There Was a Little Boy (Brazil: The Shadow of a Past) is a 1993 American drama film directed by Mimi Leder. Originally shown by CBS on May 16, 1993, it featured actors Cybill Shepherd, John Heard and Scott Bairstow. The film was based on Claire R. Jacobs' novel. Executive producer Craig Anderson decided that actress Cybill Shepherd would order, on a list of several films, the director of the project and the chosen option was Mimi Leder, who produced years earlier for CBS, the China Beach series.