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HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: WHAT THE DEAF MAN HEARD (TV)

Summary

One in this series of dramas presented by Hallmark. When young Sammy Ayers's mother vanishes during a rest stop on a long bus trip, the boy obeys her last words to him with solemn intensity: "not one more word, Sammy." Sammy arrives alone in the small southern town of Barrington, where he pretends to be deaf and mute. Cared for by the kindly stationmaster Norm Jenkins and short-order cook Lucille, Sammy grows into a watchful, clever young man, earning a reputation as the best handyman in town. Sammy's "afflictions" enable him to to learn a great deal about the secrets of Barrington, as he becomes a fixture in the household of the rich and influential Tynan family, which includes the cold and arrogant widow Mrs. Tynan and her bullying son Tolliver, who treat Sammy with contempt, and Tolliver's sweet adopted sister Tallasse, whose kindness inspires Sammy's romantic devotion. Capitalizing on the careless way people speak in the presence of the deaf, Sammy learns of Tolliver's embezzlement scheme involving the local church and its new minister, the callow but well-intentioned Perry Pruitt. In his efforts to thwart Tolliver's plans, Sammy enlists the aid of wily Archibald Thacker, Barrington's duplicitous junk-hauler, who lives a secret life of his own. After a chaotic sequence of events (including the burning of the church), Sammy breaks his silence when called as a witness in Tolliver's trial, and the repercussions change Barrington forever. Norm's final revelation to his ward proves even more shocking than Sammy's twenty-year deception, as it explains his true connection to the Tynan family. Includes commercials and promos. This program is closed-captioned.

("Hallmark Hall of Fame" aired on NBC from 1952 to 1978; network affiliation varies after 1978.)

(Beginning with the live telecast of "Amahl and the Night Visitors" on December 24, 1951, Hallmark has sponsored a series of dramatic specials which since 1952 have been titled "Hallmark Hall of Fame." From 1952 to 1955 Hallmark also presented "Hallmark Hall of Fame," a weekly half-hour dramatic anthology series hosted by Sarah Churchill. The First program, "Dr. Serocold," was televised in January 1952 under the title "Hallmark Television Theatre." This series also ran under the title "Hallmark Summer Theatre" in July and August 1952.)

Cataloging of this program was made possible by Hallmark Cards, 1997.

Details

  • NETWORK: CBS
  • DATE: November 23, 1997 9:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:56:33
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:51750
  • GENRE: Drama
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
  • SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1997
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - Hallmark "Home for the Holidays" record album
    • TV - Commercials - Hallmark Christmas ornaments
    • TV - Commercials - Hallmark greeting cards
    • TV - Promos - "Brooklyn South"
    • TV - Promos - "Candid Camera Looks at Love"
    • TV - Promos - "Cosby"
    • TV - Promos - "Everybody Loves Raymond"
    • TV - Promos - "Indefensible: The Truth About Richard Brannigan"

CREDITS

  • Richard Welsh … Executive Producer
  • Brent Shields … Co-Executive Producer
  • Tom Luse … Supervising Producer
  • John Kent Harrison … Director
  • Robert W. Lenski … Writer
  • G.D. Gearino … Based on the novel by
  • J.A.C. Redford … Music by
  • Matthew Modine … Cast, Sammy Ayers
  • Claire Bloom … Cast, Mrs. Tynan
  • Judith Ivey … Cast, Lucille
  • James Earl Jones … Cast, Archibald Thacker
  • Jerry O'Connell … Cast, Rev. Perry Ray Pruitt
  • Bernadette Peters … Cast, Helen Ayers
  • Tom Skerritt … Cast, Norman Jenkins
  • Anne Bobby … Cast, Tallasse Tynan
  • Stephen Spinella … Cast, Percy
  • Jake Weber … Cast, Tolliver Tynan
  • Frankie Muniz … Cast, Young Sammy
  • Andy Stahl … Cast, Finis
  • Tyler Noyes … Cast, Young Tolliver
  • Hallee Hirsh … Cast, Young Tallasse
  • Teagle F. Bougere … Cast, Abraham Thacker
  • Lance Reddick … Cast, George Thacker
  • Daniel Kamin … Cast, the Judge
  • Patrick Garner … Cast, the Drunk
  • Mary Lucy Bivins … Cast, Mrs. Raymond
  • Patt Noday … Cast, the TV Reporter
  • Terry Neinhuis … Cast, Officer Harvey
  • Lori Lindberg … Cast, Miss Shaw
  • J.R. Horne … Cast, Attorney Rubicoff
  • Karen Williams … Cast, Rachel