Three Identical Strangers
Director
Tim Wardle
Writer
Actors
David Kellman, Robert Shafran, Eddy Galland, Lawrence Wright
Runtime
1 h 36 min
Release Date
29 June 2018
Genres
Documentary
Overview
New York, 1980. Three complete strangers accidentally discover that they're identical triplets, separated at birth. The 19-year-olds' joyous reunion catapults them to international fame, but also unlocks an extraordinary and disturbing secret that goes beyond their own lives – and could transform our understanding of human nature forever.
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THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS

 

Triplets born in 1961, are put up for adoption,

It was just another adoption in New York City, or was it?

The 6-month old triplets were separated and given to three different families.

Why did they do that, how could they do that?

The infants names were Bobby, David & Eddy, and this is their story.

Triplets born 1961 adoption

This 96 minute documentary by CNN Films, about triplets put up for adoption in 1961, plays like a double episode of NBC’s Dateline, the intro above should have been given by Datelines’ Lester Holt or Keith Morrison (the guy with the white hair). Bobby, David & Eddy never knew their brothers existed until friends, acquaintances, and photos in the newspaper got them together when they were 19-years old. After meeting they instantly became close and quickly became celebrities in the NYC area during the 1980’s. The documentary is good at slowly unfolding the story and getting you to like the three brothers before …reality strikes. Combines all the elements of a good Dateline TV show, a little science, some fun, some warmness, unethical/criminal elements, sadness, and closure, in fact, this movie is exactly like Dateline. The actual brothers, family members, and people involved are interviewed and all are sincere and genuine making it very easy to watch – and there was a reason for the separation.

Triplets born 1961 adoption

 

 

 

The Biggest Spoiler: The Ending

A Jewish Adoption Agency in NYC working with two psychiatrists (Viola W. Bernard & Peter B. Neubauer) were conducting a “nurture versus nature” experiment. Separating identical twins and triplets, sending them to families of different social and economic stature, and then interviewing and testing the kids over at least 8 years to determine how the different socio-economic levels effect development.

The brothers found they were similar in some ways (genetic nature), but they thought the amount of time the parents could spend with them probably made the difference in becoming well adjusted (nurture). Some quotes from the families involved; “Genes & environment are close competitors;” “Nurture can overcome nearly everything.” No word from the scientists, they ran away and legally sealed the findings in the Yale University Library until 2066, no findings were published. The brothers recently got access to the data, so maybe someday any discoveries will be shared.

Eddy who was given to the rich family committed suicide, all the brothers liked the blue-collar Dad the best, each brother was under psychiatric care at some point in the first 19 years of life, the days before they knew each other (genetic nature).

 

 

 

 

 

Movie Details

Director
Tim Wardle
Writer
Actors
David Kellman, Robert Shafran, Eddy Galland, Lawrence Wright
Runtime
1 h 36 min
Release Date
29 June 2018
Genres
Documentary
Overview
New York, 1980. Three complete strangers accidentally discover that they're identical triplets, separated at birth. The 19-year-olds' joyous reunion catapults them to international fame, but also unlocks an extraordinary and disturbing secret that goes beyond their own lives – and could transform our understanding of human nature forever.

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