Side by Side: The True Story of the Osmond Family

TV Movie
1982
Not Rated
1h 40m

IMDb RATING

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Side by Side: The True Story of the Osmond Family (1982)

This is the story of the Osmond Family and is based on the book written by Olive (Mother) Osmond. This film tells of the beginnings of this family and how they got to where they were by the ... Read allThis is the story of the Osmond Family and is based on the book written by Olive (Mother) Osmond. This film tells of the beginnings of this family and how they got to where they were by the late '70's.This is the story of the Osmond Family and is based on the book written by Olive (Mother) Osmond. This film tells of the beginnings of this family and how they got to where they were by the late '70's.

Director
- Russ Mayberry
Writers
- Ernie Wallengren
- Tom Lazarus
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

YOUR RATING

Director
- Russ Mayberry
Writers
- Ernie Wallengren
- Tom Lazarus
Stars

2User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

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Trivia
Marie Osmond played her own mother in this film about her family.

Goofs
The song used as George and Olive Osmond's "our song" is "Melody of Love" by The Four Aces. The music was written in 1903, so it is appropriate for the period. When George is singing the lyrics to his two sons and wife while Olive plays the organ (when they learn Tom can hear music), the scene is set in 1949 (based on the fact that Olive is pregnant with Alan). However, the lyrics were not published until 1954.

User reviews2

Review

Featured review

1/10

You better really be a fan to watch this...

The "true" story of the Osmonds, based on a book by Olive, Mama Osmond.

By 1982 the "Donny & Marie Show" had been cancelled and they both were struggling to latch onto something else in show biz. Marie would go on to record a few more hits and then do travelling musicals and get on with being a mother. Donny would release a few more floundering LPs and also try to break into stage production. The point is that by 1982 no one much cared to hear the story of the Osmonds, "true" or not. But it was work for Marie, strangely playing her own mother who will will see in a cameo with their father at the very end. It's a TV movie and all the low production values and film quality that go along with that are here. We see the perfect family doing everything just perfect, living their perfect lives and having perfect success. You get the idea that Olive's "True Story" may be a very sanitized version of what really went on. You can read between the lines here and see that their father was a driven person, determined to get his kids on stage and famous. I'm waiting for the Hollywood Babylon version myself. This movie should be watched for only two reasons. One, you are a huge fan and are ready to believe anything the Osmond publicity mills dished out back then or Two, you are in serious mockery mode and are ready to spend some quality time with loved ones making fun of this saccharin family. If you are neither of the above, rent "Mommy Dearest" for a more truthful Hollywood kid story.