The plot for this movie is pretty disturbing when you really think about it. Decently acted with a few strange issues. I was scratching my head about why someone from the DA's office is doing detective work and the bit about the paper cut. The plot twists were engaging.
5 Reviews
Not as good as a Lifetime movie...
sbwiley18 May 2005
But it was OK. I'm a big fan of MHC, having lost count of how many of her books I've read through the years. The Cradle Will Fall was the first one I read and remains my favorite. Angie Everhardt was better than I expected and the end gave me the heebie jeebies just like it did in the book. However, the dialogue was pretty lame (who says "amiss" in everyday conversations?) and as aforementioned, somewhat talky. Still all in all, not bad.
I will add that Carol Higgins Clark should probably stick with writing,(I've never read her books, but I know she's a popular author) because she is a terrible actress. I saw her in the adaptation of her mother's book, A Cry in the Night and I cringed whenever she was on screen both in this and that movie.
I will add that Carol Higgins Clark should probably stick with writing,(I've never read her books, but I know she's a popular author) because she is a terrible actress. I saw her in the adaptation of her mother's book, A Cry in the Night and I cringed whenever she was on screen both in this and that movie.
okay mystery based on Mary Higgins Clark's book
blanche-225 April 2010
"The Cradle Will Fall" is a 2004 film based on the Mary Higgins Clark book of the same name. Angie Everhart plays attorney Katie DeMeo, who becomes involved in a multiple murder mystery that seems to center around a fertility clinic.
I especially enjoyed this movie because of Philippe Brenninkmeyer, who is quite handsome and someone I had never seen before and would love to see more of. Apparently he makes a lot of films in Germany. He was very smooth as Dr. Highley.
The problem with these Lifetime movie-type films for me is that they move slowly and the acting generally isn't very good. I don't blame the actors; the pacing always seems off - almost like you're seeing something foreign that's been dubbed.
For me, the denouement was telegraphed in advanced (as it always seems to be in these films). Angie Everhart is lovely and likable, and John Ralston as the medical examiner was good, too.
However, it's a good story and pleasant enough, and as others have pointed out, there was some good tension and suspense at the end. There was a time when TV movies like this could be quite effective. I don't know if it was the budget or what, but that era is over.
I especially enjoyed this movie because of Philippe Brenninkmeyer, who is quite handsome and someone I had never seen before and would love to see more of. Apparently he makes a lot of films in Germany. He was very smooth as Dr. Highley.
The problem with these Lifetime movie-type films for me is that they move slowly and the acting generally isn't very good. I don't blame the actors; the pacing always seems off - almost like you're seeing something foreign that's been dubbed.
For me, the denouement was telegraphed in advanced (as it always seems to be in these films). Angie Everhart is lovely and likable, and John Ralston as the medical examiner was good, too.
However, it's a good story and pleasant enough, and as others have pointed out, there was some good tension and suspense at the end. There was a time when TV movies like this could be quite effective. I don't know if it was the budget or what, but that era is over.
Great ending, but a bit talky and clichéd getting there
BrandtSponseller22 February 2005
Based on the Mary Higgins Clark book of the same name, The Cradle Will Fall tells us the story of Katie DeMaio (Angie Everhart), who unwittingly becomes wrapped up in a complex mystery involving cheating husbands, strange doctors and murder.
Despite never being able to shake its "made for television" feel, the last 20 or 30 minutes of The Cradle Will Fall are quite good--good enough to earn a 9. The ending is suspenseful, well plotted and the staging even has intriguing symbolism. There are all of the requisite elements, such as the explanatory wrap-up, of a traditional, quality mystery film. Unfortunately, although the film is never bad, the rest can't quite live up to the same standard, and viewers have to make it to the end to see an improvement.
The build up is extremely dialogue heavy. At times, you might feel more like you're listening to an audio book. Yes, the plot turns out to be a bit complicated, as a good mystery should (otherwise there isn't much for the viewer/reader to figure out), but it's not so complicated that it can only be told through 60 or 70 minutes of talking. It would have been more interesting to see some of the backstory with the doctors in real time. It would have been more interesting to see a bit of the primary murder. It would have been more interesting to see the meat of investigations taking place rather than just hearing someone tell us about them later. Of course, one needs to keep any action involving crimes ambiguous enough that any number of characters in the film could have done them, and keep secrets ambiguous enough that we can't piece everything together in 15 minutes, but "show don't tell" is very good advice.
It also doesn't help that much of the story is clichéd. I haven't read the Clark novel yet, but I suspect that it's somewhat of a formulaic potboiler. There's nothing inherently wrong with those--they can be a lot of fun to read, and it would be a bit ridiculous to expect every artistic work to be an unprecedented masterpiece, but the by-the-numbers scenarios played without a lot of inspiration in a film do not exactly allow for a high score, either.
The technical elements of the film aren't much to speak of. They're not bad, but nothing particularly stood out about them to me, either, except for during the climax. I can't even remember what the music sounded like, and I just watched the film last night.
Still, The Cradle Will Fall is a decent way to spend a couple hours if you're really into the mystery genre or if you're a big Clark fan (it's also worth noting that Clark's daughter is briefly in the film), a big Angie Everhart fan or even possibly an X Files fan (although you should note that William B. Davis, the X Files' "Cigarette Smoking Man", is not in the film much and doesn't do much when he's there). The ending is definitely worth it, so if you give it a shot and find the first 20 minutes or so at least acceptable, make sure you stick around for the film's length.
It's worth noting that an earlier made for television version of this material appeared in 1983. I have not yet seen that version, which is available on VHS, so I cannot compare the two.
Despite never being able to shake its "made for television" feel, the last 20 or 30 minutes of The Cradle Will Fall are quite good--good enough to earn a 9. The ending is suspenseful, well plotted and the staging even has intriguing symbolism. There are all of the requisite elements, such as the explanatory wrap-up, of a traditional, quality mystery film. Unfortunately, although the film is never bad, the rest can't quite live up to the same standard, and viewers have to make it to the end to see an improvement.
The build up is extremely dialogue heavy. At times, you might feel more like you're listening to an audio book. Yes, the plot turns out to be a bit complicated, as a good mystery should (otherwise there isn't much for the viewer/reader to figure out), but it's not so complicated that it can only be told through 60 or 70 minutes of talking. It would have been more interesting to see some of the backstory with the doctors in real time. It would have been more interesting to see a bit of the primary murder. It would have been more interesting to see the meat of investigations taking place rather than just hearing someone tell us about them later. Of course, one needs to keep any action involving crimes ambiguous enough that any number of characters in the film could have done them, and keep secrets ambiguous enough that we can't piece everything together in 15 minutes, but "show don't tell" is very good advice.
It also doesn't help that much of the story is clichéd. I haven't read the Clark novel yet, but I suspect that it's somewhat of a formulaic potboiler. There's nothing inherently wrong with those--they can be a lot of fun to read, and it would be a bit ridiculous to expect every artistic work to be an unprecedented masterpiece, but the by-the-numbers scenarios played without a lot of inspiration in a film do not exactly allow for a high score, either.
The technical elements of the film aren't much to speak of. They're not bad, but nothing particularly stood out about them to me, either, except for during the climax. I can't even remember what the music sounded like, and I just watched the film last night.
Still, The Cradle Will Fall is a decent way to spend a couple hours if you're really into the mystery genre or if you're a big Clark fan (it's also worth noting that Clark's daughter is briefly in the film), a big Angie Everhart fan or even possibly an X Files fan (although you should note that William B. Davis, the X Files' "Cigarette Smoking Man", is not in the film much and doesn't do much when he's there). The ending is definitely worth it, so if you give it a shot and find the first 20 minutes or so at least acceptable, make sure you stick around for the film's length.
It's worth noting that an earlier made for television version of this material appeared in 1983. I have not yet seen that version, which is available on VHS, so I cannot compare the two.
Quite good!
Speed_Demon16 September 2004
This movie is quite good and exciting to watch... it is based on a book and as far as I know there was already a movie based on it before. It might not be the best TV thriller ever, but is suspenseful and keeps you interested in how the story moves on. Philippe Brenninkmeyer (who plays the Dr. Highley) is a very interesting actor and his performance is impressive. But more important - if you are an Angie Everhart - fan like me, you will definitely enjoy this movie. I'm glad A. Everhart does have the leading part in TV thrillers that often, as those are just the kind of movies I like to see, so I very much enjoyed watching "The Cradle Will Fall". "Highley" recommended :-)...
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