Summer's End (film)
Summer's End is a 1999 drama television film directed by Helen Shaver (in her directorial debut) from a screenplay by Grant Scharbo and Jim Thompson, based on a story by Scharbo.[1] The film tells the story of two teenage brothers who have lost their father, one of which befriends an African-American physician facing racial prejudice in a small town in Georgia.
| Summer's End | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Screenplay by | Grant Scharbo Jim Thompson |
| Story by | Grant Scharbo |
| Directed by | Helen Shaver |
| Starring | James Earl Jones Jake LeDoux Brendan Fletcher Wendy Crewson |
| Composer | Lawrence Shragge |
| Country of origin | Canada United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producers | Gina Matthews Frank Siracusa Connie Tavel Patrick Whitley |
| Cinematography | Andreas Poulsson |
| Editor | Rick Martin |
| Running time | 107 minutes |
| Production company | Temple Street Productions |
| Release | |
| Original network | Showtime |
| Original release |
|
The film premiered on Showtime on January 30, 1999.[2] It received nominations for four Daytime Emmy Awards, and won for best children's special and also best actor (James Earl Jones).[3][4]
Plot
A young boy (Jake LeDoux), still grieving over his father's death, befriends a retired physician (James Earl Jones), the former chief of cardiology at an Atlanta hospital who has returned to his hometown in North Georgia where he had a traumatic boyhood; but racial intolerance in the local, predominantly white, lakeside community ends up souring the relationship.[5][6][7]
Cast
- James Earl Jones as Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely
- Jake LeDoux as Jamie Baldwin
- Brendan Fletcher as Hunter Baldwin
- Wendy Crewson as Virginia Baldwin
- Jonathan Kroeker as Lad Trapnell
- Al Waxman as Grandpa Trapnell
- Andrew Sardella as Alex Rifkin
- R.D. Reid as Henry Whitley
- Gary Reineke as Sheriff Miller
- Patrick McManus as Inspector
- Randy Hughson as Rainey
- Sarah Francis as Erinn
- Victor Garber as narrator
References
- "Summer's End". TCM - Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- TV Guide. February 26-March 4, 1999. pg. 96.
- Roberts, Jerry (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors. Scarecrow Press. Page 539. ISBN 9780810863781.
- "20 Famous Actors Who Have Won Grammys Too". 13 July 2018.
- Martin, Mick and Marsha Porter (2000). Video Movie Guide 2001. Ballantine Books. Page 1063. ISBN 9780345420992.
- Martin, Mick and Marsha Porter (2004). DVD and Video Guide 2005. Ballantine Books. Page 1077. ISBN 9780345449955.
- Roberts, Jerry (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors. Scarecrow Press. Page 539. ISBN 9780810863781.