A Private Matter

*A Private Matter*
A Private Matter
	HBO Pictures
Original release
Network	HBO
Release	June 20, 1992

A Private Matter is a 1992 American

first trimester of her fifth pregnancy. She was the popular hostess of the locally produced children's television show Romper Room

.

Plot

She was taking the drug

therapeutic abortion at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix.^[2]

Abortion was illegal in Arizona in the 1960s, but exceptions were made if the mother’s life was at risk, and under this exception, abortions were performed in hospitals regularly. The Finkbines scheduled an abortion, but when Sherri’s story was picked up by the media it created a media firestorm. An acquaintance who worked for the

Arizona Republic had asked Sherri, on a promise of anonymity, to share her story. Sherri agreed, hoping that by doing so she could warn other women about the dangers of thalidomide. Her identity was exposed, however, and her private decision was soon subjected to public scrutiny. The film shows the harassment the family went through as they went through various appeals as they sought to obtain abortion services.^[3]

The hospital refused the use of their facilities for an abortion so Finkbine filed a lawsuit to compel the use of Good Samaritan Hospital. A public and bitter struggle ensued, culminating with Finkbine terminating her pregnancy in Sweden.^[4]

The movie premiered on HBO on June 20, 1992.^[1] It was noted at the time of the movie's release that U.S. network television had shied away from stories dealing with abortion.^[5]

Cast

Sherri Finkbine
Aidan Quinn as Bob Finkbine
Estelle Parsons as Mary Chessen
Sheila McCarthy as Diane Callaghan
Leon Russom as Steve Morris
Xander Berkeley as Peter Zenner
Jeff Perry as Randall Everett
Steven Gilborn as Harvey

References

^ ^a ^b Quindlen, Anna (June 18, 1992). "A Private Matter". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
^ "'A Private Matter'; Sherri Finkbine's 1962 Abortion". The Washington Post. June 14, 1992. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
^ "Sherri Finkbine's Abortion: Its Meaning 50 Years Later". Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona. August 15, 2012.
^ Tucker, Ken (June 19, 1992). "A Private Matter". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
^ Kogan, Rick (June 19, 1992). "The Finkbine Case". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2010.

External links

A Private Matter at
IMDb

[quin-1] Quindlen, Anna (June 18, 1992). "A Private Matter". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2010.

[art1-2] "'A Private Matter'; Sherri Finkbine's 1962 Abortion". The Washington Post. June 14, 1992. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2010.

[PPAA-3] "Sherri Finkbine's Abortion: Its Meaning 50 Years Later". Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona. August 15, 2012.

[term1-4] Tucker, Ken (June 19, 1992). "A Private Matter". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 30, 2023.

[trib1-5] Kogan, Rick (June 19, 1992). "The Finkbine Case". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2010.

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