''Man, Woman and Child'' is a 1983 American

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 ...

directed by

Dick Richards Dick Richards (born 1936) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Known as a storyteller and an “actor’s director”, Richards worked with Robert Mitchum, Gene Hackman, Martin Sheen, Blythe Danner, Catherine Deneuve, Al ...

and written by

Erich Segal Erich Wolf Segal (June 16, 1937January 17, 2010) was an American author, screenwriter, educator, and classicist who wrote the bestselling novel ''Love Story'' (1970) and its hit film adaptation. Early life and education Born and raised in a J ...

and

David Zelag Goodman David Zelag Goodman (January 15, 1930 – September 26, 2011) was a playwright and screenwriter for both TV and film. His most prolific period was from the 1960s to the early 1980s. He was nominated for an Academy Award for '' Lovers and Other S ...

. It is based on Erich Segal's book of the same name. The film stars

Martin Sheen Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez (born August 3, 1940), known professionally as Martin Sheen, is an American actor. He first became known for his roles in the films ''The Subject Was Roses'' (1968) and ''Badlands'' (1973), and later achieved wid ...

, Blythe Danner,

Craig T. Nelson Craig Theodore Nelson (born April 4, 1944) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Hayden Fox in the sitcom ''Coach'' (for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series), Deputy Ward Wilson in the 19 ...

, David Hemmings, Nathalie Nell and

Maureen Anderman Maureen Anderman (born October 26, 1946) is an American actress best known for her work on the stage. She has appeared in eighteen Broadway shows over the last four decades earning several Drama Desk Award and Tony Award nominations. Career A ...

. The film was released on April 1, 1983, by Paramount Pictures. The Bollywood film Masoom is an unauthorised remake of ''Man, Woman and Child''.

Plot

Martin Sheen is Robert, the man - a sensitive, intelligent family man who, in one brief and innocent affair long past, fathered a child whose sudden appearance threatens his happy life. Blythe Danner is Sheila, the woman - a strong loving wife and mother whose deep love and commitment are stretched to the breaking point by the unexpected arrival of her husband's illegitimate son. Crafted in the tender tradition of ''Love Story'', what follows is an evocative, emotionally-charged movie about a typical American family whose deep love is shaken, tested and ultimately reaffirmed.

Cast

as Robert Beckwith * Blythe Danner as Sheila Beckwith *

as Bernie Ackerman * David Hemmings as Gavin Wilson *Nathalie Nell as Nicole Guerin *

as Margo * Sebastian Dungan as Jean-Claude Guerin *Arlene McIntyre as Jessica Beckwith *

Melissa Francis Melissa Ann Francis (born December 12, 1972) is an American television news personality who most recently appeared as an anchor and commentator for the Fox Business Network (FBN) and Fox News (FNC). Previously, she worked as an actress. Prior t ...

as Paula Beckwith *

Billy Jayne William Jayne Jacoby (born April 10, 1969), known professionally as Billy Jayne and previously Billy Jacoby is an American actor. His siblings, Robert Jayne, Susan Jayne, Laura Jacoby, as well as his half-brother Scott Jacoby are also actors. ...

as Davey Ackerman *Ruth Silveira as Nancy Ackerman *

Jacques François Henri Jacques Daniel Paul François (16 May 1920 – 25 November 2003), known as Jacques François was a French actor. During a sixty-year career (1942–2002) he appeared in more than 120 films and over 30 stage productions. In 1948 he we ...

as Louis

Reception

The film opened to number 13 in its first weekend, with $802,702.

References

External links

* * {{Dick Richards 1983 films 1983 drama films Adultery in films American drama films 1980s English-language films Films scored by Georges Delerue Films based on American novels Films directed by Dick Richards Paramount Pictures films 1980s American films