In the Custody of Strangers

Falling right in line with the others that have reviewed this TV-movie, I would agree that it contained fine performances by M. Sheen, and most of the principles. The script was also decent- not great but decent.

My biggest complaint is with the way Danny's character was portrayed. I get it- a good kid/bad kid. It's just that Emelio Estivez didn't sell me that he was either a bad kid nor a damaged kid from the jail time. Eyes rolling over his "crime scene" and his final scene. I don't blame the actor- I blame the director; either way, he seemed like a caricature.

Still, a modest recommendation.

We came across this on Netflix and finally watched it. It's worth a watch for the laughs. Martin Sheen is over the top with his acting, of course. Emilio tried to be a tough guy but this was no Mighty Ducks. In the drunken driving scene (with the hood up), he amazingly drives on the sidewalk and makes it back to the street until he hits a police car at a donut shop.

Warden Caruso has a humorous soft spot for Danny. He just wants this kid out of his jail and there is nothing he can do. That is except carry him out of solitary confinement when the guards refuse to call him at home at Danny's request. Danny Boy is losing his mind after weeks in his own cell. If only he hadn't talked to the man hitting on him in his own holding cell through the bars. Now his life has turned into a month long nightmare.

This tale of a juvenile's nightmare voyage through delinquency and the harsh penal system is a well acted and at times moving story.

Emilio Estevez as the angry young man Danny is excellent, in an early role which showed his promise and acting ability. He is indeed his father's son. His story is set against a backdrop of hopelessness and unemployment and his father's emasculation as the wage earner and hunter gatherer. Martin Sheen's character, Frank, is seeking employment having been laid off as foreman in the factory he's spent his adult career in. His frustration at having to almost beg for work, and fear of welfare, whilst his wife earns a wage and keeps the house is palpable and contributes to the rocky relationship with his volatile son. In these early scenes we see Danny cares for his family greatly, that he respects his father but feels embarassed for him.

When Danny drunkenly wrecks a car his Frank lets him stew in the cells for a night to teach him a lesson. After he beats a dirty old lech in self defense he is remanded in the youth cells and is tragically sucked into the system, a system which fails him. His character's brutalisation and growing desperation are well conveyed by Emilio and are thrown into contrast later on when we see his father's and the family's fortunes improving with Frank getting a good new job out of state.

When Danny is finally released we see a different young man. The closing scenes are poignant as Danny silently, hauntingly, watches his father (offscreen) laugh and play with his younger children. We suspect young Danny longs for those innocent days of youth and unquestioning love. Carefree days. Simple days. Happy days.

I could see this movie being shown to high school kids as a warning about the evils of juvenile delinquency. The downward spiral of Estevez's character Danny begins when he is arrested for drunk driving. Rather than going down to the station to release his son, Danny's father (real-life dad Martin Sheen) tells the police to let him spend the night in jail so to teach him a lesson. While Danny is sitting in his cell, a neighbor prisoner attempts to assault him but is thwarted and severely beaten by the teenager. This incident begins a domino effect as Danny's night in jail turns into years of incarceration.

This is a solid little made for television film. As a man now that went down some rough roads as a younger man. I found myself in jail on several occasions and shared a somewhat similar story as to what went on with Emilio in this movie. I will say this is an impactful film and is very accurate as to what can happen to a young man in jail as I faced similar circumstances as to what was portrayed in the movie. I am giving this film a solid rating on the basis that it is just a TV movie from 40 years ago and had very strong actors and acting with a very well done impactful plot.