Out Of Time

Winner of a 1985 Alpha Award for Excellence in Children's Programming, this made-for-TV tale is an enjoyable fantasy about time travel. When Bridgette and Martin Frommer's father is forced to auction off their farm, the kids take a last look see in the barn, and discover a trunk which belonged to one of their ancestors: Otto Frommer. When the children's father tells Bridgette that Otto was the black sheep of the family, and that it is largely due to his irresponsibility that the farm is being sold, Bridgette refuses to believe it. A freak thunderstorm twirls the kids back in time to the year 1851, the year of Otto Frommer's death, and Bridgette and Martin learn the true story of their "gambling, slave-owning" forbear. It turns out that Otto did gamble and buy slaves...but only to set them free. Deftly mixing humor, suspense, and social commentary, Out of Time also features fine performances by its young thespians: Amy Locane, R. D. Robb, and Adam Baldwin. Recommended.