JANE DOE: THE TIES THAT BIND

US, 2007, 90 minutes, Cover.Colour.
Lea Thompson, Joe Penny, William R.Moses, Zac Shada, Jessie Schram, Robert Caradine.
Directed by James con snore.

The Ties That Bind is the seventh in the Jane Doe telemovie series starring Lea Thompson as a former agent, now married and a consultant to a government agency. At first, she did not reveal her status to her family, they thinking she was a consultant for preparing puzzles. However, ultimately her husband found out what she was doing. Which he accepted and there are always domestic scenes in the Jane Doe films, especially the clashes between son and daughter, he clever, she snobbish.

This is a film about identities, a murder taking place while the seeming accused had a perfect alibi. Frank Darnell, Joe Penny, calls in Cathy and, while initially puzzled – and not thinking of the twin – they come to this conclusion and track down through the parish priest and the mother of the children.

Robert Caradine plays the role of the brothers, one a successful businessman, the other a petty criminal who likes to perform in local musicals. The trouble is that there was another child, adopted by a very devout mother, very strict, who has an effect on her son that he becomes jealous of his other brothers and it is he who is the criminal. There is a finale with one of those stand-offs with the three men each pleading that they are the innocent ones.

The series offers easy going crime thriller and investigation with the pleasant Lea Thompson.

1. The popularity of the series, case studies, solving puzzles?


2. The American city, the details of home life, of investigations, of business, of the different classes in the American city? The musical score?

3. The usual domestic sequences, the pleasant husband, the clever son, the snobbish sister, their interactions? Developments as characters over the series?

4. Cathy, as Jane Doe, a life at home, managing the family, discipline, her being called by Frank to solve the mysteries?

5. Frank Darnell, his work, personality, relationship with Cathy, as an investigator?

6. The opening with the office, the businessmen leading, re-entering, the murder, the CCTV, the man at the desk, alibis?

7. The businessman, his alibi in the restaurant, his wife, leaving for a time, the plausibility that he went back to do the murder, his relationship with his mistress, giving testimony? Timing, characters, the wife and the mistress?

8. His arrest, in prison, the possibilities of his doing the murder or not?

9. The fingerprints, the discovery of a twin, the identification of the murderer?

10. The killer, going to the priest in confession? Cathy and Frank going to the church, the discussions, the information, the role of the priest, no documentation at the time, the fact that there were twins, going to visit the mother?

11. The mother, having to give up the children? The businessmen and his success? The second son and his petty crime, the contact with his mother, her warning him by phone, his acting, his alibi by being in the play?

12. The realisation that there must be a third child, the use of credit cards, antiquities, his expertise?

13. His mother, protection, devout, the priest, who influence on the boy?

14. The melodrama, the confrontations, the three connecting, the meetings, the threats, Cathy endangered? Frank coming to the scene?

15. The three men, each claiming to be innocent, the confrontation, the truth?

16. An entertaining murder case, and the psychological repercussions of the triplets, the envy of others, the influence of the mother and the adoptive mothers?