What the Deaf Man Heard is a 1997 Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie that aired on CBS television on November 23, 1997. It concerns Sammy, a boy who pretends to be deaf and mute, when in reality he can hear and speak perfectly well. The movie starred Matthew Modine and James Earl Jones.

What the Deaf Man Heard

Ellen Foster

Season 46

Adaptation of the novel by Kaye Gibbons

Ten-year-old Ellen's existence with her alcoholic father is bearable only because of the love of her gentle mother. When her mother dies, Ellen finds herself shuffled among cruel and selfish relatives, including her venomous grandmother. Through it all, though, Ellen remains resilient, drawing strength from a few friendships and a boundless supply of hope.

Adaptation of the science fiction short story by Jack Finney:

Scotty Corrigan, an engaged thirty-something, purchases an antique desk and finds a letter written in 1863 by its original owner, Elizabeth Whitcomb. Intrigued by her wish for ""a love that burns like fire and moonlight,"" Scotty playfully ""answers"" the letterâ€”and is astonished to receive a reply. The extraordinary correspondence continues, and Scotty starts to question his commitment to his fiancÃ©e. Then he discovers it's not too late to alter the course of Elizabeth's life, as well as his own.

The Love Letter

An adaptation of the novel Thunderwith by Libby Hathorn:

Gladwyn and Larry Ritchie lead a hard life raising palm trees on a farm in the Australian outback. They struggle daily with the elementsâ€”and the bankâ€”to keep a roof over their heads and to feed their three children. Despite the hardships, they are a close-knit, happy family until one day when an unsettling letter arrives. Larry's first wife has died and his daughter Lara, 15, is coming from the city to live with the Ritchies. Gladwyn resists the idea of Lara joining the family. She fears this city girl may have a negative influence on her three children. Even more importantly, she worries that Lara's presence may rekindle memories in her husband's mind of his first wife and former life. When Lara arrives, she senses that she isn't welcome in the Ritchie home. As she tries to find a place in this new family, she finds comfort in the company of the stray Dingo dog which she names Thunderwith.

The Echo of Thunder

Long-running anthology program sponsored by Hallmark Cards. Beginning in 1951 and continuing into 2019, the series received 80 Emmy Awards, 24 Christopher Awards, 11 Peabody Awards, 9 Golden Globes, and 4 Humanitas Prizes. Early seasons were a weekly live drama, eventually transitioning to videotaped and then filmed productions broadcast as occasional specials.

What the Deaf Man Heard

Seasons61

Season 47 Episodes4

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