Locked Up: A Mother's Rage
{{Short description|1991 television film}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| genre = Drama
| director = Bethany Rooney
| writer = Selma Thompson
Robert L. Freedman
| narrated =
| music = J.A.C. Redford
| starring = Cheryl Ladd
Diana Muldaur
Jean Smart
Angela Bassett
Ariana Richards
| executive_producer = Steve White
| producer = Barry Bernardi
| location =
| editor = Joanna Cappuccilli Lovetti
| cinematography = Chuck Arnold
| company = Steve White Productions
| network = CBS
| released = {{Start date|1991|10|29}}
| runtime = 94 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
}}
Locked Up: A Mother's Rage is a 1991 television film starring Cheryl Ladd, Diana Muldaur and Jean Smart about a mother wrongly convicted of drug trafficking. Ariana Richards, who played Kelly Gallagher, was awarded the Young Artist Award, Best Young Actress in Television Movie, at the 14th Youth in Film Awards.
Synopsis
Annie Gallagher is a mother who was sent to jail over charges of drug trafficking. She is innocent, as the true culprit was her boyfriend, who framed her.{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/film/cv9z5/locked-up-a-mothers-rage/|title=Locked Up: a Mother's Rage – review {{!}} cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online|website=Radio Times|language=en|access-date=2020-04-04}}
Cast
- Cheryl Ladd as Annie Gallagher
- Jean Smart as Cathy
- Dean Norris as Mike
- Ariana Richards as Kelly Gallagher
- Angela Bassett as Willie
- Kimberly Scott as Sherisse
- Vanessa Marquez as Yo-Yo
- Peter Reckell as Danny
- Diana Muldaur as Frances
- Joshua Harris
- Sarah Martineck
Production
Filming took place in Los Angeles, California during July 1991 under the title They're Doing My Time.{{Cite news|date=June 24, 1991|title=Where Angels Tread|work=The Sacramento Bee (Newspapers.com)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/625990943/?terms=%22They%27re%20Doing%20My%20Time%22%20Ladd&match=1}}{{Cite news|date=September 29, 1991|title=TV notebook|work=The Daily Oklahoman (Newspapers.com)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/453862909/?terms=%22They%27re%20Doing%20My%20Time%22%20Ladd&match=1}} This title was later changed to Locked Up: A Mother's Rage prior to its premiere on CBS.{{Cite news|last=Gardella|first=Kay|date=October 29, 1991|title=The Kids aren't Alright|work=Daily News (Newspapers.com)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/469124541/?terms=%22They%27re%20Doing%20My%20Time%22%20Ladd&match=1}} Filming was completed by September of the same year.{{Cite news|date=September 29, 1991|title=Ladd, Smart finish work on prison movie|work=The Tampa Tribune (Newspapers.com)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/338609527/?terms=%22They%27re%20Doing%20My%20Time%22%20Ladd&match=1}}
Cheryl Ladd was brought in to portray the film's central character of Annie Gallagher, while Angela Bassett portrayed a tough inmate who gradually befriends the wrongly convicted woman. Bethany Rooney adapted the script, which was written by Selma Thompson and Robert L. Freedman. The script is based on a true story. Actress Jean Smart commented on the script, stating that part of its intent was to highlight the experiences and struggles of inmates and their children.{{Cite news|last=Groves|first=Seli|date=October 24, 1991|title=Smart moving into films|work=Jackson County Banner (Newspapers.com)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/227644773/?terms=%22They%27re%20Doing%20My%20Time%22%20Ladd&match=1}}
Release
Locked Up first aired on October 29, 1991 on CBS.{{Cite news|date=October 27, 1991|title=Highlights|work=The Daily Breeze|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/608267493/?terms=%22Locked%20Up%3A%20A%20Mother%27s%20Rage%22}} The movie is also known under the titles They're Doing My Time and The Other Side of Love.{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=Mark|date=September 13, 1991|title=This fall's movies and miniseries|url=https://ew.com/article/1991/09/13/this-falls-movies-and-miniseries/|access-date=2022-02-09|website=EW.com|language=en}}
After its initial airing the film was released on VHS in the United Kingdom through Guild Home Video and in Sweden through Videoteket.Rooney, Bethany. 1991. Locked Up: A Mother's Rage. Guild Home Video.Rooney, Bethany. 1991. Locked Up: A Mother's Rage. Videoteket. It has also been released to DVD during 2007 through Direct Source Special Products.{{Citation|last1=Ladd|first1=Cheryl|title=The other side of love|date=2007|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/261216248|place=Plattsburgh, NY|publisher=Direct Source Special Products|isbn=978-1-55464-045-4|oclc=261216248|access-date=2022-02-09|last2=Smart|first2=Jean|last3=Bassett|first3=Angela|last4=Bernardi|first4=Barry|last5=Thompson|first5=Selma|last6=Freedman|first6=Robert L|last7=Rooney|first7=Bethany|last8=Redford|first8=J. A. C|last9=Direct Source Special Products Inc}}
Reception
Critical reception was mixed upon its initial release, with much of the praise centering on Ladd's performance and the criticism focusing on the script.{{Cite news|last=Zuckerman|first=Faye|date=October 29, 1991|title=Single mom rears kids from prison in "Doing Time"|work=Daily Press (Newspapers.com)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/746801587/?terms=%22They%27re%20Doing%20My%20Time%22%20Ladd&match=1}} Chris Williams of the Los Angeles Times criticized the film, writing that "Ladd isn’t really the problem with this telepicture, which has among its woes a script stuck somewhere in the twilight zone between the cliches of old-fashioned women-behind-bars pictures and an unrequited desire for fleeting realism."{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Chris|date=1991-10-29|title=TV Reviews : 'Rage' Has a Hard Time With Realities of Prison|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-29-ca-493-story.html|access-date=2022-02-08|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} Susan Stewart of the Detroit Free Press was also critical, stating that the film "will have you sniffling even as your brain is telling your weeping eyes that they are a piece of trash."{{Cite news|last=Stewart|first=Susan|date=October 29, 1991|title=The saddest thing about 'Locked Up' is its dreadful writing|work=Detroit Free Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/100251053/?terms=%22Locked%20Up%3A%20A%20Mother%27s%20Rage%22}} Marc Berman reviewed the film for Variety, praising several of the movie's performances while also noting that it "flirts uncomfortably with racist and male sexist tenets - not to mention pandering to cheap sentimentality."{{Cite news|last=Berman|first=Marc|date=October 29, 1991|title=Locked Up: A Mother's Rage (review)|work=Variety|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RxHbPxbBM1AC&dq=variety+review+locked+up+a+mother%27s+rage++1991&pg=RA15-PA13}}
The reviewer for the Wisconsin State Journal was more favorable, praising Ladd's performance.{{Cite news|last=Scheuer|first=Steven|date=October 29, 1991|title=Ladd stars in good - for TV - movie|work=Wisconsin State Journal (Newspapers.com)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/405920857/?terms=%22Locked%20Up%3A%20A%20Mother%27s%20Rage%22}}
= Awards =
- Best Young Actress in Television Movie at the 14th Youth in Film Awards (won, Ariana Richards){{cite web|title=14th Annual Youth In Film Awards|url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms14.htm|url-status=dead|work=YoungArtistAwards.org|accessdate=2011-03-31|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217002739/http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms14.htm|archivedate=2011-02-17}}
- Best Young Actor in Television Movie at the 14th Youth in Film Awards (nominated, Joshua Harris)
- Best Young Actress Under 10 in Television Movie at the 14th Youth in Film Awards (nominated, Sarah Martineck)
References
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