Shattered Innocence

This CBS-TV movie begins like most others in the good-girl-goes-bad vein, but it quickly becomes apparent that "Shattered Innocence" is well-made, well-acted and written--it catches you off-guard. The young woman whose innocence is shattered is based on real-life '80s porn-star Shauna Grant. Scenes such as the one where "Lara Dawn" goes back home to Kansas for Christmas, proudly showing off a scrapbook of nude photos to her family and then getting rebuffed by her appalled mother, are both tender and sad, and the young woman's fight to reclaim her life at the finale is quite moving. The film doesn't have the theatrical style of something like "Star 80", but it's thoughtful and touching in its own way thanks in large part to a solid cast and to Sandor Stern's tight direction and script, co-written with Thanet Richard. A nice surprise. *** from ****

I agree with the comments above about this film. Despite the flat TV movie style presentaion, "Shattered Innocence" kept my attention until the tragic conclusion. What I liked about the movie's approach was that it did not condem the obvious culprit, the porn industry, for the downfall and demise of Pauleen Anderson. Pauleen chose to enter the adult film world and succumbed to cocaine addiction and ultimately faced the horrible consequences. TV movies have a lack of fluidity of camerawork and lack of showmanship as is the case with "Shattered Innocence". In the light of porn-glamourizing films such as "Boogie Nights", this tepidness accentuates the intent of "Shattered Innocence". In "Shattered Innocence" entry, escape from and re-entry into the porn business leads to tragic, lonely, and hurtful existence. I suspect the downfall of Pauleen Anderson is much closer to what happens to real-life porn actors than the glamourous lives of the characters in "Boogie Nights" (which by the way, ended with a bizzare, 'happy' conclusion for all).

I keep coming back to this film, some 17 years after I first saw it, for the script, the cast, the acting and even the background music. This Lorimar TV flick must have been ahead of its time in 1988, as the story of 17-year-old Pauleen Anderson, who, wanting to grow up faster than she knows how, leaves home and becomes in turn a centerfold, a porn star, a cocaine abuser and finally a suicide when things go wrong. I think the producers and writers try to take aim at the pornography industry for the sleazy business it is, but this girl's impatience with life and desire to "have it all" the fast and easy way seem just as much to blame for what happened to her. Jonna Lee is convincing in every way as a natural beauty who is not mature enough to handle what she's gotten herself into. Melinda Dillon is memorable as the disapproving mother who understands neither her daughter's restlessness nor how the high-paying porno business would prove as addictive as cocaine to a young girl with nothing to sell but her looks. John Pleshette is also good as the older man who's finally found the centerfold girlfriend he's wanted all his life, only to lose her to his own tragic flaw - being a cocaine dealer headed for prison. No matter how many times I see this film I'm moved by the way it unfolds relentlessly toward its inevitable tragic end. Even the touching opening and closing theme music strikes home. Knowing that this fictionalized account mirrors the life and death of real-life porn star Colleen Applegate only makes it more compelling.

This biopic shows us the tragic story of Colleen Applegate, who at a very young age moved to Hollywood from the midwest and became porn star Shauna Grant. Though the names have been changed, it is her story. The film is well-acted, especially by Melinda Dillon, who plays the girl's mother. I recommend this TV movie to anyone who enjoys a tragic real life story. I give this an 8 out of 10.

this film was made in the late 80's and there was also a NY PBS documentary based on the same subject; her real name was Colleen, she was from the Midwest, she moved to L.A. to get her "big break". Of course, tens of thousands of others stream into the city weekly, so it is not a done deal.

She eventually became "Shauna Grant" porn star. The seamier sides of the business are probably not shown, but the drug issues, transient lifestyle and impossibility of finding a real acting job afterward are all touched on. Originally, Colleen was just a girl trying to make it, took a few wrong turns. The story ended tragically.

Melinda Dillon is very good as Colleen's mother, not knowing what to do, initially believing her daughter is doing okay. There is a decent cameo role by John Pleshette, an older man who attempted to rescue her, but he is carted off to prison, and she loses this meager support system. The alienation and emptiness of her life in Palm Springs, where she was eventually found dead, is palpable.

This is actually a good film for parents who still may not be aware of what can happen; the downward spiral of a girl who started with good intentions, ended up working in porn.The sad fact is that this still goes on today; anyone who has HBO will regularly have to turn off the show with "Family Business:Seymour Butts"--- a minor porn producer who has his own show.

For actresses who really think they want to get into that business are free to do so, but should realize they will not eventually be hooking up into a decent acting career; It is an age old ploy that was used. "Shattered Dreams" is a decent film with a message. 8/10