Christy (1994) (TV)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Michael Ray Rhodes

Writers:

Patricia Green (teleplay)
Catherine Marshall (novel)

Release Date:

3 April 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A young teacher comes to the impoverished mountain region of Cutter Gap, Tennesse in 1912 and tries to make a difference. Based on the best-selling novel by Catherine Marshall. |

Plot Keywords:

1910s | American South | One Word Title | Dedicated Teacher | TV Series Pilot

Cast

Kellie Martin	...	Christy Huddleston
Tyne Daly	...	Alice Henderson
Randall Batinkoff	...	Rev. David Grantland
Tess Harper	...	Fairlight Spencer
Annabella Price	...	Miss Ida Grantland
Emily Schulman	...	Ruby mae Morrison
Andy Nichols	...	Little Burl Allen
Frank Hoyt Taylor	...	Uncle Bogg
Clay Jeter	...	Creed Allen
Bruce McKinnon	...	Jeb Spencer
Jenny Krochmal	...	Zady Spencer
Alyssa Hmielewski	...	Mountie O'Teale
Kyle Hudgens	...	Sam Houston Holcombe
Chelcie Ross	...	Ben Pentland
Jack Landry	...	Rob Allen

Runtime:

Netherlands:110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1995) (TV)

Beautifully Filmed Nice Pilot For TV Series

This was a nice surprise: a modern-day movie with God actually spoken about in nice terms. It's a simple story of a young woman who goes to be a mission teacher in the back woods of Tennesee, and some of the problems she faces.

A high point of this film is the photography and the magnificent Tennesee fall scenery - some of the prettiest I've ever seen on film. A filter on one of the camera lenses, making the sky purple was a nice touch, too. Without scene after scene of that beauty, I would have enjoyed this as much.

Kellie Martin is the cute young woman who plays "Christy Huddleson." Something is out of whack, however, with her character. She travels to Tennesee to become that mission teacher yet she knows nothing about Christianity! Hello??! That's the movies for you, although it is based on a novel by Catherine Marshall and I wouldn't question her Christian credentials.

At any rate, Tyne Daly, playing a mature Christian ("Alice Henderson") who lives there, helps teach her. "Christie" also winds up a solid young minister as a boyfriend ("Rev. David Grantland, played by Randall Batnikoff.)

The movie was a pilot for a short-lived television series. Despite its flaws, overall it is a nice film and surprisingly interesting for what could have been a bland story. It has a nice ending, too, although not particularly where everything was perfect.