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Broken Promise

  • TV Movie
  • 1981
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
128
YOUR RATING
Broken Promise (1981)
Drama

Abandoned by their parents, the young children of the Clawson family are put in the care of local authorities. However, rather than being kept together, the siblings are sent to live at diff... Read allAbandoned by their parents, the young children of the Clawson family are put in the care of local authorities. However, rather than being kept together, the siblings are sent to live at different homes. Tenacious Patty Clawson (Melissa Michaelsen) is determined to keep her brothe... Read allAbandoned by their parents, the young children of the Clawson family are put in the care of local authorities. However, rather than being kept together, the siblings are sent to live at different homes. Tenacious Patty Clawson (Melissa Michaelsen) is determined to keep her brothers and sisters together, but the bureaucracy in place makes her quest almost impossible. A... Read all

  • Director
    • Don Taylor
  • Writers
    • Kent Hayes
    • Stephen Kandel
    • Alex Lazzarino
  • Stars
    • Chris Sarandon
    • Melissa Michaelsen
    • George Coe
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    128
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Don Taylor
    • Writers
      • Kent Hayes
      • Stephen Kandel
      • Alex Lazzarino
    • Stars
      • Chris Sarandon
      • Melissa Michaelsen
      • George Coe
    • 9User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos

    Top cast32

    Edit
    Chris Sarandon
    Chris Sarandon
    • Bud Griggs
    Melissa Michaelsen
    • Patty Clawson
    George Coe
    George Coe
    • George Mathews
    McKee Anderson
    McKee Anderson
    • Nancy Sloan
    David Haskell
    • Tom Parks
    Sondra West
    • Alice Parks
    Marc Alaimo
    Marc Alaimo
    • Joe Clawson
    C.J. Hincks
    C.J. Hincks
    • June Clawson
    Tristine Schmukler
    • Sue Anne Clawson
    John McCaffrey
    • John Clawson
    Erika Katz
    Erika Katz
    • Karen Clawson
    Canaan Crouch
    • Charlie Clawson
    Jessie Lee Fulton
    Jessie Lee Fulton
    • Mrs. Gustafson
    Irma P. Hall
    Irma P. Hall
    • Williston
    • (as Irma Hall)
    William H. Burkett
    • Judge
    Nik Hagler
    • Harrison
    Rose-Mary Rumbley
    • Mrs. Higgins
    Norma Young
    • Anna Nelson
    • Director
      • Don Taylor
    • Writers
      • Kent Hayes
      • Stephen Kandel
      • Alex Lazzarino
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews9

    6.4128
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    Featured reviews

    8emenon

    Putting Patty In Reform School Was Inappropriate

    I saw this movie, when it first came out. Patty didn't want to be separated from her siblings. However the Juvenile Justice system don't care. When Patty looked at the case file, the judge sent her to a Juvenile detention facility. He claimed she violated the rules of privacy, by looking at private files. She just wanted her family together. I couldn't blame her. The parents were not even fit parents. One of the smaller children had to have a restroom. The father stopped and let them off. He drove off him and left the children stranded, at the service station. Patty had to take authority to protect them, since she was the oldest. They were placed in foster homes. The good part is that the social worker got them back as a family. The head social worker, kept telling him to butt out and not interfere. He was power crazy. He was the one, who had Patty placed in the Juvenile facility. Why didn't they go after the Father, who was released from Prison, for abandonment. Yet the children are caught in the middle and made to feel insecure.
    10chell0603

    i would like everyone to know about a must see movie.

    This movie I watched back in 1981 when it came out. Although I missed the first part of the movie what I did see was great. this movie is hard to find but if found you must see. The acting is great. very believable sad movie. If I ever find me a copy I definitely will buy me a copy to treasure.
    wwjlshd1-783-776423

    Found a web site that sells old movies and has broken promise

    HI I found a web site called TruTvMovies.net It has all kinds of old movies for sale! BROKEN PROMISES IS ON THERE! But becareful because there are 2 different Broken Promises! You want Broken Promise 1981 the little girl in it is Melissa Michaelsen. She is a little girl but the older child and trys to keep her brothers and sisters together! Her parents kept them stranded! I don't know much about the web site so be careful! I hope this was of help to all of you looking for this movie! It was one of my favorites as a child but I couldn't find it anywhere! I asked my sister and parents and they don't remember the movie! But I remember alote of things that others don't. There is also a trailer for the movie on youtube. I hope you are able to find the movie and are able to finally watch it! Let me know if it is good!
    10noelgypsy

    Broken Promise Melissa Michaelsen 1980

    Hello, I was wondering if anyone has a copy of the movie Broken Promise?? I loved this movie growing up and watched it every time it was on. It has been YEARS since I have seen it and would love to get a copy. I have checked all of the internet and have been unable to find it. If anyone has a copy to trade or sell em please email me at NoelGypsy@Yahoo.com... Thank you and have a great night!! Christine --------- The "broken promise" was made to eleven-year-old Melissa Michaelsen, whose parents have deserted her and her siblings. Taken in by the County, Michaelsen has had to watch helplessly as her brothers and sisters are split up and farmed out to different families. One of the kids is even institutionalized. Juvenile court officer Chris Sarandon joins Michaelsen in her struggle to reunite her family under one roof. Broken Promise was originally offered as a "General Foods Golden Showcase" presentation. It was first telecast May 5, 1981.
    10sandy_lynn_8

    Can we watch this on DVD or online????

    This movie from what I remember was such a great movie! I watched it on television when I was 11, and couldn't remember the title of it. If I remember correctly, I do believe that it was a Christmas television movie special. One of my friends at work and I were discussing it several years back, but neither one of us could remember the title. But we did remember almost the entire movie. No one else at work remembered ever seeing it! Thank goodness someone at a TV movie website answered my post! Now I have the fun job of locating a copy of it! It's amazing what you can remember as a child, but this movie definitely remains vividly playing in my head... even after 28 years. And I do believe I only watched it once. Maybe it was because I am the oldest sister in my family, or maybe because I babysat and worked in day care centers, that it stuck with me that long. Regardless of the real reason, it has remained one of the movies that I have been really wanting to watch lately!!! If anyone knows where to watch it online, or has a copy, please let me know. I would so love to see it again!!!! Thanks so much! Seriously, I tried to post this and it says my comment isn't long enough. So, apparently I have to type more, did you know that Melissa Michaelsen is the sister of Peter Billingsley who starred in A Christmas Story? I know I'm not the only fan of this movie, so if anyone has any idea on where to find this I would greatly appreciate it.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      A TV movie for the CBS network.

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • May 5, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Promesa rota
    • Filming locations
      • Texas, USA
    • Production company
      • EMI Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 36m(96 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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