Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story

Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story is a 1994 drama television film directed by Michael Dinner, written by Judson Klinger, and starring Peter Strauss, Rachel Ticotin and Lynn Whitfield. The film first aired on March 6, 1994 on the Columbia Broadcasting System.[1] It is based on a true story of a Californian custody battle.[2][3]

Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story
Title card
GenreBiography
Drama
Written byJudson Klinger
Directed byMichael Dinner
StarringPeter Strauss
Rachel Ticotin
Lynn Whitfield
Theme music composerJohnny Harris
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersLes Alexander
Don Enright
Harvey Kahn (co-executive producer)
ProducersJulian Marks
Judd Klinger (co-producer, as Judson Klinger)
Production locationToronto
CinematographyRene Ohashi
EditorJames Austin Stewart
Running time90 minutes
Production companiesAlexander/Enright & Associates
Front Street Pictures
World International Network
DistributorCBS
Release
Original networkCBS
Picture formatColor
Audio formatStereo
Original releaseMarch 6, 1994 (1994-03-06)

The film was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1] Four years after the film's release, main stars Peter Strauss and Rachel Ticotin married, on 31 December 1998.[4] Although the film did not see a home video release in America, it was released on both VHS and DVD in 2004 in the UK through Odyssey under the title Thicker Than Blood.[5][6] During the 1990s, the film was also released on VHS in Brazil by Mundial Filmes.[7]

Plot

Securities broker Larry McLinden (Peter Strauss) and Diane Middleton (Rachel Ticotin) are experiencing a rocky affair when Diane announces that she's pregnant. When it's discovered that infant Larry Jr. has traces of cocaine in his blood, the couple's romance is over. Except Larry - now far more enthusiastic about parenthood - wants custody of the child, whom Diane has taken to Florida. Larry's attorney (Lynn Whitfield) sues, and a custody arrangement is set up, which Diane soon breaks, explaining that her son needs more time with her. Then she marries David Meadows (Booth Savage), and tells Larry that the two will try to adopt Larry Jr. As the fight drags on, Diane surprises everyone by suddenly truthfully claiming, contrary to everything she'd said before, that Larry is not the child's biological father, causing things to become even more complicated.[8]

Cast

Critical reception

AllMovie gave the film a rating of two and a half out of five stars.[9] Digiguide.TV gave the film three out of five stars.[10] Locate TV gave a favorable review and described the film as a "powerful tug-of-love drama."[11] Variety was unfavorable, stating: "Title and casting lead to belief that sympathy is supposed to be with McLinden, but in Judson Klinger's diffuse script, Larry is dumb as a stump. Everybody plays this in deadly earnest among generic Toronto locations. Michael Dinner's rote direction shows no energy; tech credits are routine."[8]

References
  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111411/
  2. "Man Receives Custody of Child, 4, He Didn't Father : Family law: Custody struggle may set precedent in state. Boy's most likely biological father consents to suspension of his rights. - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 1993-10-20. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  3. "Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story (1994) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  4. "Bio". Peterstrauss.net. 1947-02-20. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  5. "Thicker Than Blood [VHS] [2004]: Peter Strauss, Lynn Whitfield, Rachel Ticotin, Vincent Laresca, Dick Latessa: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  6. "Thicker Than Blood [2004] [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Peter Strauss, Rachel Ticotin, Lynn Whitfield: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  7. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111411/companycredits
  8. Everett, Todd (1994-03-07). "Variety Reviews - Thicker Than Blood: The Larry Mclinden Story - TV Reviews - - Review by Todd Everett". Variety.com. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  9. "Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story (1994) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  10. "Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story (1993) : Film". Digiguide.tv. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  11. "Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story - Movie (1994)". LocateTV. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
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