Johnson CBE (born 23 June 1956) has been Director of the Government Art Collection since 1997. She was educated at St. Helen's School, the University of East Anglia (BA, 1978) and the University of Manchester.‘JOHNSON, Penelope ...

) to sue the hospital, only to find out her case is hopeless since her records have gone missing (due to Rita). Back in the hospital, Detective Knoll (

Eriq La Salle Erik Ki La Salle (born July 23, 1962), professionally known as Eriq La Salle, is an American actor, director, writer and producer. La Salle is best known for his performance in the film ''Coming to America'' (1988) and especially as Dr. Peter ...

) suspect Rita as Theresa's killer, because Theresa's boyfriend Tom Burke (

Blake Gibbons Blake Gibbons (born June 21, 1961) is an American actor best known for his recurring role as Coleman (GH), Coleman on the long running Daytime television serial ''General Hospital''. He also played "The Dude" (Lyle) in The Summer of George episo ...

) identified her as her midwife. After giving him a false alibi, she instructs Patrick over the phone to give Knoll the same story if he is questioned. Nevertheless, Knoll instructs an examination, during which her doctor concludes that she has had a

hysterectomy Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. It may also involve removal of the cervix, ovaries (oophorectomy), Fallopian tubes (salpingectomy), and other surrounding structures. Usually performed by a gynecologist, a hysterectomy may b ...

over ten years ago and cannot give birth to children. Afterwards, Rita admits to the murder of Theresa and having stolen two babies, but refuses to tell who the first baby's mother is. Nonetheless, Knoll locates Jane, and happily reunites her with her daughter. The true story behind this movie is told in the non-fiction book "Masking Evil" by Carol Anne Davis (Summersdale, 2016).

Cast

as Rita Hohman Donahue *

as Jane Morgan *

as Detective Rick Knoll * David Lansbury as Bob Morgan *

as Patrick *

Penny Johnson Jerald Penny Johnson Jerald (born March 14, 1961) is an American actress. She played Beverly Barnes on the HBO comedy series ''The Larry Sanders Show'', Kasidy Yates on the syndicated science fiction series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', Sherry Palmer ...

as Gail Huddle * Michelle Joyner as Sharon *

as Sally Morgan *

as Sam Morgan *

as Theresa Richland *

as Tom Burke * Don Yesso as Frank Donahue

Reception

Even though ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' was not very enthusiastic about the film, it praised the cast: "Jackson, with a bravura role, turns in a multidimensional and textured performance—complete with wiry demeanor, feverish eyes and jolts of scary temper. By contrast, Loughlin lends the show, directed by Paul Schneider, its requisite soft, matronly balance and all-purpose sympathy factor. Supporting player Jona Blechman, as Jackson's squirrelly accomplice of a teenage son, embroiders the edges of one of the more dysfunctional families imaginable.Abc Sunday Movie Empty Cradle
by Ray Loynd, ''

'' (September 29, 1993).

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, id=0106808, title=Empty Cradle 1993 television films 1993 films 1993 drama films American drama films Drama films based on actual events Fetal abduction in fiction ABC Motion Pictures films Films directed by Paul Schneider (director) 1990s American films