Hide in Plain Sight

1980 "If the Justice Dept of the United States abducted your children, what would you do?"
6.4| 1h32m| PG| en| More Info
Released: 21 March 1980 Released
Producted By: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

True story of a man in search of his children after his ex-wife enters the Witness Protection Program.

Genre

Drama

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Director

James Caan

Production Companies

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

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Hide in Plain Sight Audience Reviews

Hellen I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment
Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
Jakoba True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.
edwagreen Excellent film with James Caan starring as a typical divorced man with 2 children. His wife gets involved with a gangster and when her new husband is wanted for a bank robbery, the mob strongly suggests that he marry her so that she can't testify against him. When he is caught, he turns the tables on the mob and is placed in the Witness Protection Program. Problem is that he leaves with his new wife and children, and the Caan character has every door slammed in his face when he tries to find out from the government what has happened to his children.This film shows you the inhumanity of the government in consideration of Caan's request. They will either ignore him or thwart any attempt of his to make contact with his children.Caan plays the desperate father quite well.
Poseidon-3 Based on a true story, working class father Caan is stunned to find that his two children from a previous marriage have been swallowed up by the witness protection program, leaving him with no avenue to see them or contact them. Caan, a veteran and an employee at a Buffalo, NY rubber factory, enjoys spending time with his young son and daughter until their mother (Rae) becomes involved with a hood who has ties to the mob. When the hood (Viharo) informs on a dozen of his former mob cronies, he is assigned a new name, new job and new geographic location, taking Rae and the children with him. Caan, who has just begun a new relationship with rather prim and sensitive schoolteacher Eikenberry, exhausts every method he can think of to locate and become reunited with his children, encountering governmental opposition and red tape at every turn. Caan, who also directed this film, gives a very low-key, but effective performance. He is never tempted to overplay his heartache, anger or frustration and refrains from overindulgence, though occasionally he threatens to (or does!) lose his cool. He presents an amiable, though lower-class, character but doesn't play up things like a thick accent or excessively brutish qualities. Eikenberry is a serene, endearing presence who understandably wears down during Caan's endless quest, but shows quiet strength and support when it's needed. Many familiar TV and movie faces people the supporting cast. Grifasi, as Cann's co-worker and friend, gets a rare chance to play a regular guy in contrast top the many quirky or comedic roles he's enacted. Aiello is good as a lawyer who agrees to take on Caan's case. Clennon, who would later make a splash on "Thirtysomething" appears as a snotty attorney who draws Caan's ire. The film benefits greatly from authentic location work and an overriding sense of realism. The acting is decent throughout. Where it falters some is in its period detail. The story is set in 1967 but, aside from some bouffant hair and period cars, there is precious little to suggest that this isn't the mid to late 70's. The primary difference is in the make-up. Women (especially like Rae's somewhat tawdry character) wore far heavier eye make-up, including false eyelashes. Eikenberry, in particular, rarely looks like someone from 1967. Another quibble is the apparent time-line. The true story played out over 8 years, which is a far more agonizing ordeal to live through than the approximately one year span shown here. Still, it's a thoughtful, realistic drama concerning a subject that hasn't gotten a lot of coverage in the cinema. To date, Caan has not again stepped behind the camera to direct.
jotix100 Never saw this film directed by James Caan, who also appears in the title role. This movie must have gone directly to video because we don't recollect if it ever was released commercially. The picture has a "movie of the week" feeling to it, which could well be the reason for not having received a wider release.The film makes an interesting point. Thomas Hacklin, a factory worker, has divorced his wife, but they have remained in friendly terms. We watch as Tom comes, at the start of the movie, to baby sit his son and daughter. Clearly, Tom adores these children.His divorced wife has remarried the small time hoodlum Jack Solese. When this man runs into problems with the law, he is offered a release and witness protection in exchange for his cooperation in getting the principal mobsters in jail. When he complies and points the finger to the responsible guys, Jack and his family are relocated to Michigan. Tom, on the other hand, is not notified about the where abouts. Thus begins his quest for his own children.James Caan, makes a good impression as the working class father. Jill Eikenberry plays Alisa, the woman who has settled in the area and loves Tom. The supporting cast is good. Robert Viharo, Joe Grifasi, Barbra Rae, Kenneth McMillan, Josef Sommer and Danny Aiello work well under Mr. Caan's direction.This is a curiosity because it's the only film directed by Mr. Caan.
ajosephi Now, I'm a big fan of car chases and big action, and I do love style for style's sake. But it's getting so it's hard to find anything but these things, even in a 'small' dramatic movie. This movie is quite genuine, it's got that 70's slower pace - a very natural build-up of the drama. James Caan's direction is clean and clever, and he plays that working class good man so well. The story is well handled, especially considering that it's based on true events, and without the overbearing score or dramatic character or situational embellishments that this film would have if it was made today. So refreshing.