Circle of Violence: A Family Drama
Encyclopedia
Circle of Violence: A Family Drama (also known as Circle of Violence: A Family on the Edge or simply Circle of Violence) is a 1986 CBS
television movie
starring Tuesday Weld
, Geraldine Fitzgerald
, Peter Bonerz
and River Phoenix
that tells the tragic story of the seldom addressed issue of elder parent abuse
.
) is at a difficult place in her life; her husband, Pete (Peter Bonerz
) has left her for a younger woman, her teenage son, Chris (River Phoenix
) is unmanageable, money's tight and her widowed mother, Charlotte (Geraldine Fitzgerald
) moves in. Amid juggling a new full-time job, raising two children, and her failing marriage, the constant bickering between mother and daughter continues as it has ever since Georgia was a child. Finally, at her wit's end, Georgia loses control and begins physically abusing her elderly mother, just as Georgia had been abused herself as a child. As family and friends slowly begin to learn of the abuse, and long buried family secrets come to light, both mother and daughter must learn to accept the past to change what is happening at present in order to face a better future.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
starring Tuesday Weld
Tuesday Weld
Tuesday Weld is an American actress.Weld began her acting career as a child, and progressed to more mature roles during the late 1950s. She won a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Female Newcomer in 1960...
, Geraldine Fitzgerald
Geraldine Fitzgerald
Geraldine Fitzgerald, Lady Lindsay-Hogg was an Irish-American actress and a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
, Peter Bonerz
Peter Bonerz
Peter Bonerz is an American actor and director who is best known as the character Dr. Jerry Robinson on The Bob Newhart Show....
and River Phoenix
River Phoenix
River Jude Phoenix was an American film actor, musician, and teen icon. He was the oldest brother of fellow actors Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix.Phoenix began acting at age 10 in television commercials...
that tells the tragic story of the seldom addressed issue of elder parent abuse
Elder abuse
Elder abuse is a general term used to describe certain types of harm to older adults. Other terms commonly used include: "elder mistreatment," "senior abuse," "abuse in later life," "abuse of older adults," "abuse of older women," and "abuse of older men."...
.
Synopsis
Georgia Benfield (Tuesday WeldTuesday Weld
Tuesday Weld is an American actress.Weld began her acting career as a child, and progressed to more mature roles during the late 1950s. She won a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Female Newcomer in 1960...
) is at a difficult place in her life; her husband, Pete (Peter Bonerz
Peter Bonerz
Peter Bonerz is an American actor and director who is best known as the character Dr. Jerry Robinson on The Bob Newhart Show....
) has left her for a younger woman, her teenage son, Chris (River Phoenix
River Phoenix
River Jude Phoenix was an American film actor, musician, and teen icon. He was the oldest brother of fellow actors Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix.Phoenix began acting at age 10 in television commercials...
) is unmanageable, money's tight and her widowed mother, Charlotte (Geraldine Fitzgerald
Geraldine Fitzgerald
Geraldine Fitzgerald, Lady Lindsay-Hogg was an Irish-American actress and a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
) moves in. Amid juggling a new full-time job, raising two children, and her failing marriage, the constant bickering between mother and daughter continues as it has ever since Georgia was a child. Finally, at her wit's end, Georgia loses control and begins physically abusing her elderly mother, just as Georgia had been abused herself as a child. As family and friends slowly begin to learn of the abuse, and long buried family secrets come to light, both mother and daughter must learn to accept the past to change what is happening at present in order to face a better future.
Cast
| Cast | |
|---|---|
| Actor | Role |
| Tuesday Weld Tuesday Weld Tuesday Weld is an American actress.Weld began her acting career as a child, and progressed to more mature roles during the late 1950s. She won a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Female Newcomer in 1960... |
Georgia Benfield |
| Geraldine Fitzgerald Geraldine Fitzgerald Geraldine Fitzgerald, Lady Lindsay-Hogg was an Irish-American actress and a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame.-Early life:... |
Charlotte Kessling |
| Peter Bonerz Peter Bonerz Peter Bonerz is an American actor and director who is best known as the character Dr. Jerry Robinson on The Bob Newhart Show.... |
Pete Benfield |
| River Phoenix River Phoenix River Jude Phoenix was an American film actor, musician, and teen icon. He was the oldest brother of fellow actors Rain, Joaquin, Liberty, and Summer Phoenix.Phoenix began acting at age 10 in television commercials... |
Chris Benfield |
| Philip Sterling | Jim McLane |
| Zoaunne LeRoy | Florence McLane |
| Ellen Travolta Ellen Travolta Ellen Travolta is an American actress, the eldest sibling of John Travolta. She is probably best known for her portrayal of Louisa Arcola Delvecchio, the mother of Chachi Arcola in the 1950s-based sitcom Happy Days, and its unsuccessful spinoff, Joanie Loves Chachi... |
Marion |
| Sue Giosa | Dr. Kalmeir |
| Christina Maria Hutter | Addie Benfield |
| Bradley Lieberman | Mark |
| Jeannie Dougherty | Neighbor |
| Jeanette Miller | Woman Singer |
| Adele Gilbert | Mrs. Edwards |
| Jamie Jameson | Boy |
Awards
| Awards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Award | Category / Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| 1986–1987 | Young Artist Award Young Artist Award The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist... |
Best Television Family Special Movie of the Week or Variety Show |
||
| Best Young Actress in a Family Special Movie of the Week or Variety Show Christina Maria Hutter |
||||
| 1987 | Retirement Research Foundation Wise Owl Award - Honorable mention |
Television and Theatrical Film Fiction Sheldon Pinchuk Bill Finnegan Bill Finnegan William R. Finnegan was an American television and film producer whose well known credits included The Fabulous Baker Boys, Hawaii Five-O and the cult hit, Reality Bites. he was a five time Emmy Awards nominee.... Patricia Finnegan Deborah Moore Gerald Rafshoon Gerald Rafshoon Gerald Rafshoon is an American television producer and political operative. He is one of the four founding members of Unity08, and was the White House Communications Director under the presidency of Jimmy Carter Gerald Rafshoon is an American television producer and political operative. He is one... |
||