Songs in Ordinary Time (2000) (TV)

Director:

Rod Holcomb

Writers (WGA):

Mary McGarry Morris (novel)
Malcolm MacRury (teleplay)

Release Date:

22 October 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A struggling mother takes in a mysterious stranger. Is she opening her heart to love...or harboring a criminal.

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Cast

Sissy Spacek	...	Marie Fermoyle
Beau Bridges	...	Omar Duvall
Keir Dullea	...	Sam Fermoyle
Tom Guiry	...	Norman Fermoyle (as Thomas Guiry)
Careena Melia	...	Alice Fermoyle
Jordan Warkol	...	Ben Fermoyle (as Jordan Blake Warkol)
Angelica Page	...	Astrid Haddad (as Angelica Torn)
Patrick Galligan	...	Father Joe Gannon
Jennifer Overton	...	Helen Lachance
Jeremy Akerman	...	Monsignor
Matthew Bennett	...	Ross Hinds
Richard Yearwood	...	Earlie Jones
Cecil Wright	...	Luther Cobb
Ardon Bess	...	Earlie's Grandfather
Shelly Wallace	...	Mrs. Klubock
Richard Blackburn	...	Police Chief Stoner
Martha Irving	...	Nora Cushing
Patricia Zentilli	...	Bernadette Mansaw
Anna Cameron	...	Claire Mayo
Gary Levert	...	Bobby
Dan Lett	...	Briscoe
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Deborah Britton	...	(uncredited)
Lisa Britton	...	(uncredited)
Mark Day	...	Teen 1 (uncredited)
Stephanie B. Gillie	...	Girl on Street (uncredited)
Aloka McLean	...	Teen (uncredited)
David Gibson McLean	...	Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Rod Holcomb

Writing credits (WGA)
Mary McGarry Morris		(novel)
Malcolm MacRury		(teleplay)

Produced by
Craig Anderson	....	executive producer
John David Coles	....	producer (as John Coles)
Michael Mahoney	....	line producer
Mike Mahoney	....	line producer
Marty Eli Schwartz	....	producer
Laura Zaccaro	....	associate producer
Christopher Zimmer	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Anthony Marinelli

Cinematography by
Neil Roach

Film Editing by
Michael Brown

Production Design by
Veronica Hadfield

Art Direction by
Michele Brady		(as Michelle Brady)

Set Decoration by
Tom Alway

Costume Design by
Kate Delmage

Makeup Department
Annemarie Cassidy	....	makeup artist (as Anne-Marie Cassidy)
Sally J. Harper	....	key hair stylist (as Sally Harper)
Sally J. Harper	....	makeup artist (as Sally Harper)
Joanne Stamp	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Cindy Marcari	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rick Courtney	....	third assistant director
Heather Harvey	....	third assistant director
Heather Houston	....	second assistant director
Marty Eli Schwartz	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Michael Cook	....	props master (as Mike Cook)
David Melrose	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)
Andy Miller	....	assistant props (uncredited)
Paul Vernon	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Tim Chilton	....	foley artist
Jim Rillie	....	production sound mixer
Bob Costanza	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Mark Friedgen	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)
Kristi Johns	....	adr supervisor (uncredited)
Terry O'Bright	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Keith Rogers	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Stunts
Randy Boliver	....	stunt coordinator
Randy Boliver	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Ian Bibby	....	gaffer
Rick Gillis	....	key grip
Ruth Leggett	....	best boy
Alan Lennox	....	camera operator
Paul Mitcheltree	....	first assistant camera
Guy Godfree	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Peter MacDonald	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jon Comerford	....	casting: Toronto (as John Comerford)
Judy Henderson	....	casting: New York
Robyn Knoll	....	casting assistant: New York
Timothy Michals	....	casting (as Tim Michals)
Mary Jo Slater	....	casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Deanna Anthony	....	wardrobe supervisor
Constance Moerman	....	truck/set costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Joe McJimsey	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Anthony Marinelli	....	conductor
Anthony Marinelli	....	orchestrator
Georgiana Ramsland	....	music editor
Allan K. Rosen	....	music editor (as Alan Rosen)

Transportation Department
Helen Taylor	....	driver

Other crew
Craig Cameron	....	production coordinator
David Hyslop	....	location manager
Andrew McInnes	....	location manager
Elizabeth Tremblay	....	script supervisor
Chris Ward	....	production accountant
Stephanie B. Gillie	....	stand-in: Tom Guiry (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia TriStar Television
• Craig Anderson Productions
• Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation (produced with the participation of) (as The Nova Scotia Film Development Corp.)
• Nova Scotia Film Industry Tax Credit (produced with the assistance of) (as The Nova Scotia Film Industry Tax Credit)
• Talking Wall Pictures
• imX Communications

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (2000) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Dog Run Productions  author: Berne Convention
• PS Production Services  camera and equipment supplies by (as PS Production Services Atlantic)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company:

Columbia TriStar Television

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: (at around 1 min) The reflection of a boom mic is visible in the bedroom window as the camera follows Sissy Spacek going toward the window and moving the curtains. Acting like a mirror because of the lighting, the window first reflects the boom and then the mike itself as the rig moves out of the window's line of sight. A combination of the movements of the camera and the boom makes the reflection visible again before the camera pans away as Spacek walks away from the window.

Fairly predictable fare, stranger enters the lives of a disfunctional family and the experience unites all.

I was looking forward to this "made for TV" movie, Songs in Ordinary Time, because I like both main actors - Sissy Spacek and Beau Bridges. And both of them turn in fine performances. Also, my wife told me the book had been on Oprah's list.

However, I waited for something touching to happen, but it never did. Fairly predictable, drifter enters a family of divorced mom with 3 children, appears to be the answer to her prayers, things get suspicious. A brief love scandal with the local priest is thrown in, actually fits with the story.

Overall, I gave it 7 for this type of movie, but all-in-all pretty forgettable fare.