This 1993 American Playhouse "Shimmer" is among my favorite TV specials on VHS going back to 1983. I have recently viewed it while doing a transfer of it (and of others) to DVD-R disc, and the quality is very good. Program is in color and has a running time of approx 95 minutes.(I had all but forgotten what a powerful and sentimental play it is. ) stars Mary Beth Hurt, Markus Klemp and Elijah Shepard .
"Shimmer', a story of the power of imagination. Two teenage boys locked away in a 1950s Iowa juvenile home, dream a way to take flight from their surroundings by creating 'shimmer'- a magical way of looking at the world. It takes them on a journey to a home they have wished for but have never known. *** Viewer discretion advised *** ***************************** Plot Synopsis- (may have spoilers-) Spacy Callahan (Klemp) has two problems. In the first place, he's a young teen, which is difficult enough. In the second place, he has been placed "for his own good" in an Iowa juvenile facility which has more than a passing resemblance to a military prison. If a boy breaks one of the innumerable rules of the place, they get placed in a situation where the will probably be sexually molested by their jailer Mr. Kibby, while he quotes Bible verses at them. He has a friend, though, a boy named Gary (Shepard), and together they make the best of things. That is, until it becomes clear that a clueless young inmate could make things really difficult for them - really difficult. They decide to escape their rural confinement and look up Spacy's mother (Hurt), who has finally divorced Spacy's abusive, alcoholic father. ( If interested in obtaining a copy of this extremely rare movie please feel free to contact me at gilturk@shaw.ca. ( In Canada). Regards. Gil.
"Shimmer', a story of the power of imagination. Two teenage boys locked away in a 1950s Iowa juvenile home, dream a way to take flight from their surroundings by creating 'shimmer'- a magical way of looking at the world. It takes them on a journey to a home they have wished for but have never known. *** Viewer discretion advised *** ***************************** Plot Synopsis- (may have spoilers-) Spacy Callahan (Klemp) has two problems. In the first place, he's a young teen, which is difficult enough. In the second place, he has been placed "for his own good" in an Iowa juvenile facility which has more than a passing resemblance to a military prison. If a boy breaks one of the innumerable rules of the place, they get placed in a situation where the will probably be sexually molested by their jailer Mr. Kibby, while he quotes Bible verses at them. He has a friend, though, a boy named Gary (Shepard), and together they make the best of things. That is, until it becomes clear that a clueless young inmate could make things really difficult for them - really difficult. They decide to escape their rural confinement and look up Spacy's mother (Hurt), who has finally divorced Spacy's abusive, alcoholic father. ( If interested in obtaining a copy of this extremely rare movie please feel free to contact me at gilturk@shaw.ca. ( In Canada). Regards. Gil.
