BORN TO BE SOLD

US, 1981, 96 minutes, Colour.
Lynda Carter, Harold Gould, Dean Stockwell, Sharon Ferrell, Ed Nelson.
Directed by Burt Brinckerhoff.

Born to be Sold is an interesting, if melodramatic, telemovie. It has a worthy subject, the exploitation of adoptions in California and the exposing of the rackets. The film tends to melodramatics rather than exploration of the theme. Linda Carter, Wonder Woman, has a serious role as a social worker.
Harold Gould is credible as the evil baby-broker. There is a strong supporting cast including Dean Stockwell. There is some moralising at the end. How ever, the film is not as effective on its theme as Black Market Baby (Don't Steal My Baby), 1978, with Bill Bixby, Linda Purl and Desi Arnaz Jr.

1. The telemovie and the serious thews of social injustice? The telemovie as a vehicle for social messages? Adapted for the home audience and emotional response? The use of melodrama and heightened situations to make point? How effectively here?

2. Audience presuppositions about children, adoptions, unmarried mothers, child mothers, exploitation rackets? Audiences affected by the content of such stories, by the emotional impact of the situations and characters? The final message about law and adoptions?

3. The picture of the predicament of unmarried mothers, brokers organising pregnancies for families, financial corruption, the status of the law and its impact, proof? The effect of this kind of social corruption?

4. The opening with the picture of the set up for girls and their pregnancies, the broker's paying, the links with couples who would not be eligible for children or who wanted children quickly? Audience reaction to the set up? Marty and his girlfriend looking after the girls? The background of violence? The broker and his masterminding the racket? The various deals? The background of adoption procedures and investigations? Suitability of parents? Type of children wanted? The status of 'independent adoptions'? Abuses?

5. Kate as social worker? Type, marriage background, dedication to her work, friends, police? Her contact with Cindy? Her arguing with her mother, assisting with the birth of the child? Her studying circumstances? Deciding to fight? Consulting the lawyer to discover legal details? The confrontation with the broker? Marty and his pursuing her, threatening her, pushing her off the road in her car? Cindy and her arguments, lying? The court sequences? The arguments with Cindy and her second pregnancy? The confrontation with the Stricklands about the adoption? Her participation in the final expose of the group? A credible social worker?

6. The broker and his suave style, knowledge of the law, control of his organisation? The contact with the Stricklands and the handing over of the baby? The confrontation with Kate? His manipulating Marty? The law protecting him? The court sequence? The final set-up and his being caught ? acknowledging Kate's skill in catching him?

7. Marty and the ugly violence, tracking of Kate, the car? His girlfriend giving information at the end?

8. Cindy and her family background, the parallel with her mother's story, her mother unable to help her? The broker paying the fees? The clashes with her mother? The birth and her changing her mind about the adoption? Her loving her child? Her trying to discover the parents? Stealing the name and address? The encounter in the Strickland’s' house with Mrs. Strickland's violence? Her discussions with Kate, changing her mind? Her boyfriend? Second pregnancy? The court case and her changing her mind? Hopes for the future or not?

9. The lawyer and his exasperation, giving of information? The police?

10. The Stricklands and their not being allowed to adopt? The pros and cons of adoption? Mr. Strickland and his threats to the broker? His exasperation with and for his wife? Her behaviour and unsuitability to have the child?

11. Themes of law, the abuse of law, corruption, protection? A portrait of contemporary society and a critique?