In the Custody of Strangers (1982)
3.4 of 5 from 45 ratings
1h 31min
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- Synopsis:
Based on a true story. Danny Caldwell (Emilio Estevez) is an angry small-town teen whose father, Frank (Martin Sheen), has been laid off and can't find a decent job. His mother, Sandy (Jane Alexander), works in order to provide for the family of five. Danny, frustrated with the town, tries to get work or leave the town to find a decent job, but often butts heads with Frank, whose staunch perception is that allowing his son to go to work is a threat to his masculinity. In other words, a father should provide for the family, not his wife, and certainly not the boy. So, Danny and Frank are frequently at odds and, as a result, the teen indulges in a lot of trouble. One night, while Danny is out joyriding while drunk, he hits a police car, and it lands him in jail. Frank supposes that maybe a night in jail is just what Danny needs to straighten up. However, due to events that happen while Danny is incarcerated, he ends up spending six weeks in jail on assault charges. Meanwhile, Frank gets a job in Ohio and the family has to move. At his trial, the assault charges are dropped and he is charged only with drunk driving and operating without a license. He is sentenced as time served and released. His parents realize the mistake of leaving their son in jail and tell the people in the courtroom that they really need to change how they treat children that come to them. Danny returns home to his family and their home but is forever changed by his time in jail. - Actors:
- Martin Sheen, Jane Alexander, Emilio Estevez, Kenneth McMillan, Ed Lauter, Matt Clark, Virginia Kiser, Jon Van Ness, John Hancock, Deborah Foreman, Susan Peretz, Peter Jurasik, Judyann Elder, Pat McNamara, Henry Tomaszewski, Ramon Estevez, Rossie Harris, J.P. Bumstead, W.T. Zacha, David Moses
- Directors:
- Robert Greenwald
- Producers:
- William Beaudine Jr., Frank von Zerneck
- Writers:
- Jennifer Miller
- Aka:
- Forty Days for Danny
- Studio:
- MIA
- Genres:
- Drama
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