Best Kept Secrets

Laura Dietz is married to patrolman Blaise Dietz, who is trying to win a spot in a police investigative unit. When he is passed over, the reason turns out to be material about Laura's extramarital relationship that was taken from a department surveillance file that had been ordered destroyed. As Laura moves through legal channels to prove the department broke the law, she and her husband face gossip, suspicion, and cold shoulders from colleagues. The film follows their efforts to expose the misconduct while coping with the personal fallout, keeping attention on how secrecy, official records and rumor erode trust and reshape ordinary relationships. Emotional strain and procedural hurdles complicate their case, keeping attention on private consequences over courtroom drama.

Released as a 1984 American television movie, Best Kept Secrets was directed by Jerrold Freedman and adapted from an original teleplay by April Smith, and it stars Patty Duke, Frederic Forrest, Peter Coyote, Meg Foster and Albert Salmi for television.

As a made-for-TV feature it had no theatrical box office, debuting on television rather than in cinemas, so its audience was gauged by broadcast ratings and reviews instead of ticket sales. Broadcasters measured success through Nielsen ratings and critical reaction.

Critical and audience responses were modest, with small online ratings reflecting a positive lean, including a 7.5/10 score. Viewers and reviewers highlighted the lead performances, and the film raises questions about institutional power, personal privacy, blame and how official records can alter lives. Critics noted the script's moral restraint subtly.

While it didn't become a landmark, Best Kept Secrets intersected with 1980s debates on police surveillance and civil liberties, offering viewers a domestic perspective on institutional overreach. The film's focus on secrecy and reputation resonated with audiences concerned about the reach of official investigations. Themes still echo in TV dramas.