Stop at Nothing (film)
Encyclopedia
Stop at Nothing is a 1991
television film directed by Chris Thomson. The thriller, starring Veronica Hamell and Lindsay Frost
, premiered on ABC
, and has since been frequently aired on Lifetime Television
.
) is hired to be a bodyguard
for a week to 8-year-old Kimberly Howard (Deborah Ann Gorman), who currently serves the key role in the custody battle of her parents James (Joseph Hacker) and Glenna (Annabella Price). James fears that Reena will run off with Kimberly, considering that she is losing the battle, is refusing alimony
and is advised by the judge to seek psychiatric help. James is awarded temporary custody, and hires Parrish for assitance during his work hours. Parrish does not feel comfortable around children, and Kimberly immediately shows her lack of interest in her. Glenna, meanwhile, is heartbroken over having lost the case, and tells her lawyer that she hates how James can abuse Kimberly on a daily basis now. Her lawyer feels sorry for the woman and puts her in contact with former reporter Nettie Forbes (Veronica Hamel
), who has spent a year in prison for attempting to murder the man who had abused and killed her daughter. Since then, Nettie specializes in helping mothers to kidnap their children from their abusive husbands, and she offers Glenna a new identity following the kidnapping of Kimberly.
Meanwhile, Parrish grows closer to Kimberly and even tells her about her love of her life: a former colleague who was shot and killed by a man who they were arresting. Their conversation is interrupted by a sudden visit from Nettie and Glenna, who have Parrish under gunshot and take Kimberly. While they head out to a safehouse and come up with a new name, Parrish is criticized by her colleagues for having failed her job. James insists on Parrish trying to find Kimberly, informing her that she is not safe with Glenna, who was institutionalised three years ago following a manic depressive episode. Parrish's partner Sgt. Jake Morris (Robert Desiderio
) - with whom Parrish has had a romantic past - arrests Nettie, but she does not talk throughout her holding. Instead of being convicted, Nettie is released, enabling the police to follow her every move. Nellie, however, gets rid of thim via a drive-in, and surprises Glenna with a new birth certificate, of Carol Davidson.
While Nettie and Glenna prepare to leave for Mexico, Parrish locates them and begins a dangerous car chase. Glenna finally gives up and gets out the car to stop Parrish, while Nellie drives off with Kimberly. Nellie puts Kimberly to stay with her friend, but Kimberly does not feel safe and cries out for her mother. Back at the station, Parrish looks into the rape allegations against James. Through Glenna's lawyer, Parrish finds out that Kimberly brought up the abuse claims herself, and that Glenna's so-called mental illness is nothing more than a depression. Even though there is no hard prove for the abuse, Parrish slowly starts to believe the lawyer, and offers to help Nettie to reconcile Glenna with Kimberly. Nettie wants to help Kimberly break out of jail, but this is no option for Parrish, who does not want to jeopordize her career.
Meanwhile, the FBI locates Kimberly through one of Nettie's posted letters. Parrish tries to help her out by warning Kimberly's caretaker Victoria before the FBI can get to her, but Victoria is unavailable, and the police are able to take Kimberly. As soon as she is reconciled with James, Parrish offers her babysitting services to continue the battle to help Glenna. Charges against Glenna are dropped on condition that she leaves the state, and Nettie is thereby released from any allegations as well. Shortly after, following a confession about the child abuse
from Kimberly herself, Parrish arranges for Glenna to leave the state with Kimberly. To assure herself from not losing her job, Nettie shows up and fakes to have cuffed her, before having kidnapped Kimberly. Believing that she was part of the kidnapping, James threatens to sue Parrish, but she assures him that she will tell everyone about the abuse if he does.
1991 in film
The year 1991 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*April 28 - Bonnie Raitt marries actor Michael O'Keefe in New York* Terminator 2: Judgment Day, became one of the landmarks for science fiction action films with its groundbreaking visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic.*November...
television film directed by Chris Thomson. The thriller, starring Veronica Hamell and Lindsay Frost
Lindsay Frost
Lindsay E. Frost is an American actress.Frost, who was born in Los Angeles, California, is the daughter of actor Warren Frost, and sister of Mark Frost and writer Scott Frost. She is married to actor Rick Giolito....
, premiered on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, and has since been frequently aired on Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
.
Plot
Private detective and former Drug Enforcement agent Parrish (Lindsay FrostLindsay Frost
Lindsay E. Frost is an American actress.Frost, who was born in Los Angeles, California, is the daughter of actor Warren Frost, and sister of Mark Frost and writer Scott Frost. She is married to actor Rick Giolito....
) is hired to be a bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
for a week to 8-year-old Kimberly Howard (Deborah Ann Gorman), who currently serves the key role in the custody battle of her parents James (Joseph Hacker) and Glenna (Annabella Price). James fears that Reena will run off with Kimberly, considering that she is losing the battle, is refusing alimony
Alimony
Alimony is a U.S. term denoting a legal obligation to provide financial support to one's spouse from the other spouse after marital separation or from the ex-spouse upon divorce...
and is advised by the judge to seek psychiatric help. James is awarded temporary custody, and hires Parrish for assitance during his work hours. Parrish does not feel comfortable around children, and Kimberly immediately shows her lack of interest in her. Glenna, meanwhile, is heartbroken over having lost the case, and tells her lawyer that she hates how James can abuse Kimberly on a daily basis now. Her lawyer feels sorry for the woman and puts her in contact with former reporter Nettie Forbes (Veronica Hamel
Veronica Hamel
Veronica Hamel is an American actress.- Biography :After Hamel graduated from Temple University, she worked as a secretary for a company that manufactured ironing board covers. She began a fashion modeling career after being discovered by Eileen Ford...
), who has spent a year in prison for attempting to murder the man who had abused and killed her daughter. Since then, Nettie specializes in helping mothers to kidnap their children from their abusive husbands, and she offers Glenna a new identity following the kidnapping of Kimberly.
Meanwhile, Parrish grows closer to Kimberly and even tells her about her love of her life: a former colleague who was shot and killed by a man who they were arresting. Their conversation is interrupted by a sudden visit from Nettie and Glenna, who have Parrish under gunshot and take Kimberly. While they head out to a safehouse and come up with a new name, Parrish is criticized by her colleagues for having failed her job. James insists on Parrish trying to find Kimberly, informing her that she is not safe with Glenna, who was institutionalised three years ago following a manic depressive episode. Parrish's partner Sgt. Jake Morris (Robert Desiderio
Robert Desiderio
Robert Desiderio is an American actor best known for his television roles.Desiderio was born in New York City, New York, the son of Mary and Anthony J. Desiderio. He first came to prominence in soap opera, with parts in daytime dramas such as Search for Tomorrow, Ryan's Hope and One Life to Live...
) - with whom Parrish has had a romantic past - arrests Nettie, but she does not talk throughout her holding. Instead of being convicted, Nettie is released, enabling the police to follow her every move. Nellie, however, gets rid of thim via a drive-in, and surprises Glenna with a new birth certificate, of Carol Davidson.
While Nettie and Glenna prepare to leave for Mexico, Parrish locates them and begins a dangerous car chase. Glenna finally gives up and gets out the car to stop Parrish, while Nellie drives off with Kimberly. Nellie puts Kimberly to stay with her friend, but Kimberly does not feel safe and cries out for her mother. Back at the station, Parrish looks into the rape allegations against James. Through Glenna's lawyer, Parrish finds out that Kimberly brought up the abuse claims herself, and that Glenna's so-called mental illness is nothing more than a depression. Even though there is no hard prove for the abuse, Parrish slowly starts to believe the lawyer, and offers to help Nettie to reconcile Glenna with Kimberly. Nettie wants to help Kimberly break out of jail, but this is no option for Parrish, who does not want to jeopordize her career.
Meanwhile, the FBI locates Kimberly through one of Nettie's posted letters. Parrish tries to help her out by warning Kimberly's caretaker Victoria before the FBI can get to her, but Victoria is unavailable, and the police are able to take Kimberly. As soon as she is reconciled with James, Parrish offers her babysitting services to continue the battle to help Glenna. Charges against Glenna are dropped on condition that she leaves the state, and Nettie is thereby released from any allegations as well. Shortly after, following a confession about the child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
from Kimberly herself, Parrish arranges for Glenna to leave the state with Kimberly. To assure herself from not losing her job, Nettie shows up and fakes to have cuffed her, before having kidnapped Kimberly. Believing that she was part of the kidnapping, James threatens to sue Parrish, but she assures him that she will tell everyone about the abuse if he does.
Cast
- Veronica HamelVeronica HamelVeronica Hamel is an American actress.- Biography :After Hamel graduated from Temple University, she worked as a secretary for a company that manufactured ironing board covers. She began a fashion modeling career after being discovered by Eileen Ford...
as Annette 'Nettie' Forbes - Lindsay FrostLindsay FrostLindsay E. Frost is an American actress.Frost, who was born in Los Angeles, California, is the daughter of actor Warren Frost, and sister of Mark Frost and writer Scott Frost. She is married to actor Rick Giolito....
as Sarah McConnell Parrish - David AckroydDavid AckroydDavid Ackroyd is an American actor, who first came to prominence in soap operas such as The Secret Storm and Another World. He was born in Orange, New Jersey, a suburb of Newark.-Career:...
as Agent Conroy - Robert DesiderioRobert DesiderioRobert Desiderio is an American actor best known for his television roles.Desiderio was born in New York City, New York, the son of Mary and Anthony J. Desiderio. He first came to prominence in soap opera, with parts in daytime dramas such as Search for Tomorrow, Ryan's Hope and One Life to Live...
as Sgt. Jake Morris - Joseph Hacker as James Howard
- Deborah Ann Gorman as Kimberly Howard
- Caroline McWilliamsCaroline McWilliamsCaroline Margaret McWilliams was an American actress best known for her portrayal of Marcy Hill on the television series Benson and Sally on the television series Soap...
as A.J. Parker - Annabella Price as Glenna Howard
- Francis X. McCarthy as Dean Bowles
- Lou Beatty Jr. as Sgt. Wade
- Ingrid Oliu as Ofelia
- Al RuscioAl RuscioAl Ruscio is an American character actor who has appeared in numerous television series and film. He graduated from Salem High School .-Career:...
as Judge Quentin