Amy is a 1981 American drama film directed by Vincent McEveety and starring Jenny Agutter. It was produced by Walt Disney Productions, distributed by Buena Vista Distribution, and written by Noreen Stone.
Plot
In 1913, Amy Medford (Jenny Agutter) leaves her possessive, wealthy husband (Chris Robinson) to begin a new life teaching speech to deaf students in the rural Appalachian Mountains at a school for blind and deaf children. Though encountering resistance from those who question whether it's even possible to teach speech to children with hearing-impairments, Amy becomes close to the staff and children, building a new life for herself and gaining the personal strength she will need to stand up to the domineering husband who is not content to let her live her own life.
Cast
Jenny Agutter as Amy Medford
Barry Newman as Dr. Ben Corcoran
Kathleen Nolan as Helen Gibbs
Chris Robinson as Elliot Medford
Lou Fant as Lyle Ferguson
Margaret O'Brien as Hazel Johnson
Nanette Fabray as Malvina
Lance LeGault as Edgar Wanbuck
Lucille Benson as Rose Metcalf
Jonathan Daly as Clyde Pruett
Lonny Chapman as Virgil Goodloe
Brian Frishman as Mervin Grimes
Jane Daly as Molly Tribble
Dawn Jeffory as Caroline Chapman
Peggy McCay as Mrs. Grimes
Len Wayland as Mr. Grimes
Virginia Vincent as Edna Hancock
Norman Burton as Caruthers
Otto Rechenberg as Henry Watkins
David Hollander as Just George
Cory 'Bumper' Yothers as Wesley Moody
Alban Branton as Eugene
Ronnie Scribner as Walter Ray
Michelle Downey as Essie
Carson Sipes as Dwayne
Diana Boyd as Loretta
Flavia Fleischer as Iris
David Jacob Weiss as Glenn
Oscar Arturo Aguilar as Chester
Kevin van Wieringen as Owen Corner
Seamon Glass as Mr. Watkins
Nancy Jeris as Mrs. Watkins
Randy Morton as Teenage Boy
Lance Gordon as Referee
John Arndt as Mr. Pool
Rick Foster as Football Player
Elisha Rapson as Blind Girl
Production
Amy was originally filmed as a television movie titled Amy on the Lips, and was the first television movie that Disney Studios made for an adult audience. Nanette Fabray and Louise Fletcher were interested in the role of "Malvina," a teacher of deaf children. Fabray, who played the part, was hearing impaired, and Fletcher's parents were deaf. The deaf children in the film, except for Brian Frishman, were students from the California School for the Deaf in Riverside, California. Dawn Jeffory, who was cast as Caroline Chapman, had a real-life role as a guest instructor at the school, and was helpful to director Vincent McEveety in working with the children. Lyle Ferguson, the school superintendent, was played by Lou Fant, a son of deaf parents, who helped establish the National Theatre for the Deaf. In January 1981, it was announced the film's title would be changed to Amy and given a theatrical release as Walt Disney Productions felt the film was "so powerful" it warranted a theatrical release.
Music
The film's score was written by Robert F. Brunner. The film features one original song, "So Many Ways," written by Bruce Belland (lyrics) and Robert F. Brunner (music). The song was sung by Julie Budd and plays during the film's opening credits and is reprised during the film's end credits.
Educational film
In 1982, Disney Educational Services excerpted a sequence from the film for educational use, entitled Amy-on-the-Lips.
Release
The film was released on a double bill on a re-release of Alice in Wonderland.
Home media
Disney released a manufactured-on-demand DVD of the film as part of their "Disney Generations Collection" line of DVDs on June 26, 2011.