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What the Deaf Man Heard

  • TV Movie
  • 19971997
  • PGPG
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
James Earl Jones, Matthew Modine, and Frankie Muniz in What the Deaf Man Heard (1997)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Kent Harrison
  • Writers
    • G.D. Gearino(novel "What the Deaf Mute Heard")
    • Robert W. Lenski(teleplay)
  • Stars
    • Matthew Modine
    • Claire Bloom
    • Judith Ivey
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Kent Harrison
  • Writers
    • G.D. Gearino(novel "What the Deaf Mute Heard")
    • Robert W. Lenski(teleplay)
  • Stars
    • Matthew Modine
    • Claire Bloom
    • Judith Ivey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 16User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 win & 8 nominations total

    Photos

    Another terrific experience working on my second Hallmark Hall of Fame.
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Matthew Modine
    Matthew Modine
    • Sammy Ayersas Sammy Ayers
    Claire Bloom
    Claire Bloom
    • Mrs. Tynanas Mrs. Tynan
    Judith Ivey
    Judith Ivey
    • Lucilleas Lucille
    James Earl Jones
    James Earl Jones
    • Archibald Thackeras Archibald Thacker
    Jerry O'Connell
    Jerry O'Connell
    • Reverend Perry Ray Pruittas Reverend Perry Ray Pruitt
    Bernadette Peters
    Bernadette Peters
    • Helen Ayersas Helen Ayers
    Tom Skerritt
    Tom Skerritt
    • Norm Jenkinsas Norm Jenkins
    Anne Bobby
    Anne Bobby
    • Tallasse Tynanas Tallasse Tynan
    Stephen Spinella
    Stephen Spinella
    • Percyas Percy
    Jake Weber
    Jake Weber
    • Tolliver Tynanas Tolliver Tynan
    Frankie Muniz
    Frankie Muniz
    • Young Sammyas Young Sammy
    Andy Stahl
    Andy Stahl
    • Finisas Finis
    Tyler Noyes
    • Young Tolliveras Young Tolliver
    Hallee Hirsh
    Hallee Hirsh
    • Young Tallasseas Young Tallasse
    Teagle F. Bougere
    Teagle F. Bougere
    • Abraham Thackeras Abraham Thacker
    Lance Reddick
    Lance Reddick
    • George Thackeras George Thacker
    Danny Kamin
    Danny Kamin
    • Judgeas Judge
    • (as Daniel Kamin)
    Patrick Garner
    Patrick Garner
    • Drunkas Drunk
    • Director
      • John Kent Harrison
    • Writers
      • G.D. Gearino(novel "What the Deaf Mute Heard")
      • Robert W. Lenski(teleplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —John Sacksteder <jsackste@bellsouth.net>
    • posing as a deaf mute
    • asleep on a bus
    • bus station
    • father figure
    • mother figure
    • 24 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • For twenty years, he lived in silence. Now his heart needs to speak the truth.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Matthew Modine remained in character all through filming. He rode his bike around the locations and never spoke, instead writing in a notepad just as Sammy did.
    • Goofs
      Norm Jenkins finds Sammy's suitcase and learns his identity but doesn't tell anyone about the suitcase. Yet the entire town knew and used his full name, presumably starting soon after his first day in Barrington, and the police never searched for his mother after that first day even though his name was known.
    • Quotes

      Sammy Ayers: [narrating] To my knowledge it is the only trial in the history of American jurisprudence that was over in just two spoken words.

      Sammy Ayers: [speaking out loud] I... I do.

    • Connections
      Edited into Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)

    User reviews16

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Very entertaining and well-acted!
    I thought this movie was clever, entertaining, humorous, sweet and well-acted! There are a few confusing, unrealistic, and odd moments, but I think it's well worth seeing! Hallmark Hall of Fame makes another winner! (With me, anyway.) =)
    helpful•15
    1
    • Melissa Alice
    • Mar 8, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 23, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Hallmark Hall of Fame Featured Presentation
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hallmark Hall of Fame: What the Deaf Man Heard (#47.1)
    • Filming locations
      • Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
    • Production company
      • Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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