"The Less Than Perfect Daughter" Has A More Imperfect Mother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  I don't know why, girls, but I am on this cycle of old TV social issue movies, especially those about child abuse.  Now, as some of you on here know, I did not have the greatest adolescence, but no one abused me!!!!!!!!!!!  I would not have allowed it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   When  it comes to TV Mothers From Hell, none can surpass De Ann Mears, as Alice Curtis, in 1976's "The Loneliest Runner."  That film was based on a portion of Michael Landon's autobiography, and Alice was based on his own mother, Peggy.

                                      In real life, the father walked out on them.  Peggy doted on Michael's sister, so, while he went his own way to success, the two clung to each other in some symbiotic relationship, straight out of Tennessee Williams.  I hope Landon did not give them a cent from his success, but my guess is he was too compassionate for that.

                                        As for Alice, she should have been belted in the face, and thrown out, with her cheap, housewife clothes, into the street!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Which brings us to Jenny O'Hara as Irene Harmon.  Jenny, as an actress, does a good job, but four minutes into the story she becomes an object of viewer hate.

                                            She is emotionally abusive to her daughter.  She is so disgusted with what she made of her life--having Melissa (Robyn Lively; any relation to Blake?), a husband who walks out on her, and a live in guy named Jack (Ernie Lively; Robyn's father?) whose patience is put to the test, because he can't stand the mother's treatment of the daughter, either.

                                           The mother so wants for the daughter not to make the mistakes she did that she vetoes any talent or interest her daughter may have.  She belittles her constantly, calling her stupid and dumb.  Melissa has this free spirit friend, Liz, probably a year older, whom her mother sees as a bad influence.  The mother turns out to be right, but not before Melissa makes that discovery for herself, after she walks in selling drugs...or herself??????????  Maybe both?????????????

                                              At least Melissa was allowed to make this discovery from herself.  And, she made the sensible choice--she got Liz out of her life, fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                This was an "ABC Afterschool Special." from 1991--remember those?
It ends on an affirmative note, as they all do, but I don't think things will be comfortable for Melissa  until she goes away to college.

                                                   Meanwhile, someone should drug this mother--or all parents of this type--with tranquilizers.

                                                    Ignorance, in some cases, is an excuse.  But projecting your own mistakes onto your child is not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                      Irene Harmon is some piece of work!  She and the witch from "Snow White" could share an afternoon tea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!