If You Could See What I Hear (1982)

A light comedy/love story based on the life of blind musician Tom Sullivan.

Director:

Eric Till

Writers:

Stuart Gillard (screenplay written by), Tom Sullivan (novel)

Stars:

Marc Singer, R.H. Thomson, Sarah Torgov

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marc Singer	...	Tom Sullivan
R.H. Thomson	...	Will Sly
Sarah Torgov	...	Patti Steffen
Shari Belafonte	...	Heather Johnson (as Shari Belafonte Harper)
Douglas Campbell	...	Porky Sullivan
Helen Burns	...	Mrs. Ruxton
Harvey Atkin	...	Bert
Barbara Gordon	...	Molly
Sharon Lewis	...	Helga
Lynda Mason Green	...	Sharon
Tony Van Bridge	...	Dr. Roger Wells
Jack Creley	...	Dean Franklin
David Gardner	...	Jack Steffen
Gary Reineke	...	Phil Lucas
Bob Warner	...	Sergeant

Storyline

Tom Sullivan is in many ways a typical student attending a Boston area college, he, showing his immaturity, partaking in, often leading, mainly harmless student hijinks with his pipe smoking friend, Will Sly. He funnels many of his energies into his music as a singer/pianist. Tom also happens to be blind, which he's been since a newborn due to being provided too much oxygen while in an incubator. Tom is independently minded, and wants to be treated just like any sighted person. Like most men his age, he is also in the pursuit of the opposite sex, in the process of which he finds that he falls in love easily. Through all these activities, Tom is affected by real life including the temporariness of college life, some not being able to get over their own prejudices of being sighted in their dealings with him, and coming to the realization that there are some things more difficult to do in life when one is blind.

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Plot Keywords:

piano player | blindness | massachusetts | disability | overcoming adversity | 

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Taglines:

The true story of a born winner!

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tom Sullivan is heard to yell the identical recorded line "Hello? Can anybody hear me?" twice: once during the skydiving scene, and once during the swimming pool scene.

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Goofs

During the skydiving incident, Tom's friend takes off in a jeep on natural ground, but we hear the tires squeal as though he's on pavement.

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Quotes

Mrs. Ruxton: I don't allow pets. You won't be able to keep your seeing eye dog here.
Tom Sullivan: [patting Will on the chest] Oh, I don't have a seeing eye dog, Mrs. Ruxton. I have Sly.
Will Sly: Woof, woof.
Mrs. Ruxton: Oh dear.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Stinkers of 1982 (1983)

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Soundtracks

Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral): Fifth Movement
(uncredited)
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Played onscreen on synthesizers by 'Marc Singer' and Shari Belafonte

User Reviews

I want my daughter to see it

Why is this movie so underrated as to not be available on DVD? There is so much petty, meaningless drivel in media. On the tube, in the theaters and on DVD. I have to shudder at the direction these are taking our kids. An inspiration like Tom Sullivan, whether over-dramatized or not in the movie, deserves an audience by our children. And a revisiting for those of us. Those of us whose personal trials were actualized and overcome after being inspired by the courage of the movie's main character. America has been so let down and sold out in recent years. Kids these days need in their memories more stories of real life heroes.

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 April 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

If You Could See What I Hear

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD5,600,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,408,000, 25 April 1982

Gross USA:

$8,693,512

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,693,512

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cypress Grove, Shelter Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color