Touched by Love (1980)

A young nurse becomes determined to reach an unresponsive teenage cerebral palsy patient by encouraging her to write to her favorite rock singer, Elvis Presley.

Director:

Gus Trikonis

Writers:

Lena Canada (based on the book by: "To Elvis With Love"), Hesper Anderson (screenplay)

Stars:

Deborah Raffin, Diane Lane, Michael Learned

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Deborah Raffin	...	Lena Canada
Diane Lane	...	Karen
Michael Learned	...	Dr. Bell
John Amos	...	Tony
Cristina Raines	...	Amy
Mary Wickes	...	Margaret
Clu Gulager	...	Don Fielder
Twyla-Dawn Vokins	...	Monica (as Twyla Volkins)
Clive Shalom	...	Topper - Child
Jason Bates	...	Child
Joseph John Bondok	...	Child
Beverly Chapman	...	Child
Jennifer Collins	...	Child
Cathy Corns	...	Child
Rhonda De Jong	...	Child

Storyline

A young nurse becomes determined to reach an unresponsive teenage cerebral palsy patient by encouraging her to write to her favorite rock singer, Elvis Presley.

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Plot Keywords:

cerebral palsy | elvis presley | based on short story | pen pal | independent film

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 October 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

To Elvis, with Love

Filming Locations:

Banff, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Rastar Films, Dove

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Much of the score by John Barry are variations of the tune for "Aura Lee," which is the song on which Elvis' "Love Me Tender" was based.

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Crazy Credits

(Closing dedication) This film is dedicated to Lena for her gift of love and conviction... To Karen for courage and determination... And, above all, to all the Karens everywhere who may need a friend to say "I care"... a friend like you.

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Soundtracks

"Don't Be Cruel"
Written by Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley

User Reviews

An excellent Sleeper-A MUST SEE!

I saw this film as an accident, after having watched a film I'd planned on viewing, but actually liked this film better than the one I'd planned on watching! I've been a fan of Diane Lane for years, ever since I saw the OLDEST LIVING CONFEDERATE WIDOW that she was in, among others, and she was flawless in this one, though she was only 15 at the time. She and Deborah Raffin are simply superb as a Cerebral Palsy victim and a young woman who comes to work in a mountain therapy center (in Canada, I think) and how they differ from each other at first and come to relate to one another, with Elvis Presley as an unseen but present part of her therapy. I never was able to deduce if this was a true story or not, but I hope it is, as it is not only well acted all around but a nice story of how kind big stars can be, and I believe Elvis could have and really was as nice as he was portrayed in this film. See it; it's a winner!