''Kids Don't Tell'' is a 1985 American

made-for-television 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 fo ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

about child molestation starring

Michael Ontkean Michael Leonard Ontkean (born 24 January 1946) is a retired Canadian actor. Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Ontkean relocated to the United States to attend the University of New Hampshire on a hockey scholarship before pursuing ...

and

JoBeth Williams Margaret JoBeth Williams (born December 6, 1948) is an American actress and television director. Her directorial debut with the 1994 short film ''On Hope'' earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film. In 2009 she began ...

. The docudrama, which was directed by

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People * Oscar (given name), an Irish- and English-language name also used in other languages; the article includes the names Oskar, Oskari, Oszkár, Óscar, and other forms. * Oscar (Irish mythology) ...

-nominated film editor

Sam O'Steen Samuel Alexander O'Steen (November 6, 1923 – October 11, 2000) was an American film editor and director. He had an extended, notable collaboration with the director Mike Nichols, with whom he edited 12 films between 1966 and 1994. Among the fi ...

('' Chinatown'', '' Postcards from the Edge''), was broadcast on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

on March 5, 1985.

Plot

Driven by a duty to his young daughter (

Ari Meyers Ari Meyers (born April 6, 1969) is an American former actress. She played the role of Emma Jane McArdle in the television series '' Kate & Allie'' (1984). Early years Meyers (birth name: Ariadne Meyer) was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Jewi ...

), filmmaker John Ryan (

) agrees to produce a documentary on the sexual abuse of children in the American status quo. However, his loving wife Claudia (

) 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 Leo Rossi (born June 26, 1946) is an American actor, writer and producer. A character actor with over 100 credits to his name, he is known for his role as foul-mouthed EMT Vincent "Budd" Scarlotti in the 1981 horror film '' Halloween II'', a ...

), who provides powerful insight into how the legal system fails, and a habitual molester (

Jordan Charney Jordan Charney (born April 1, 1937) is an American character actor. Many of his earliest roles were on daytime television, with appearances in numerous soaps. Jordan created the role of creepy Julian Dark in the early to mid-1960s on the CBS so ...

), who tells of his technique for choosing and assaulting his victims.

Cast

as John Ryan *

as Claudia Ryan *

as Detective Rastelli *

as Nicky Ryan *John Sanderford as Eli Davis *

as Tatum * Leaf Phoenix as Frankie *Robin Gammell as Dr. Houghton * Shelley Morrison as Carol *

Jean Bruce Scott Jean Bruce Scott (born February 25, 1956) is a retired American actress, best known for her role as former Texas Highway Patrol helicopter pilot Caitlin O'Shannessy in the 1984-1987 CBS action thriller television series ''Airwolf''. She had ...

as Clare *Matthew Faison as Evan Harris *David S. Aaron as Waiter *Roger Askin as Man at Wedding *

Judith Barsi Judith Eva Barsi (June 6, 1978 – July 25, 1988) was an American child actress. She began her career in television, making appearances in commercials and television series, as well as the 1987 film '' Jaws: The Revenge''. She also provided the ...

as Jennifer Ryan *Gary Bayer as Speaker at Meeting *

Earl Billings Earl William Billings (born July 4, 1945) is an American actor, best known as Rob in the television series ''What's Happening!!''. Life and career Billings was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Willie Mae Billings. He has gained recognition ...

as Terry * Dennis Bowen as Ted *Sally Brown as Jill *Victor Campos as Dale *

Diane Cary Diane Cary is an American actress who has guest-starred in many TV shows. This includes a recurring role on the short-lived '' Misfits of Science'', where she was credited as Diane Civita. She also starred in '' V'' and '' V: The Final Battle' ...

as Sandra Luce (as Diane Civita) *E.M. Fredric as Cocktail Waitress *Kristin Gamboa as Linda *

Mari Gorman Mari Gorman is an American actress perhaps best known for her work in television, particularly as a frequent guest star on the 1970s and 1980s sitcom ''Barney Miller'', but she is also known for her theater acting. She has won several acting awar ...

as Macy *

Nancy Lee Grahn Nancy Lee Grahn (born April 28, 1956) is an American actress known primarily for her work in daytime soap operas, portraying Julia Wainwright Capwell on '' Santa Barbara'' from 1985–93 and Alexis Davis on ''General Hospital'' since 1996. E ...

as Puppet Lady *

Natalie Gregory Natalie Lynn Gregory is an American former child actress. Career She starred as Alice in the 1985 television film ''Alice in Wonderland''. Gregory is the youngest actress (age 9 years when she filmed the miniseries) to have played the role in ...

as Krista Mueller *David Kaufman as Kenny *Charles Lanyer as Scotty *Michael Laskin as Man at Park *Christopher Lofton as Charles *Oceana Marr as Mildred * Bob Minor as Pool Player *Milton Murrill as Detective Timmy *John Napierala as David *David Lloyd Nelson as Lyle *Greg Nourse as Bartender *Steve Pershing as Officer at Desk (as Stephen Pershing) *

Branscombe Richmond Branscombe Richmond is an American character actor and stuntman. He is known for his starring role of Bobby Sixkiller on the American syndicated drama series, ''Renegade'' (1992–1997), and for his starring roles on the television series, ''Haw ...

as Pool Player *Jack Thibeau as Donny *Cori Wellins as Lisa * Jaleel White as Christofer *Barbra Rae as Daphne

References

External links

* {{Sam O'Steen 1985 television films 1985 films 1985 drama films CBS network films American docudrama films Films scored by Fred Karlin Films set in Los Angeles Films shot in Los Angeles Films directed by Sam O'Steen American drama television films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films