Three Identical Strangers documentary about the 3 separated triplets who were also in Desperately Seeking Susan.

I was hoping it was about the Rockland brothers.

I loved this movie. It went from unbelievable to horrifying.

They sure were cute in a Jewish-goombah way when they were younger. It didn't last.

From Desperately Seeking Susan with Madonna:

POW

Those tight pants on Donahue and tight jeans in DSS are very alluring x 3.

Lovely bulge trio.

Watch starting from 3:34 to see the triplets in DSS:

They were so hot for about 3 minutes.

Fascinating documentary. Really stunning in every meaning of the word.

Did any of them date Madonna?

If by date you mean a spit-roasting or and EyeFull Tower Wheel Barrow, then yes.

I thought Laurie Metcalf was Lorraine Bracco in that clip. Maybe they were separated at birth too.

DL discussed this when it first came out. What a wacky story

R12, I can't find the thread

It was interesting that they were adopted into three different social/economic groups. Showed a heavy leaning toward 'nurture' in the nurture or nature debate.

I think Eddy's manic-depressive diagnosis leaned toward nature. Even if he had been raised in a family he fit into better, he would likely have faced the same struggle. I wish he had had an easier life. I felt sorry for his adoptive father too, a strict schoolteacher who admitted he was "quiet and not expressive," but who clearly loved his son. I think I would rather have had him adopt me than the effusive, life of the party guy who adopted David; it might be kind of exhausting. David reminded me of Jon Lovitz by the end of the film.

And the triplet that grew up in the working class family was the most well adjusted and seemed the happiest.

It's also available to buy on DVD and Blu-ray.

Triple play

I remember when this story came out in early 80s - I want to say 1981? I remember what a sensation it was.

But I saw this documentary in the theater about 4-5 years ago and it made my blood boil.

They have all of the documentation of who is adopted and if they have siblings - but they won't release it. It's so unethical and disturbing.

It's worth a watch - but it leaves you really pissed off at a lot of people and institutions.

Yes, it's shocking how they were separated to facilitate sociological studies. I also wondered if they ever asked their birth mother about their biological father. I think they said he was her prom date, but not much else about him. They look a bit like the mom in the yearbook photo they showed, but I suspect their dad was quite hot.

R20 - but it wasn't just them - there were others. And nobody was helping or providing the details to help people find any potential lost siblings.

I remember they mentioned their mom had some issues and potentially a drinking problem.

The worst is that the wealthy father asked to adopt all 3 to keep them together.

Were they in any other movies besides DSS?

I tried to watch the doc about them. Ultimately it was a boring one-trick-pony show.

R23, nope

When the documentary aired on HBO, (as someone mentioned above), there was a thread here. On that thread, someone who knew one of the twins personally was a regular poster. He posted about lots of stuff, personal details, not covered by the doc.

Hey man, if you're reading this and still around, any updates?

I saw the doc in a theater after it finished the festivals.

I found it absorbing, but the ending, where the filmmakers decided that the triplet who committed suicide had done so because his adoptive father didn’t show him the affection that the other two received from their adoptive families seemed amateurish and best, hateful and pointless at worst.

As if suicidal motivations can be solved definitively by armchair psychologist filmmakers. I’ve had two friends die by suicide, and the causes could be gauged, but never pinpointed, leaving the families haunted by what might’ve been done to head off the final desperation.

It absolutely ruined the movie for me and made me kind of hate the documentarians.

R25, I wish that I could find that thread. If someone can, please link it

Was Perfect Strangers based on this?

r4 Stupid as usual

[quote]I tried to watch the doc about them. Ultimately it was a boring one-trick-pony show.

R23 If this was an attempt at humor, it failed miserably.

It's on Tubi for free now