Surviving: A Family in Crisis

Surviving: A Family in Crisis (also known simply as Surviving, and later released on VHS as Tragedy) is a 1985 ABC television film. Directed by Warris Hussein and starring Zach Galligan, Molly Ringwald, and River Phoenix, the film is described as a modern-day Romeo & Juliet story that examines the tragedy of teen suicide, and the loved ones left behind to pick up the pieces.

Surviving: A Family in Crisis
1993 VHS box cover retitled Tragedy.
Although Zach Galligan was Molly Ringwald's leading man in the film, by 1993 River Phoenix had eclipsed Galligan's stardom, and was given top billing (as well as a photograph obviously taken several years after the film), to promote the VHS release.
GenreDrama
Written byJoyce Eliason
Directed byWaris Hussein
StarringZach Galligan
Molly Ringwald
Ellen Burstyn
Len Cariou
Marsha Mason
Paul Sorvino
River Phoenix
Heather O'Rourke
Theme music composerJames Horner
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersFrank Konigsberg
Larry Sanitsky
ProducerHunt Lowry
Production locationsBone and Joint Hospital - 1111 N. Dewey, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Lake Hefner Dam, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Piedmont, Oklahoma
Village Baptist Church - 10600 N. May Avenue, The Village, Oklahoma
CinematographyAlexander Gruszynski
EditorsLeslie Dennis Bracken
Kurt Bullinger
John F. Burnett
Running time118 minutes
Production companiesTelepictures
Warner Bros. Television
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseFebruary 10, 1985 (1985-02-10)

Plot

Rick (Zach Galligan) is the apple of his father's eye; smart, handsome, and idolized by his younger siblings Philip and Sarah (River Phoenix and Heather O'Rourke). By stark contrast, Lonnie (Molly Ringwald) is a troubled and withdrawn girl, struggling to put the painful memory of a suicide attempt behind her. Both teenagers are dealing with loneliness and family pressures when they begin to find solace in each other, and a young romance develops. As Rick and Lonnie's bond begins to grow stronger, and they become increasingly withdrawn from their friends and families, their protective parents begin to worry that the young lovers are becoming too involved and grow increasingly uncomfortable with the teenagers' relationship. Finally, when Rick's parents Tina and David (Ellen Burstyn and Len Cariou) decide that Lonnie is a bad influence on their son, and Lonnie's parents Lois and Harvey (Marsha Mason and Paul Sorvino) decide that boarding school would be the best place for their troubled daughter, Rick and Lonnie, desperate not to be separated, make a tragic decision to take their own lives. In the wake of the young lovers' fatal suicide pact, the two devastated families are left to try and pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and must somehow find a way to go on.

Cast

ActorRole
Zach GalliganRick Brogan
Molly RingwaldLonnie Carson
Ellen BurstynTina Brogan
Len CariouDavid Brogan
Marsha MasonLois Carson
Paul SorvinoHarvey Carson
River PhoenixPhilip Brogan
Heather O'RourkeSarah Brogan
William WindomDr. Madsen
Marc GilpinBobby
Paddi EdwardsAlma
Camila AshlandWoman #1
Jane SimoneauMay
Joe BerrymanSheriff
Lon CoggeshallJed
Midge WoolseyHelen
Sandra GilpinWoman #2
David C. AllenKid
Kim ValentineSherry
Robert Douglas ScottArtie
Regina JohnsonSupervisor
Norma MoorePsychologist
Barry BrawleyKid

Awards

YearAwardCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
1984–1985 Young Artist Awards Best Family Television Special Surviving Nominated [1]
Best Young Actress in a Television Special or Mini-Series Heather O'Rourke Nominated [1]
Best Young Actor in a Television Special or Mini-Series River Phoenix Won [1]
1985 Humanitas Prize 90-Minute Category Joyce Eliason Nominated [2]
1986 Artios Award Best Casting for TV Movie of the week Marsha Kleinman
Kathleen Letterie
Nominated [3]

Reception

The initial airing of the film brought in an 18.1 rating and a 26 share, ranking third in its timeslot, and ranking 23rd out of 66 programs aired that week.[4]

Novelization

A novelization of the film was written by Elizabeth Faucher and published by the Scholastic Corporation.

References

  1. "7th Annual Young Artist Awards". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on 2016-05-15. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  2. "1985 Humanitas Prize Awards". IMDb.com: Humanitas Prize. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  3. "1986 Casting Society of America Awards". IMDb.com: Casting Society of America. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  4. http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-02-18.pdf
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