Darkness Before Dawn (True Stories Collection TV Movie) From:Meredith Baxter , Stephen Lang , Gwynyth Walsh , L. Scott Caldwell , Chelsea Hertford , John Patterson , Mpi Home Video ,
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See larger picture. | | Amazon Sales Rank:# 30562 User Rating: Customer Reviews List Price:$9.98 Availability:Usually ships in 24 hours |
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0030306767796
Format: Color
Format: DVD-Video
Format: NTSC
Label: Mpi Home Video
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Packaged Height: 58 hundredths-inches
Packaged Length: 710 hundredths-inches
Packaged Weight: 18 hundredths-pounds
Packaged Width: 542 hundredths-inches
Publisher: Mpi Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2005-05-03
Running Time: 93 minutes
Studio: Mpi Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1993-02-15
Product Description:
Darkness Before Dawn is a story of love, determination and, ultimately, survival. It is the story of a woman trapped in a private hell – with only the man she loves to save her. Mary Ann Thompson (Meredith Baxter, Family Ties, A Passion For Innocence) is a nurse at a methadone clinic, who’s haunted by a troubled past. She escapes from her sad childhood memories under the veil of drug addiction. The deception is so successful that no one suspects her of being a junkie. When Mary Ann falls for one of her patients, Guy Grand (Stephen Lang, Manhunter, Last Exit to Brooklyn), her problems begin to escalate. She inspires him to kick his heroin habit, while hiding her own addiction. The two soon marry and are determined to live a clean life. But, when their baby is born addicted to heroin, Mary Ann’s worst nightmare becomes a reality. DVD extras include: About the Film, About the Stars, Interactive Menus, Scene Selections
Customer Reviews:
1 of 1 customers found the following review helpful:
 Meredith Baxter Shines, 2008-10-18
Meredith Baxter is one of the best dramatic television actresses ever to be on tv. She showed this beginning with her portrayal of Nancy on the highly acclaimded series FAMILY. Many know her for her turn as mom on FAMILY TIES but this show, though great, was a waste of her capabilities. This television movie DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN is an excellent example of what she is capable of.
This is not your typical television movie fare. This is a movie about addiction, how it can encompass and destroy your life and how hard recovery can be. It starts innocently enough. Meredith plays Mary Anne a nurse at a methodone clinic and after much persistence by one of the patients Guy (Stephen Lang) she goes on a date with him. He appears to have it together and seems to have some sobriety under his belt. They become a couple and eventually Mary Anne decides to experimemt and is also asked by Guy to steal drugs from the clinic. How this progression happens is very realistically shown.
Further plot line is unnecessary and would ruin the impact of this film for the viewer. Asddiction is a very serious illness and there are so many movies that merely use the subject for over the top drama. This film is so well researched and the process of getting to the point of addict, all an addict will do to get their fix and how their morals/ personality changes is expertly told. The danger of addiction is not lost in any way as the drama unfolds. The film gets very intense and with the high quality acting it has it is as if you are watching a documentary about addicts - they are so believable.
Meredith Baxter becomes Mary Anne here so fully it is a definite Emmy worthy performance. Stephen Lang is also superb. But my highest accolades go to those behind the camera for the crafting of a film that rises above that of a typical television melodrama and insteads gives us a hardcore, intense realistically based story on the seriousness of addiction that is much needed today.
This is one of the best televison movies you will ever see and Meredith Baxter will take you on a journey you will never forget.
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