Summary:
Kelly and Evelyn Ryan live in Defiance, Ohio with their 10 children. At first glance their life seems idyllic; they call each other "Mother" and "Father" and seem to dote on the kids. But Kelly was a garage-band crooner whose voice was ruined in an auto accident. He's resigned to a dead-end factory job that barely pays the bills, and is given to fits of alcohol-induced rage. Evelyn, a stay-at-home wife and mother, deals with this abuse by appealing to her priest, who is no help at all. She deals with their poverty by entering the jingle contests that were the rage in the 50's and early 60's, even sending in multiple entries in the names of the children. She is very clever at it, winning more than her share of prizes, but her successes aren't enough to keep the wolf from the door. Further, they trigger Kelly's insecurities and he retreats deeper into the bottle, using food and mortgage money to support the habit. Can the loving, optimistic Evelyn hold the family together? Is she justified in placing her faith in the deeply-flawed Kelly? How will the children turn out? This underrated film provides an inspirational answer to these questions.
| Runtime: | 99 min |
|---|---|
| Rating: | Rated PG-13 thematic elements, some disturbing images and language. |
| Production: | Revolution Erie Productions Ltd. |
| Genres: | Biography, Drama |
| Country: | USA |
| Language: | English |
| Home Release Date: | Mar 14, 2006 |
| Director | Credit |
|---|---|
| Jane Anderson | Director |
| Writer | Credit |
|---|---|
| Jane Anderson | Screenplay |
| Terry Ryan | Book "The Prize Winner Of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids On 25 Words Or Less" |
| Principal Cast | Credit |
|---|---|
| Julianne Moore | Evelyn Ryan |
| Laura Dern | Dortha Schaefer |
| Woody Harrelson | Kelly Ryan |
| Cast | Credit |
|---|---|
| Abigail Falle | Betsy Ryan At 2 Yrs |
| Ellary Porterfield | Tuff Ryan At 13, 16 & 18 Yrs |
| Erik Knudsen | Rog Ryan At 13 Yrs |
| Jake Scott | Bruce Ryan At 11 Yrs |
| Jordan Todosey | Tuff Ryan At 9 Yrs |
| Michael Seater | Bub Ryan At 15 Yrs |
| Monté Gagné | Lea Anne Ryan At 17 Yrs |
| Robert Clark | Dick Ryan At 16 Yrs |
| Ryan Price | Mike Ryan At 6 Yrs |
| Shae Norris | Barb Ryan At 4 Yrs |
| Simon Reynolds | Ray The Milkman |
| Trevor Morgan | Bruce Ryan At 16 Yrs |
| Producer | Credit |
|---|---|
| Jack Rapke | Producer |
| Marty P. Ewing | Executive Producer |
| Robert Zemeckis | Producer |
| Steve Starkey | Producer |
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