Starting his new job as an instructor at a New England school for the deaf, James Leeds meets Sarah Norman, a young deaf woman who works at the school as a member of the custodial staff. In spite of Sarah’s withdrawn emotional state, a romance slowly develops between the pair.
Credits: TheMovieDb.
Film Cast:
- James Leeds: William Hurt
- Sarah Norman: Marlee Matlin
- Mrs. Norman: Piper Laurie
- Dr. Curtis Franklin: Philip Bosco
- Lydia: Allison Gompf
- Johnny: John F. Cleary
- Glen: Philip Holmes
- Cheryl: Georgia Ann Cline
- Danny: William D. Byrd
- Tony: Frank Carter Jr.
- William: John Limnidis
- Orin: Bob Hiltermann
- Mary Lee Ochs: E. Katherine Kerr
- Alan Jones: John Basinger
- Tom Schuyler: Barry Magnani
- Marian Loesser: Linda Bove
- Martha Franklin: Ann Hanson
- Mr. Harrison: James Carrington
- Glen’s Father: Max M. Brown
- Glen’s Mother: María Cellario
- Glen’s Brother: Jon-Paul Dougherty
- Sarah’s Friend: Linda Swim
- Sarah’s Friend: Lois Clowater
- Waiter: Allan R. Francis
- Cafeteria Cook: Richard Kendall
- Ricky: Christopher Shay
- Woman in Beauty Shop: Laraine Isa
- Woman at Party: Nanci Kendall
- Mother: Marie Brazil
- Child: Charlene Legere
- Announcer: Leigh French
- Announcer: Archie Hahn
- Announcer: Jack Blessing
- Announcer: Nicholas Guest
- Announcer: Gigi Vorgan
- Announcer: Lynne Marie Stewart
Film Crew:
- Editor: Lisa Fruchtman
- Sound Editor: Dody Dorn
- Director of Photography: John Seale
- Original Music Composer: Michael Convertino
- Costume Design: Renée April
- Casting: Gretchen Rennell
- Casting Assistant: Ruth Lambert
- Set Decoration: Rose Marie McSherry
- Assistant Set Decoration: Mark S. Freeborn
- Production Design: Gene Callahan
- Color Timer: Ron Lambert
- Second Unit Director: Patrick J. Palmer
- Director: Randa Haines
- Theatre Play: Mark Medoff
- Producer: Burt Sugarman
- Art Direction: Barbra Matis
- Production Accountant: Leanne Moore
- Second Assistant Director: Kim H. Winther
- First Assistant Director: Jim Kaufman
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Steve Maslow
- Screenplay: Hesper Anderson
- Unit Production Manager: Stéphane Reichel
- Makeup Artist: Ann Brodie
- Sound Editor: Patrick Drummond
- Supervising Sound Editor: Robert Grieve
- Still Photographer: Takashi Seida
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Robert J. Litt
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Elliot Tyson
- Hairstylist: Paul LeBlanc
- Property Master: J. Tracy Budd
- Production Sound Mixer: Richard Lightstone
- Production Coordinator: Valley Via Reseigne
- Script Supervisor: Susanna David
- Costumer: Arthur Rowsell
- Special Effects Coordinator: David Neil Trifunovich
- Foley Editor: Linda Whittlesey
- ADR Editor: George Berndt
- Sound Editor: Dennis Drummond
- Supervising Music Editor: Else Blangsted
- Unit Publicist: Stanley Brossette
- Technical Advisor: Richard Kendall
- Costumer: Fabienne April
- Grip: Ron Renzetti
- Key Grip: Randy Tambling
- Dolly Grip: Robert Daprato
- Assistant Property Master: Daniel R. Bradette
- Location Manager: Michael Jewison
- Associate Producer: Candace Koethe
- Choreographer: Dan Siretta
Movie Reviews:
- Wuchak: ***A school for the deaf on a Maine island with William Hurt and Marlee Matlin***
A teacher (William Hurt) moves to coastal Maine to work at a school for the deaf on an island where he becomes interested in a striking, but disturbed janitor (Marlee Matlin), who was once a student there.
“Children of a Lesser God” (1986) is part celestial and mundane; beautiful and profane. Thankfully there’s more beauty. The Northeast coastal locations are wonderful and Hurt makes for a worthy protagonist while expertly pulling off a difficult role. Marlee Matlin is an exquisite revelation without which the movie would’ve failed.
Everything builds to a stunning dramatic scene in the second half, which is expertly executed. Unfortunately, the couple hooks-up a little prematurely. More time should’ve been spent with the journey to consummation. Nonetheless, there are great moments here.
The film runs 1 hour, 59 minutes and was shot in New Brunswick, Canada (Rothesay, Saint John & Beaver Harbour).
GRADE: B