Mixed Blessings (film)
| Mixed Blessings | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Bethany Rooney |
| Written by |
Danielle Steel (novel) L. Virginia Browne Rebecca Soladay |
| Starring |
Gabrielle Carteris Scott Baio Bess Armstrong |
| Music by | Mark Snow |
| Cinematography | Mike Fash |
| Edited by | Janet Bartels-Vandagriff |
| Distributed by | NBC |
Release dates |
December 10, 1995 (Canada) December 11, 1995 (U.S.) |
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Mixed Blessings, also known as Danielle Steel's Mixed Blessings, is a 1995 NBC television film directed by Bethany Rooney. The film is based upon the 1985 novel of the same name written by Danielle Steel. It contains three stories of couples who are facing parenthood for the first time.[1] Scott Baio, Bess Armstrong, Gabrielle Carteris, and Bruce Greenwood lead the all-star cast.
Plot
Three couples are followed as they struggle to have children. Diana and Andy Douglas are a newlywed couple with great careers trying to have a baby for eleven months, without any results. As they visit the doctor, they are crushed to find out that Diana has problems with her ovary and she has a 1 in 10,000 chance to become pregnant. Diana, who always wanted to have a child, considers finding a surrogate mother, but the process proves to be very painful because Andy always wanted to have a child as well. She thinks she is preventing him from living his dream and files for divorce.
Eventually, Andy convinces Diana that he only wants to be with her and together, they decide to adopt a child. They find Jane, a student who thinks a baby will destroy her promising future. After giving birth to a girl, Hilary, Diana is filled with joy to finally become a mother. Jane, however, changes her mind and claims her baby back. Meanwhile, Diana turns out to be pregnant after all. In the end, she ends up with two children, following Jane's decision not to have the child after all.
Another plot involves Charlie Winwood, an orphan who, like Diana, always wanted to have children. He is married to Barbie, an aspiring actress who isn't too enthusiastic to become a mother. While Barbie is on a vacation in Las Vegas, Charlie makes a visit to the doctor and finds out he is sterile. However, five weeks later, Barbie announces she is pregnant, which means she cheated on him. Charlie immediately leaves her and later meets Beth, another orphan who is now enjoying her life as a single mother. They fall in love with each other and soon marry. Not only does Charlie become the father figure of her child, but they also decide to adopt another child.
The plot also centers on Pilar and Brad Coleman, an older couple who, after Brad's daughter announces she is pregnant, decide to try to become pregnant as well. The age proves to be a great obstacle. Even after an artificial insemination, she suffers a miscarriage. Crushed, she decides not to continue the process, until she becomes pregnant. She eventually delivers twins, but one of them dies.
Cast
- Gabrielle Carteris as Diana Goode Douglas
- Scott Baio as Charlie Winwood
- Bess Armstrong as Pilar Graham Coleman
- Bruce Greenwood as Andy Douglas
- James Naughton as Brad Coleman
- Alexandra Paul as Beth
- Julie Condra as Barbara Elizabeth 'Barbie' Chandler
- Barbara Tyson as Gayle
- Michelle Beaudoin as Jane
- Cassandra Rocan as Baby
- Katelyn Rocan as Baby
Broadcast
Danielle Steel's Mixed Blessings had its world premiere broadcast in Canada on CHCH on December 10, 1995.[2] The film was shown the following night in the U.S. on NBC.
References
- ↑ Review Summary The New York Times
- ↑ "Danielle Steel's "Mixed Blessings" on CHCH-TV" (Press release). Niagara Television Limited. November 21, 1995. Archived from the original on January 3, 1997. Retrieved March 12, 2012.