In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness (1994 TV Movie) User Reviews (20)

Amazing true story of murder and madness set in NC

[libraryd · 7/10 · 4 August 2003]

I wasn't originally going to comment on this movie, but, after reading some of the other reviews, I felt like I needed to add to this.

Although most reviews of this film have been somewhat positive,there are a few of the reviews which have noted how unbelievable this story is and how this movie is not worth the time. I disagree.

Some people may not realize that this is based on true events that happened in the mid 1980s in North Carolina. As a local high school student when this all came to the forefront, and also having been lucky enough to be able to read Jerry Bledsoe's original articles when they were published in the Greensboro "News and Record" (the local paper where he was writing at the time), I can honestly say that most local folks were both amazed and disturbed by the whole situation and the senselessness of it all.

If you are interested in this movie and would like to learn more about the Klenner, Sharp, Newsom, and Lynch families, I suggest that you read "Bitter Blood" (by Jerry Bledsoe) -- the book on which this mini-series was based. The movie was good, but never have I found a crime novel that was as intriguing as this. A long read, but worth the time.

Bitter Blood

[psywizard880 · 7/10 · 17 January 2005]

I saw this movie a while back. I wish they would air this more than they do. This movie is such a great movie. I do believe this is a true story. The ending is very sad though, so have your tissue ready. Great acting by all actors, makes you think about our court systems and how Justice is not always served to the correct people. In this movie, a father played by Keith Caradine, the mother played by Kelly Mcgillis, couple is estranged, mom picks up with undesirable cousin, whom thinks he is a doctor, and who is a madman. The father wants the children back because they would be better off with him. Instead, the mom gets them and they all die in the end, except the father, played by Keith Caradine. Like i said, make you wonder about the court system, and is it all about who has the best lawyer, the most money, or what. I would like see Justice in this story.

psywizard880

Great movie for the real life serial killer movie buffs

[JJones27320 · 7/10 · 5 June 2007]

Pay no attention to the other post saying this movie sucks, because it doesn't. This movie is based on a true story, that I as well as everyone that live around this area either grew up hearing about or lived through. Sometimes true stories may not present the rosiest of pictures, and this movie most certainly is far from rosy. Most of the movie is true, and follows along with the book written by a local author named Jerry Bledsoe, however somethings have been changed and made more Hollywood. If you are looking for a love story like Gone with the Wind, you're looking in the wrong place. If you are looking for a historical movie about a real life serial killer from Reidsville North Carolina, then this is the movie for you.

Not the best tv movie, but based on true events

[FrodoFan35 · 29 January 2003]

As many tv movies go, this two-part mini-series could sometimes be weak in the writing and acting departments, but still held a fascination because a) the events are true, and b) the climax took place just a few miles from my parents' house. In fact, I was acquainted with a relative of one of the families involved.

Some have commented on the lack of plausibility of the story, but the movie stayed true to the actual events for the most part. In fact, it even left out some factual details that did not seem implausible, but real life is often stranger than fiction. (I recommend reading Jerry Bledsoe's book "Bitter Blood," where the entire story will blow you away. The movie is based on this book.)

Regardless of the weak nature of a tv movie-of-the-week, including the disruptions for commercials when I first saw it broadcast over two nights, the series of tragedies that unfolded were still heart-wrenching and made my pulse race. If you can get past those usual weaknesses, you will find an amazing true story of a strange couple who, when put together, seemed to lose all perspective on reality and unleashed a diabolical plot to retain full custody of the woman's two little boys from a previous marriage. If the movie is available for rental, it's probably worth checking out, but not as light-hearted viewing.

tragic story :'(

[lauracooke5 · 10/10 · 23 January 2007]

the person saying this film is s**t is wrong....and saying the person who wrote it should be blacklisted...in case they didn't f**kin check, its based on a true story...and not loosely either..... its not a piece of s**t...its someones life so have some respect. i recommend this to anyone with a heart. this story is not only true, but extremely painful, the end will make you cry and you will realise how precious life is, the loss of children is always a horrible thing, but when its their own psychotic mother that does it....she deserves to rot in hell, as does her psychotic bf/cousin. please watch this film if you can. its so tragic. i watched it on truemovies channel....a lot of the films shown stir emotions in me but no other has made me so passionate about the real life of others than this one. please watch.

I thought this was a great but sad movie

[moonflowerj · 8/10 · 21 June 2007]

I really thought this was a great movie. It was sad but hey, Wakeup!!! This really happens in life. I wished it came on more on lifetime. I haven't seen this movie in a long time and never caught all of it. I hope it comes back on sometime soon so i can watch the whole thing. I love the lifetime channel. This movie just goes to show lifetime has never let me down. I cried at the end, though. It was so sad to see how the kids ended up. I think this is a great movie to watch on a rainy Saturday afternoon. It is one to curl up on the sofa and get into. I wished it came on a DVD/VHS so that i could see it, the whole movie. Jayne Brook, from Chicago Hope, does a terrific job playing the new relationship in Tom's life. The only part i didn't like was the part Harry Hamlin played. He has done so much better than playing a guy who is a liar and one that would marry his cousin. However, i still would watch this movie again.

bitter blood

[lightfoot36 · 10/10 · 5 January 2006]

well i thought this is a really great movie i saw it when it first came on TV and i ain't seen it sense then but i wish i could see it again all the actors done a really good job and yes its true and it happened right here and the end happened right up the road from me and it was very sad and i sure wish i could find this movie on DVD or VHS cause i would love to own it so i could watch it anytime i wanted to i only have plain TV i don't have cable or satellite so i ain't seen it in a long time and i look for it on the web all the time but cant find it and my mom went to school with fritz klenner and my cousin worked at times turn around and seen fritz come in there all the time and well i just think that it was a really great movie and would love to own it if i could find it so let me know if you know how i can find this movie.

Unfortunately this is a TRUE story

[KatieMBarber · 5/10 · 21 June 2006]

Granted, this isn't the best TV movie ever. However, it's based on the book "Bitter Blood" by Jerry Bledsoe, which is much better. Another personcommented on who would write this trash and kill off the whole family including the kids. Sadly it's not fiction, but based on a true story. Igrew up in the small town and surrounding areas where it took place. It happened over 20 years ago and it's still something that is talked about to this day. It's horrifying to think that anyone could do these things, but unfortunately it's true. Even if you hated the movie, I would recommend the book. It has the most accurate and in depth information about the events that took place.

This is a heartbreakingly true story!

[candaceayers · 10/10 · 21 February 2022]

I hated reading the reviews for this movie because of how some said how badly it was written and never took 2 mins to find out that it was a true story! My grandparents lived in the area that the blazer blew up and they said that it literally rattled their windows. My grandma actually seen the "crazy doctor" Fritz. The dentist was still living in Albuquerque New Mexico the last I checked. He had everything taken away from him by an EVIL ex wife. This may not be everyone's cup of tea but it's definitely a good movie to watch if you like "based on true story" movies.

THE WORST PIECE OF ACTING EVER FILMED!!!!!!

[VivienLeighsnumber1fan · 1/10 · 14 May 2002]

I saw this piece of s*** last November, and I have never turned the Television off in such disgust. Kelly McGillis was absolutely hideous as the demented divorcee who marries her cousin (Harry Hamlin, in an inappropriate and forgettable role)!!! The film is gross, even for television. The film could have been cut to 2 or 2 1/2 hours, but not 4 wasted hours! Keith Carradine is as milquetoast as usual, even by his EX-wife. This picture just goes to show that all child custody cases are bitter, and was there really a need to wipe out the whole family and the kids? My god! The person who wrote this trash, should be blacklisted in Hollywood, and any other place that has acting as entertainment. This is entertainment?!! I have never seen such a horrible and depressing movie in all of my life!! This gives the term, "bad tv-movie", look like "Gone with the Wind"!! I hope Lifetime NEVER shows this again!! For your sake, don't view this crap. See Gone with the Wind! Especially if you have 4 hours to kill, it certainly is the best film EVER!! Not this Garbage! Don't say you weren't warned!!!!

0/10 The lowest!!, The WORST!!!!!!!

Sad, but true

[alliesmom97 · 12 January 2004]

Ok people, time out!

Yes, the story certainly seems implausible--but it IS based on a true story and I can say it did follow the book by Jerry Bledsoe very closely.

Yes, the characters were unlikable--but HELLO.....so were the people most of them were based on. Unlikable people who become subjects for a made for TV movie make for unlikable characters.

As for the acting, I actually thought Kelly McGillis was pretty good, and so was Harry Hamlin. Keith Carradine wasn't that great, though, and whoever played his new wife wasn't much better.

I would like to say that SOMEWHERE out there, there must be a crazy family that is NOT from the South. It would be a refreshing change to see THEM for a change. I guess it is as Dixie Carter said in an episode of Designing Women: "Here in the South we're proud of our crazy people; we just bring 'em out for everybody to see!"

A SPOILER WARNING FOR SENSITIVE VIEWERS

If you are someone like me who is very tenderhearted when it comes to kids, you may want to avoid this. I didn't know what I was getting into when I watched it. There are a few scenes involving the boys that are just heartbreaking, and the ending is devastating.

True story!

[zinitime · 8/10 · 9 March 2022]

I read the reviews here, written by people who, apparently, didn't realize it was a true story. They criticize the movie as a terrible story, and unbelievable. Though I agree to that sentiment, I KNOW the story IS true! These crazy people really did exist, and really did the things shown in this movie. "Too long" is another criticism, but it really needs that length, and more, to show the progression of the insanity to follow. It showed how it went from a bad marriage to the death of the innocent by the crazy members of a prestigious Southern family.

Had it been a work of fiction, I probably would have made the same criticism. Too bizarre to be true! But, that is why this movie is so good. I took an unbelievable story and worked to show it for the crazy story it really was.

My heart goes out to the survivors of this family. No one could ever imagine that it would get to this horrible ending.

Great movie, tragic true story

[thomaskimberley70 · 10/10 · 7 August 2019]

I have read the book several times and own the movie on DVD. Great acting by Gillis, Carradine and Hamlin. It's hard to believe this actually happened, but it did. I would start with the book and then watch the movie. You won't be disappointed!

Great movie

[spoilme-93558 · 10/10 · 4 June 2017]

I can't believe some gave this movie bad reviews. The book is great too. The movie was very close to the actual events. The I only thing bad about the movie is that the events actually happened. It's hard to imagine someone could be so menttally unstable, even in today's world, to do the the things Susie Newsome did. Its a tragic story and me living within miles of where the Klinner's doctors office was and where the final tragic events took place, make it even more unreal. It's now the 30yr anniversary and I've been searching the guide hoping lifetime would be airing it but it looks like I'm gonna be disappointed. Gonna have to try to buy it. I'd give it 12 stars!

I was robbed!

[babytoes · 3/10 · 13 November 2000]

I began watching this film on Lifetime on a Sunday afternoon, with the understanding it was your standard 2 hour TV movie. 3 hours later, it became clear it was a tad bit longer. I thought the acting was terrible, the story line less than plausible, and the characters totally unlikeable.

The ending was unsatisfying, although unexpected (or was it really?) I can't believe I got caught up in the film.

Great Movie and a True Story

[BravesCHAMPS95 · 18 June 2006]

Sadly the critic above knows nothing of the history of the movie. The movie is based on the TRUE crime book Bitter Blood and is extremely accurate. Maybe he found it disappointing or unrealistic but sadly the story is true and well documented. I enjoyed the movie since I grew up during the time of the murders in Winston-Salem. I wish could find this movie on DVD.

The basic story line is about Susie Newsome, niece of Susie Sharpe who was the first female supreme court justice in North Carolina. She marries young Tom Lynch after meeting him at Wake Forest University. There bitter breakup leaves Susie in anger and hurt. She takes revenge out on him in a truly horrific story.

I thought that these actors were true to their characters.

[violetmp · 25 May 2003]

This movie was amazing! I was a little girl when all of this happened and to know that this happened in my own hometown. After I saw this movie, I went and researched everything to know about it. Then, I watched the movie again. These characters were true to their characters. It was amazing. Eveybody I talked to about this (who was involved) & who saw the movie, said this movie was wonderful! I thought it was wonderful, too. And it was eerie that this happened in my home town and that I actually know where the Newsom house is!! I really thought this movie was wonderful!

Interesting movie

[gmharris · 24 January 2000]

"Bitter Blood" is a really interesting movie. You watch Kelly McGillis' character change completely as she becomes more and more under the thumb of her completely insane cousin. Interesting performances all around, but somewhat disturbing. On a side note, it is really long. I did not want to stop watching, but you do feel that it's long, and wish it was a little shorter.

Very interesting, worth seeing.

[karen-128 · 25 June 2001]

One of the best casts ever on a little network, this director obviously comes from New York and knows all the great unsung actors living there.

Marian Seldes, Anne Pitoniak, Tom Aldredge are all great to see on screen, and do a great job, but the film belongs to Carradine and Willis. She gives a terrific performance, and he's right up there with her. It's a little long, yes, but if you can get into the story it's well worth it.

Bitter Blood is interesting.

[Pro Jury · 8 March 1999]

BITTER BLOOD is a great movie for Keith Carridine fans.

I am kind of surprised watching the LIFETIME channel. OLDEST BRIDESMAID had a lady lawyer out of touch with her emotions, BITTER BLOOD had a child killing housewife, and THE HIRED HEART had a lady MD with weird psychological problems. Keith Carradine, Brian Wimmer... the leading man is kind and nice. It just seems odd that these are the stories selected for a women's network.