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Pour l'amour d'un enfant

Original title: The Children Nobody Wanted
  • TV Movie
  • 1981
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
277
YOUR RATING
Michelle Pfeiffer in Pour l'amour d'un enfant (1981)
Drama

Based on the true story of Tom Butterfield and his crusade to provide family life for homeless children, becoming not only the first bachelor caretaker, but the youngest single adult to beco... Read allBased on the true story of Tom Butterfield and his crusade to provide family life for homeless children, becoming not only the first bachelor caretaker, but the youngest single adult to become a legal foster parent in the state of Missouri.Based on the true story of Tom Butterfield and his crusade to provide family life for homeless children, becoming not only the first bachelor caretaker, but the youngest single adult to become a legal foster parent in the state of Missouri.

  • Director
    • Richard Michaels
  • Writer
    • Lee Hutson
  • Stars
    • Fredric Lehne
    • Michelle Pfeiffer
    • Matt Clark
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    277
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Richard Michaels
    • Writer
      • Lee Hutson
    • Stars
      • Fredric Lehne
      • Michelle Pfeiffer
      • Matt Clark
    • 15User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos3

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    Top cast37

    Edit
    Fredric Lehne
    Fredric Lehne
    • Tom Butterfield
    • (as Fred Lehne)
    Michelle Pfeiffer
    Michelle Pfeiffer
    • Jennifer Williams
    Matt Clark
    Matt Clark
    • Bill Westbrook
    Noble Willingham
    Noble Willingham
    • McNaulty
    Anne Haney
    Anne Haney
    • Mrs. Lightheart
    Joey Turley
    • Joey
    Barbara Barrie
    Barbara Barrie
    • Hanna
    Jerry Hardin
    Jerry Hardin
    • Dr. Watson
    F. William Parker
    • George Meuschke
    Earl Boen
    Earl Boen
    • Madden
    Ryan Barcroft
    • The Butter Boys - Andrew
    Patrick Holcer
    • The Butter Boys - Dwayne
    James Spinks III
    • The Butter Boys - Zim
    Van Stapleton
    • The Butter Boys - Bobby
    Gary Riefle
    • The Butter Boys - Pete
    John Murphy
    • The Butter Boys - Danny
    Ron Christopher Nielsen
    • The Butter Boys - Ray
    Jeffrey Todd Nielsen
    • The Butter Boys - Billy
    • Director
      • Richard Michaels
    • Writer
      • Lee Hutson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews15

    6.3277
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    Featured reviews

    carjm3

    Respect

    Just now - 2011 - and have just finished watching this Film. Have to say am blown away, by the courage and hard work it must have taken for all involved. Great Film, great story and even happier to see that it didn't end there. That with thanks to 1 individual hundreds of kids were able to have a place to sleep and food in their stomach.Complete Respect!!Wish i had known about this film earlier. Will def. recommend it to all my friends and family. Guess its kind of an eye opener esp. in today worlds where everyone looks out for Number 1 - themselves.This film and others like it, is what should be taught in todays world if we don't help the children - who will.
    bevdawnhill

    Amazing , humbling.

    So many courageous people like Tom go unnoticed. Until this film I had not heard of Tom. He should have been recognised as an outstanding person. It takes courage to stand up to the intimidating threats of bully's, hypocrites. Worse still is Bureaucracy that is chin-deep in red tape and useless unnecessary procedures and regulations made up by people who do not have a clue about the people they are supposed to be protecting and refuse to budge when those same rules cause worse situations and danger. YET! He still carried on his amazing work, both he and Jennifer sacrificed and gave up so much of their own lives. As someone says here already "in England he would have been made a 'Sir' ". This film was so very emotional that I cried. Tom truly was an astonishing person to have achieved all he did in his very short life. I feel for Jen and her loss, the first boys too must have been devastated. They must be so grateful for the better start in life he gave them. It would be very interesting to know what lives they have led after they left his care. I would have been very humbled to have met him and Jen, I would have felt honoured.
    7nicholas.rhodes

    Worthy of more attention !

    I am surprised that there are not more comments about this film, and indeed it does not appear to have been the object of an issue on DVD or VHS. I have a copy on tape which I have watched two or three times, unfortunately it is dubbed into French, which spoils it considerably and some of the voices are almost laughable ! This considerable handicap aside, the story itself is more than laudable and I was very touched by this young man's determination to go ahead with his plan to harbour orphaned and brutalized children in spite of the various authorities trying to gum up the works at every possible opportunity. Michèle Pfeiffer ( who appears very very young ) is very beautiful and provides welcome support for our friend Butterfield who is at times a little too tied up with his kids to the point of neglecting his dear girlfriend ! At times the film is just too moralistic and politically correct ( seems typical of Hollywood films nowadays ) for my liking, we see one of the kids ticked off for smoking in the basement as if it was some terrible crime, completely ridiculous and there's the introduction of a black kid into the family presumably to be even more politically correct and to show that Butterworth was not racist ! It all seems a little artificial ! These misgivings aside, the whole work makes for most enjoyable watching and all of the kids are cute, it says it is based on a true life story, if this is really the case, all I can say is Bravo ! I think an issue on DVD may well help the film to become better known as the subject matter is quite original and is likely to touch a large number of hearts !
    jaychris2010

    Amazing true story respect two you TOM

    What an eye opening film makes you wonder why . There are not a lot more people like tom in this world .Brilliant true story good on you tom.Shows you that there are people out there that do care for our young and vulnerable. But for such a young man two take so much responsibility at such a young age without thought for his self and just for others puts us all two shame .The performance by both main characters was tear jerking.May be we can all learn something from this film. I have that it is for us all two help out in this world no matter how big or how small it all helps in the end .So my message two a lot of people is two watch this truly amazing film you wont regret it trust me .
    10donnabateman

    I am Tom's niece

    This movie is the true story of my uncle, Tom Butterfield. I wanted to clarify that the reason the black character was introduced in the movie, is because there really was a black boy that Tom adopted into the boys ranch. Tom truly had a heart for all youth, and never even considered their race to be a factor. I even met the "real" black boy while visiting the ranch, and he was such a joy. So please know that when watching this film, it was not a fake scene just to be politically correct. The Butterfield Youth Services in Marshall, Missouri, still exists today, and has expanded into several more group homes that also include boys and girls ranches and inpatient/outpatient treatment centers. Even though my uncle Tom is in heaven now, his legacy continues to live on. Thank you for continuing to pay tribute to him by watching this film. He worked so hard to get this story out so that others would be helped, that might have been forgotten. Thank you for listening.

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    Related interests

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    Drama

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      This was Michelle Pfeiffer's first leading role.
    • Soundtracks
      Happy Birthday to You
      (uncredited)

      Written by Patty S. Hill and Mildred J. Hill

      Performed by Fredric Lehne, Michelle Pfeiffer and the children

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 5, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Children Nobody Wanted
    • Filming locations
      • Marshall, Missouri, USA
    • Production companies
      • Blatt-Singer Productions
      • Warner Bros. Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 40m(100 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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