SIDNEY SHORR: A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND {BASIS FOR "LOVE, SIDNEY"} (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television movie concerns the unusual relationship between a middle-aged man and a young woman who are confronted with parenthood. One rainy evening, a reclusive illustrator named Sidney Shorr befriends Laurie Morgan, a cheerful, forthright woman who spends the night in his apartment due to the rain. Sidney's sexuality is clear to Laurie from his wistful gaze toward a man's photo, which is framed and positioned on the mantle. Since Sidney can no longer afford his spacious apartment alone, Laurie moves in and refurbishes their home, eventually finding work in commercials. Sidney proves to be a jealous housemate, however, and Laurie feels stifled when he complains that she is too promiscuous. On Christmas Eve, Sidney consoles Laurie after she learns that her boyfriend is married -- and that she is pregnant. When she prepares to have an abortion, Sidney begs her not to, offering his financial support and child-rearing skills. Laurie agrees to keep her baby, and endures a long pregnancy with Sidney's help. Touched and enchanted by the newcomer, Sidney embraces parenting responsibilities with a relish, permitting Laurie to work long hours as an actress on a soap opera. After five years, Sidney, Laurie, and little Patti have become a family, hindered only by Sidney's overprotective instincts. But their friendship becomes strained when Sidney interferes in the budding romance between Laurie and a director named Jimmy. Once Laurie accepts Jimmy's marriage proposal, the director announces he wants his fiancŽe and Patti to move with him to Los Angeles. Angered at the idea of losing his surrogate family, Sidney claims he loves Patti more than Laurie does and files for joint custody of the girl. When Sidney and Laurie meet with Judge Wilcox, Sidney makes an impassioned plea to keep the child, and ultimately, one of them must say goodbye to Patti. Commercials deleted.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by Blake Byrne.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: October 5, 1981 Monday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:35:19
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:13703
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Gays - Drama; LGBT Collection
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV, 1981
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- George Eckstein … Producer
- Maria Padilla … Associate Producer
- Russ Mayberry … Director
- Oliver Hailey … Writer
- Marilyn Cantor Baker … Based on a story by
- Billy Goldenberg … Music by
- Tony Randall … Cast, Sidney Shorr
- Lorna Patterson … Cast, Laurie Morgan
- David Huffman … Cast, Jimmy
- Kaleena Kiff … Cast, Patti
- Ann Weldon … Cast, Judge Wilcox
- John Lupton … Cast, Frank
- Tom Villard … Cast, Eric
- Martin Rudy … Cast, Mallory
- Tom Fuccello … Cast, Reiss
- Betty Carvalho … Cast, the Nurse
- Daniel Grace … Cast, the Waiter