A Step Toward Tomorrow (1996)

Director:

Deborah Reinisch

Writers (WGA):

Tom Nursall (written by) &
Harris Goldberg (written by)

Release Date:

10 November 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A divorcee moves her family cross-country to take her paralyzed son to a pioneer neurosurgeon. |

Plot Keywords:

Paralysis | Wheelchair | Brother Brother Relationship | Independent Film

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Judith Light	...	Anna Lerner
Tom Irwin	...	Dr. Decker
Christopher Reeve	...	Denny Gabriel
Alfre Woodard	...	Dr. Sandlin
Kendall Cunningham	...	Georgie Lerner
Tim Redwine	...	Ben Lerner
Brad Dourif	...	Kirby
Nick Searcy	...	Jim
Lee Norris	...	Perry
Joey Stinson	...	Kevin
Amanda Minikus	...	Terry
Van Hughes	...	Derek Hastings (as Van Michael Hughs)
Michael Ayers	...	Lawrence
Christopher Fennell	...	Joel
Rasool J'Han	...	Teacher
General Fermon Judd Jr.	...	Nurse
Richard K. Olsen	...	Arners
Nina Repeta	...	Monica
Nelson George	...	Senior Citizen
Joe Inscoe	...	Lowell Birch
Jeff Hochendoner	...	Officer
John C. Liguori	...	Exam Doctor (as John C. Liguori M.D.)

Directed by
Deborah Reinisch

Writing credits (WGA)
Tom Nursall		(written by) &
Harris Goldberg		(written by)

Produced by
Craig Anderson	....	executive producer
Marty Eli Schwartz	....	producer

Original Music by
Ron Ramin

Cinematography by
Neil Roach		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Scott Vickrey

Production Design by
C. Robert Holloway

Art Direction by
Geoffrey S. Grimsman

Set Decoration by
Tim Pope

Costume Design by
Patsy Rainey

Makeup Department
Rudolph Eavy III	....	makeup artist (as Rudolph Eavey III)
Mary Hedges Lampert	....	hair stylist (as Mary Lampert)
Susan Buffington	....	assistant hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Ric Rondell	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Waldeck	....	second assistant director
Michele Ziegler	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Alton McClellan	....	charge scenic
Richard Waldrop	....	prop master
Alyce Fahsholtz	....	art department coordinator (uncredited)
John France	....	leadman (uncredited)
Bob Smith	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Wayne Artman	....	sound re-recording mixer
G. Michael Graham	....	sound supervisor
Robert L. Harman	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Robert Harmon)
Douglas L. Hill	....	boom (as Doug Hill)
Dennis Sager	....	re-recording engineer
Steven R. Smith	....	sound mixer (as Steve Smith)
J.R. Westen	....	sound re-recording mixer (as J.R. Weston)
Bob Costanza	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Stunts
John Gilbert	....	stunt double: Tim Redwine & Kendall Cunningham (uncredited)
Gregg Smrz	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric Bartsch	....	key grip
Kelly Curry	....	best boy grip
Guy D'Alema	....	still photographer
Rusty Edmonson	....	lighting technician
Keith Pickett	....	best boy (as Marshall Keith Pickett)
Mike Satrazemis	....	first assistant camera (as Michael Satrazimas)
James Tomaro	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Francine Decoursey	....	extras casting
Judith Holstra	....	casting

Editorial Department
Paul Karasick	....	associate editor

Music Department
Lori Slomka	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Sonya Tomaro	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Mitzi G. Corrigan	....	script supervisor
Eleanor Hemingway	....	production coordinator
John C. Liguori	....	medical advisor (as John C. Liguori M.D.)
Caroline Korney	....	production accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Cap Pictures (uncredited)
• Craig Anderson Productions
• Hallmark Entertainment (in assocation with)

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1996) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Other Companies

• Dog Run Productions  author: Berne Convention
• Echo Sound Services  sound editing
• Fincannon & Associates  location casting (as Fincannon and Associates)
• f-Stop  titles and opticals (as F-Stop, Inc.)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:PG

Company:

Cap Pictures

Trivia:

This was Christopher Reeve's first role after the accident that left him paralysed as well as his final feature film appearance. All of his subsequent roles were on television.

A true "family" movie...

This movie is about a single mother, who has two sons, one of them is in a wheelchair because of an accident which happened two years earlier. They all move to a new town, where they try to establish themselves, and tries to find a new doctor who maybe can help the boy, so that he can be healthy again and live without so much pain.

Judith Light is excellent as the mother, Anna Lerner, who tackles every situation with a good sense of humor, and seems to be a very good and loving mother, who just wants the best for her sons.

Tom Irwin plays Dr. David Decker, who does everything he possibly can to help the family, and....well, I won't reveal too much of the plot, but he certainly likes them all, and is very likeable himself.

Fans of Christopher Reeve and Brad Dourif (whom I am one of) will probably be a bit disappointed because they don't have much time in this movie, but they seem very believable and act great in the short time they do get on the screen.

-I couldn't avoid laughing when Dourif was introduced by the kid's as "Kirby, the gravedigger...people say he's insane and has buried 10 people alive!!"... because he almost always plays psycho-roles like that, but this one was quite different, and not at all mentally deranged (well, maybe a little bit, but in a good way).

Chistopher Reeve is Denny Gabrial, a man in a wheelchair (of course), who becomes very good friends with the little boy in the wheelchair. It is a very sympathetic role, and it is nice to see him make a comeback to the screen again, although his role is somewhat small and not really a part of the plot.

When all adds up, this is a movie who kids may like (because it shows the relationship between two brothers, and how hard it is to cope with the fact that ones brother is disabled, and so forth). Parents will probably also like it, because it shows how hard it can be to be a single parent, having a handicapped child, etc.

Even though I mostly watch action-movies, this one was good in another way, and I give this movie 7/10, because I felt good watching it, and had a good feeling after it ended, and also because I liked the cast.