Theme Song: A bunch of violins.
Interesting Dated References: Having open and frank discussions about abortion with a focus on how it can impact your life, regardless of which path you take.
Social Context: The Choice covers all aspects of abortion with a heavy focus on the mental health of the woman contemplating the procedure. All of it is coated in a made-for-television mawkishness, but it’s surprisingly insightful for 1981.
Summary: Lisa Clements, a college student with a handsome boyfriend named Michael, discovers she’s pregnant. This is at odds with her plans to move across the country to start her career and a new post-college life.
After returning home to contemplate abortion, she spills the secret to her mom, Kay (Susan Clark), who proceeds to recount via flashback her own abortion story.
From there, things get somewhat procedural as Kay runs into typical roadblocks of the era, like doctors who won’t talk with her unless her husband is present and “Abortion Advisor” counseling centers set up just to convince you to keep the baby through shock tactics.
Eventually, she ends up in the community hospital where she and other women help each other convalesce post-abortion. Again, conversations are frank, with a nice focus on mental health. But the entire time this is going on, Kay’s husband Jerry (a super-intense Mitch Ryan) is absolutely losing his shit midlife crisis-style and yelling and ranting constantly about “turning 40” and going off to have an affair with a coworker.
Kay eventually tells her husband, and they somewhat reconcile. Then we return to the present day, where she and her daughter part ways with a ‘you choose what’s best for you’ message.
Worth Mentioning:
– Mitch Ryan’s performance as the husband in emotional crisis is over the top. I wasn’t previously familiar with him, but he’s absolutely shrieking at every moment. Well done.
Cheryl “Rainbeaux” Smith turns in a great performance as one of the hospital ward abortion recipients.
Poster and Box Art: Super-nice illustration and composition on this television print ad. I could not find an illustrator credit.
The home video release box is less exciting.
