Unwed Father

this is one of my all-time favorite TV movies. Kay Lenz and Joseph Bottoms are at their best. Bottoms plays a teenage motorcycle mechanic who must come to terms with both his own adoption and the adoption of his soon to be born son. His fight for custody isolates him until eventually he must begin to realize his own place in the world. This is a sad movie with some beautiful moments...the last five minutes are particularly moving as Bottoms takes a long walk, pondering his fate. This movie was never released onto video, as far as I Know.

I saw this movie when I was in high school so the subject matter really hit close to home. It's one of those little TV movies that's stayed on my mind all these years. All the characters were well developed and the film did not pose any easy answers to the main characters dilemma as to whether it was fair to try to raise a child with very little resources or give him up to parents that could give him a good home and a chance at life. What I remember most about the film is the girl's father, played by Joseph Campanella. His character, while protective and understanding of his pregnant daughter, really stifled the boy's attempt to live up to his responsibilities. A quality made for TV movie which will hopefully make it to DVD.