published on June 15, 2024 in blog

Without a Kiss Goodbye

Affecting, skillfully crafted, fact-based drama about a mother who is falsely arrested and convicted of poisoning her infant features a solid script and good performances.

When the infant son of Laurie (Lisa Hartman Black) and Ray (Christopher Meloni) mysteriously falls ill, the doctors conclude that the child had been poisoned with antifreeze. The mother is immediately suspected by police and the baby is put in foster care. When the child dies a few weeks later, Laurie is arrested for murder.

While in prison awaiting trial, Laurie discovers she is pregnant and gives birth to a second son who also falls ill, although he was immediately removed from his mother’s care at birth. The child is eventually diagnosed with a rare genetic blood disorder called MMA, whose symptoms resemble antifreeze poisoning.

Popular on Variety

Despite the new diagnosis, Laurie is brought to trial and a parade of expert and character witnesses, including her mother-in-law (Cloris Leachman), implicate her in the death. Shockingly incompetent legal work by her lawyer (James Staley) results in her conviction. Only through the efforts of her husband and a dedicated attorney (David Ogden Stiers) is she finally vindicated.

Despite the bizarre and unusual circumstances of the case, writer James Duff and director Noel Nosseck create a touching, believable story about a mother struggling to prove her innocence against the onslaught of the medical and legal establishment, as well as to keep her family intact despite universal condemnation from everyone except her husband and sister (Gwyneth Walsh).

Black and Meloni give well-crafted, solid performances. Leachman and Staley are outstanding as the turncoat mother-in-law and the smarmy, self-satisfied trial lawyer, respectively.

Stiers is delightful in a brief turn as the wily, eccentric attorney who saves the day.

Jump to Comments