A Private Matter
{{Short description|1992 television film directed by Joan Micklin Silver}}
{{for|the Italian novel by Beppe Fenoglio|A Private Matter (novel)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox television
| image = APrivateMatter1992Poster.jpg
| image_alt =
| caption = Film poster
| genre = Drama
| creator =
| writer = William Nicholson
| director = Joan Micklin Silver
| starring = Sissy Spacek
Aidan Quinn
William H. Macy
Estelle Parsons
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer = James Newton Howard
| country = United States
| language = English
| executive_producer = Ronnie D. Clemmer
Lindsay Doran
Bill Pace
Sydney Pollack
| producer = David C. Thomas
Cynthia Fitzpatrick
| location =
| editor = Rick Shaine
| cinematography = Paul Elliott
| company = HBO Pictures
| runtime =
| budget =
| network = HBO
| released = {{Start date|1992|06|20}}
}}
A Private Matter is a 1992 American made-for-television drama film based on the true 1962 story of Sherri Finkbine, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona in the first trimester of her fifth pregnancy. She was the popular hostess of the locally produced children's television show Romper Room.
Plot
She was taking the drug thalidomide—a drug that was, at one time, commonly given to pregnant women in order to alleviate morning sickness and other uncomfortable symptoms associated with pregnancy. In the early 1960s, it became known that the use of thalidomide while pregnant caused significant deformities to the fetus. Sherri expressed concerns about the well-being of her own baby, and consulted with her physician who scheduled a legal, therapeutic abortion at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix.{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1010763.html |title='A Private Matter'; Sherri Finkbine's 1962 Abortion |date=14 June 1992 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105033550/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1010763.html |archive-date=2012-11-05}}
Abortion was illegal in Arizona in the 1960s, but exceptions were made if the mother’s life was at risk, and under this exception, abortions were performed in hospitals regularly. The Finkbines scheduled an abortion, but when Sherri’s story was picked up by the media it created a media firestorm. An acquaintance who worked for the Arizona Republic had asked Sherri, on a promise of anonymity, to share her story. Sherri agreed, hoping that by doing so she could warn other women about the dangers of thalidomide. Her identity was exposed, however, and her private decision was soon subjected to public scrutiny. The film shows the harassment the family went through as they went through various appeals as they sought to obtain abortion services.{{cite news|title=Sherri Finkbine's Abortion: Its Meaning 50 Years Later |website=Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona |date=15 August 2012 |url=http://blog.advocatesaz.org/2012/08/15/sherri-finkbines-abortion-its-meaning-50-years-later/}}
The hospital refused the use of their facilities for an abortion so Finkbine filed a lawsuit to compel the use of Good Samaritan Hospital. A public and bitter struggle ensued, culminating with Finkbine terminating her pregnancy in Sweden.{{cite magazine|last=Tucker |first=Ken |date=19 June 1992 |url=https://ew.com/article/1992/06/19/private-matter/ |title=A Private Matter |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=2023-12-30}}
The movie premiered on HBO on June 20, 1992.{{cite news|last=Quindlen |first=Anna |author-link=Anna Quindlen |date=18 June 1992 |url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1992-06-18/news/1992170158_1_finkbine-sherri-abortion |title=A Private Matter |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=November 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902081126/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1992-06-18/news/1992170158_1_finkbine-sherri-abortion |archive-date=2012-09-02 |url-status=dead}} It was noted at the time of the movie's release that U.S. network television had shied away from stories dealing with abortion.{{cite news|last=Kogan |first=Rick |author-link=Rick Kogan |date=19 June 1992 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-06-19-9202240455-story.html |title=The Finkbine Case |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |access-date=November 16, 2010 |archive-url=http://www.freezepage.com/1703949110WGWVWGKZHY?url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-06-19-9202240455-story.html |archive-date=December 30, 2023 |url-status=dead}}
Cast
- Sissy Spacek as Sherri Finkbine
- Aidan Quinn as Bob Finkbine
- Estelle Parsons as Mary Chessen
- Sheila McCarthy as Diane Callaghan
- Leon Russom as Steve Morris
- Xander Berkeley as Peter Zenner
- Jeff Perry as Randall Everett
- Steven Gilborn as Harvey
- William H. Macy as Psychiatrist
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0105176|A Private Matter}}
{{Joan Micklin Silver}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Private Matter}}
Category:1992 television films
Category:1990s legal drama films
Category:Films directed by Joan Micklin Silver
Category:Films scored by James Newton Howard
Category:American drama television films