What the Deaf Man Heard (TV 1997)

Arriving in a new town, a child pretends to be deaf-mute to protect himself - a ruse which works so well that for twenty years he is custodian to all the town's secrets.

Director:

John Kent Harrison

Writers:

G.D. Gearino (novel), Robert W. Lenski (teleplay)

Stars:

Matthew Modine, Claire Bloom, Judith Ivey

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matthew Modine	...	Sammy Ayers
Claire Bloom	...	Mrs. Tynan
Judith Ivey	...	Lucille
James Earl Jones	...	Archibald Thacker
Jerry O'Connell	...	Reverend Perry Ray Pruitt
Bernadette Peters	...	Helen Ayers
Tom Skerritt	...	Norm Jenkins
Anne Bobby	...	Tallasse Tynan
Stephen Spinella	...	Percy
Jake Weber	...	Tolliver Tynan
Frankie Muniz	...	Young Sammy
Andy Stahl	...	Finis
Tyler Noyes	...	Young Tolliver
Hallee Hirsh	...	Young Tallasse
Teagle F. Bougere	...	Abraham Thacker

Storyline

In 1945, a young boy arrives in a small Georgia town on a bus from which his mother was abducted and murdered. Alone he sits quietly and everyone becomes convinced that he is deaf and mute. Deciding that silence offers some power and protection, the boy decides to remain mute and just listens to all that is being said around him by people who think that he cannot hear.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel

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Taglines:

For twenty years, he lived in silence. Now his heart needs to speak the truth.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Hallmark Hall of Fame Featured Presentation

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 November 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hallmark Hall of Fame: What the Deaf Man Heard (#47.1)

Filming Locations:

Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 120 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song at the end of the film is "My Ship," composed by Ira Gershwin and Kurt Weill. It is sung by Bernadette Peters, who plays Helen Ayers at the beginning of the film.

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Quotes

Mrs. Tynan: Take Sammy with you. Tolliver has some work for him at the church.
Tallasse Tynan: Yes, ma'am.
Mrs. Tynan: And make sure he rides in the back. I don't want people to see him riding up front with you.
Tallasse Tynan: Maybe I can just tie a rope around him and make him run along behind.

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Connections

Edited into Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)

User Reviews

Another Fabulous Hallmark Movie!

I saw this on TV one night and fell in love. Matthew Modine plays Sammy Ayers(the adult) who as a child is left alone on a bus after his mother is murdered. He arrives in a small Georgia town and sits quietly all day waiting for his mother arrive. The people in town then determine that he's deaf and mute. As an adult he does odd jobs for all the people in town, all the while listening to everything everyone tells him, including secrets! Jake Weber plays Tolliver Tynan, Tallasses(Sammys love interest)brother and the source of all Sammys trouble. Tom Skerritt stars as Norm, owner of the bus depot and a sort of father figure to Sammy. James Earl Jones also stars as Archibald Thacker, a rum runner who knows a thing or two about some of the secrets in the town. As one of the big secrets threatens the town Sammy struggles with what to do. A great story and wonderful acting make this a movie I would recommend to anyone.