...First Do No Harm (1997)
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- PG-13
- 1h 34min
- Drama
- 16 Feb 1997 (USA)
- TV Movie
The story of one woman's struggle against a narrow-minded medical establishment.
Director:
Writer:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Meryl Streep | ... |
Lori Reimuller
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| Fred Ward | ... |
Dave Reimuller
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| Seth Adkins | ... |
Robbie Reimuller
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| Margo Martindale | ... |
Marjean
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| Allison Janney | ... |
Dr. Melanie Abbasac
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| Oni Faida Lampley | ... |
Marsha Williams
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| Leo Burmester | ... |
Bob Purdue
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| Tom Butler | ... |
Dr. Jim Peterson
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Mairon Bennett | ... |
Lynne Reimuller
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Michael Yarmush | ... |
Mark Reimuller
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| Sean McCann |
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Millicent Kelly | ... |
Self
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| Philip Williams |
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Philip Akin |
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Damir Andrei |
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| Marcia Bennett | ... |
Gail
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Charlie Abrahams | ... |
Playroom Playmate
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Diana Belshaw | ... |
Business Rep.
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Lorraine Brockway | ... |
Lili's Grandmother
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Tannis Burnett | ... |
Grocery Checker
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Dick Callahan | ... |
Gene Falconetti
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Hugo Dann | ... |
Priest
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Douglas Foster | ... |
Orderly
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| Lynne Griffin | ... |
Clinic Receptionist
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| Kyra Harper | ... |
Indigent Woman
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Ann Holloway | ... |
Helen
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Kelly Knutsen | ... |
Security Guard
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Darlene Mignacco | ... |
Nurse Trish
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Marianne Moroney | ... |
Playroom Mom
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Jennifer Podemski | ... |
Hogelman Nurse
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| Jeff Poulis | ... |
Nurse
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Jennifer Roblin | ... |
Young M.D.
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Robert Seale | ... |
Dr. Alison
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Barbara Stewart | ... |
Librarian
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| Austin Strugnell | ... |
Classmate
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Mark Taylor | ... |
Spinal Tap Physician
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Ingrid Veninger | ... |
Young Teacher
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Lorna Wilson | ... |
Mother Superior
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| Timm Zemanek | ... |
Loan Rep.
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Michael G. Brown | ... |
Head Librarian (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Jim Abrahams | ||
Written by
| Ann Beckett | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Jim Abrahams | ... | executive producer / producer |
| Howard Braunstein | ... | executive producer |
| Michael Jaffe | ... | executive producer |
| Alda Neves | ... | co-producer |
| Meryl Streep | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Hummie Mann | ||
Cinematography by
| Pierre Letarte | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Terry Stokes | ||
Editorial Department
| Kimberley Bradley | ... | post-production assistant (as Kim Bradley) |
| Alan Z. McCurdy | ... | assistant editor |
| Chris Blacklock | ... | colorist (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Deirdre Bowen | ||
| Jackie Burch | ||
Production Design by
| Karen Bromley | ||
Set Decoration by
| Wayne Jacques | ||
Costume Design by
| Lynne MacKay | ||
Makeup Department
| Mary-Lou Green-Benvenuti | ... | key hair stylist |
| Christine Hart | ... | key makeup artist |
| J. Roy Helland | ... | hair stylist: Meryl Steep / makeup artist: Meryl Steep |
Production Management
| Marilyn Stonehouse | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Patrick Arias | ... | dga trainee |
| Cynthia Clayton | ... | second assistant director |
| Libby Hodgson | ... | first assistant director |
| Kevin Hourigan | ... | third assistant director |
| Mary Sylwester | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Ronald Bunt | ... | head carpenter (as Ron Bunt) |
| Nonie Ferguson | ... | first assistant art director |
| Mike Franklin | ... | assistant property master |
| Willi Holst | ... | head painter (as Willie Holst) |
| John Mackenzie | ... | construction coordinator |
| Henry Piersig | ... | set dresser |
| Jeff Poulis | ... | property master |
| Brian Verhoog | ... | second assistant art director |
| Mary Arthurs | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Michele Cook | ... | dialogue editor |
| Keith Elliott | ... | second sound mixer |
| Colin Jones | ... | boom operator |
| Tom Mather | ... | sound mixer |
| Scott Purdy | ... | lead mixer |
| Scott Shepherd | ... | third mixer (as Scott Shephard) |
| Arnie Stewart | ... | sound editor (as Arnold Stewart) |
Special Effects by
| Laird McMurray | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Marco Bianco | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Tony Cordeiro | ... | stunts |
| Robert Hannah | ... | stunts (as Bobby Hannah) |
| Ron Van Hart | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Kevin Alanthwaite | ... | gaffer |
| Michelle Beaudette | ... | second assistant camera |
| Jonathan Billings | ... | key grip |
| David Breeze | ... | best boy electric |
| Hugh Brule | ... | dolly grip |
| Philippe Champion | ... | first assistant camera |
| Henri Fiks | ... | camera operator |
| Robert Johnson | ... | best boy grip |
| Anita Kuno | ... | camera trainee |
| Bruce Macaulay | ... | still photographer |
Casting Department
| Donna Dupere | ... | extras casting |
| Elizabeth Marx | ... | casting associate: USA |
| Paula Zetterberg | ... | casting assistant: Canada |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Ann Henshaw | ... | assistant costume designer |
| Karen Renaut | ... | wardrobe mistress (as Karen Renault) |
| Marcia Scott | ... | assistant wardrobe |
Location Management
| Debra Beers | ... | location manager (as Debbie Beers) |
| Beverley Kolbe | ... | assistant location manager |
| Ron Tailleur | ... | location production assistant |
Script and Continuity Department
| Blanche McDermaid | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Pat Deaudrow | ... | head driver (as Pat Beaudrow) |
| Matt Garland | ... | driver captain |
| Jim Kennedy | ... | transportation coordinator |
Additional Crew
| Amy Berkenbile | ... | assistant: Mr. Braunstein |
| Jack I. Bernstein | ... | assistant: Mr. Abrahams (as Jack Bernstein) |
| Jack Boem | ... | production assistant |
| Lesley Boylen | ... | assistant production coordinator (as Leslie Boylen) |
| Shelley A. Boylen | ... | production coordinator |
| Laurel Bresnahan | ... | tutor |
| Cara Chisholm | ... | stand-in: Seth Adkins |
| Andrea H. Greaney | ... | assistant accountant (as Andrea Greaney) |
| Edythe Hall | ... | production accountant (as Edyth Hall) |
| Lynn Josephson Delaney | ... | assistant: Mr. Jaffe (as Lynne Delaney Josephson) |
| Candy Langan | ... | assistant: Ms. Streep |
| Christine Manning | ... | stand-in: Ms. Streep |
| Mary McCusker | ... | acting coach: Seth Adkins |
| Jerri Nichols-Sutherling | ... | medical consultant |
| Rick Parker | ... | wrangler |
| Fero Prokop | ... | stand-in: Mr. Ward |
| William W. Sutherling | ... | medical consultant |
Thanks
| Alex Applefeld | ... | special thanks |
| Kevin Bacon | ... | special thanks |
| George Cawood | ... | special thanks |
| Rosalind M. Curtis | ... | special thanks |
| Ed Ham | ... | thanks |
| Lisa Marucci | ... | special thanks |
| Cath O'Brien | ... | special thanks (as Cathy O'Brien) |
| Michael Rintoul | ... | special thanks |
| Vesna Svilanovic | ... | special thanks (as Vesna Svilanovich) |
| Paul Taylor | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Akros (1997) (Japan) (VHS)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1997) (United States) (tv) (original airing)
- Disney-ABC Domestic Television (1997) (United States) (tv)
- Mill Creek Entertainment (2012) (United States) (DVD)
- Pidax Film (2019) (Germany) (DVD)
- Tesera Entertainment (2022) (United States)
- Touchstone Home Entertainment (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- Touchstone Home Video (1997) (United States) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- William F. White International (grip and lighting equipment)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
When Lori Reimuller learns that her young son Robbie has epilepsy, she first trusts the judgment of the hospital staff in how best to bring it under control. As Robbie's health slides radically downhill, however, she becomes frustrated and desperate, and so does her own research into the existing literature on treatments. When she decides to try an alternative treatment called the Ketogenic Diet, devised long ago by a doctor from Johns Hopkins, she is met with narrow-minded resistance from Robbie's doctor, who is prepared to take legal action to prevent Lori from removing him from the hospital. This movie is an indictment of those in the medical profession who discuss only the treatment options they favor. Several of the minor characters are portrayed by people who have been not just helped, but cured by the Ketogenic diet.
Written by Debra K. Day |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Meryl Streep was so moved by the subject of the project that she gave her time freely and was not compensated financially. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1997). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Over the Rainbow See more » |