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. | |
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | Joyce Eliason |
| Directed by | Waris Hussein |
| Starring | Zach Galligan Molly Ringwald Ellen Burstyn Len Cariou Marsha Mason Paul Sorvino River Phoenix Heather O'Rourke |
| Theme music composer | James Horner |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Frank Konigsberg Larry Sanitsky |
| Producer | Hunt Lowry |
| Production locations | Bone 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 |
| Cinematography | Alexander Gruszynski |
| Editors | Leslie Dennis Bracken Kurt Bullinger John F. Burnett |
| Running time | 118 minutes |
| Production companies | Telepictures Warner Bros. Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | February 10, 1985 |
Plot
editRick (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 By stark contrast, Lonnie (Molly Ringwald) is a troubled and withdrawn girl, struggling to put the painful memory of a suicide attempt behind her.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 As Rick and Lonnie's bond begins to grow stronger, and they become increasingly withdrawn from their friends and families, their protective parents begin to worry that the young lovers are becoming too involved and grow increasingly uncomfortable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
edit| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Zach Galligan | Rick Brogan |
| Molly Ringwald | Lonnie Carson |
| Ellen Burstyn | Tina Brogan |
| Len Cariou | David Brogan |
| Marsha Mason | Lois Carson |
| Paul Sorvino | Harvey Carson |
| River Phoenix | Philip Brogan |
| Heather O'Rourke | Sarah Brogan |
| William Windom | Dr. Madsen |
| Marc Gilpin | Bobby |
| Paddi Edwards | Alma |
| Camila Ashland | Woman #1 |
| Jane Simoneau | May |
| Joe Berryman | Sheriff |
| Lon Coggeshall | Jed |
| Midge Woolsey | Helen |
| Sandra Gilpin | Woman #2 |
| David C. Allen | Kid |
| Kim Valentine | Sherry |
| Robert Douglas Scott | Artie |
| Regina Johnson | Supervisor |
| Norma Moore | Psychologist |
| Barry Brawley | Kid |
Awards
edit| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
editThe 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
editA novelization of the film was written by Elizabeth Faucher and published by the Scholastic Corporation.
References
edit- ^ a b c "7th Annual Young Artist Awards". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on 2016-05-15. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
- ^ "1985 Humanitas Prize Awards". IMDb.com: Humanitas Prize. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
- ^ "1986 Casting Society of America Awards". IMDb.com: Casting Society of America. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
- ^ "`Cosby' and `Dirty Dozen' deliver week for NBC" (PDF). Broadcasting: 71. 1985-02-18.