User Reviews

At the movie's start, Dr. Gerald Klooster's wife Ruth is watching TV, and seeing people describe a certain act as murder. Then we go back five years.

Dr. Klooster is still able to enjoy being with his family. Two years later, he is making mistakes and having trouble with his memory. He may have to give up his practice, but the worst thing is that his mother had Alzheimer's and he hated watching her go downhill. He does not want the same thing to happen to him. In fact, he tells his wife he doesn't want to live if he gets to the point where he would have to go into a nursing home. Ruth reluctantly agrees, but later his children Kristen, Chip, Craig and Curt believe it was her idea to end his life. One of the sons even believes his father must be protected from his mother. The court fights over Dr. Klooster's situation gain national attention in the news media.

Richard Kiley does an outstanding job as Dr. Klooster, effectively showing the man when his mind is still relatively clear, as he tries to stay positive and push onward with life but ends up going through the various worries and emotions. Despite his determination, Dr. Klooster eventually begins to deteriorate, and Kiley is quite convincing as a man with the mind of a child, still making every effort to live and act normally. Eva Marie Saint also does a fine job.

I wish I could say the other actors in this movie were half as good as the stars. Margaret Colin does stand out as daughter Kristen. I often found the various events surrounding the older couple's decisions and the children's fights to be unpleasant and even fluff.

Overall, though, the scenes involving Dr. Klooster and Ruth were very good.

This movie Falsely accuses Dr. Klooster of wanting to end his life!! Dr. Klooster was a very happy man throughout his life and was not in any pain. When asked if he wanted to die, he clearly stated "No!" His wife would not allow Dr. Klooster to speak with anyone unless she was present. She didn't want to risk losing the life insurance policy, therefore she answered for husband, and even told her family so. Her mind was made up and there was no changing it. The story is completely about the greed of a woman who was completely pampered by this lovely man, and now the table was turned, yet she would not care for her husband. Unfortunately, the movie does not portray this truth.

This Lifetime-produced movie is the (mostly accurate) tragic story of a very nice man and a great Doctor whom delivered all three of my wife's children in 1971, 1973 and 1975 while he was employed at Kaiser Hospital in Hayward, California. He was her doctor for 7 years.

Kiley did a good job capturing his essence as always smiling, right down to the trademark "ivy cap". I wish the writers would have spent a little more time showing some of his bedside manner before rushing into the Alzheimers issue.

No matter what your stand on assisted suicide, this heart wrenching and thought-provoking tale is highly recommended and gets an 8 from me.

An outstanding movie about the effect of aging on a large family and the wish by the father to not live out the agony of his disease. Two great actors in Eva Marie Saint and Richard Kiley give it depth and emotion. A real must see for those struggling with assisted suicide and or Alzheimers.

There have been many films dealing with the heartbreak and tragedy of Alzheimer's and those who have it and those who take care of them. " A Time To Say Goodbye" is a true story about the Klooster Family and how they deal with their patriarch, the wonderful Richard Kiley, as he slowly slides into dementia. The brilliant and subtle actress, Eva Marie Saint, gives a tour de force performance as his wife, Ruth who must make decisions not only regarding her husband's wishes, but also those regarding a family torn apart by this disease. The whole cast gives a Master's Class in acting with Margaret Colin also being a stand out.