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ABC SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIE: CALL ME ANNA (TV)

Summary

This made-for-television production is about actress Patty Duke's longtime battle with mental illness, based on her autobiography. The program begins with Patty freaking out in the middle of the night before her husband, John Astin, consoles her. Flashing back to New York 1958, Patty, then known by her given name of Anna Marie Duke, pleads with mother Frances to join her at the TV studio. There, she is to "practice" before going on "64,000 Challenge." Frances refuses, scared of the wrath of Patty's all-consuming managers, John and Ethel Ross. Once the show begins, Patty succeeds and "meets the challenge," earning applause. Later that night, John and Ethel bring her to their home. Patty tells them that she is cheating to win on the game show, but they don't care. That night, John questions Patty on why she was late to set that day, then gives her one of Ethel's pills to help her "relax." The next morning, Patty finds her mother crying. John and Ethel criticize Frances for ruining Patty's focus. That day, Patty doesn't get the part at an audition, but John doesn't care, thinking Patty can soon win a part in a Broadway play. That night John and Ethel rehearse Patty for her upcoming audition as Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker." Patty wins the part and is soon a huge hit on Broadway. Later, when the quiz show scandal is exposed, John tells Patty that she has nothing to worry about. Nevertheless, Patty is called in for a closed executive session of Congress, where she lies about what happened before finally revealing the truth. She also implicates the Rosses for knowing what was going on backstage. Afterward, they chastise Patty. Meanwhile, Frances continues breaking down, raising Ethel's ire for "spoiling everything." Patty thinks she and Frances should switch to managers that don't want to separate a mother and daughter. After Patty stars in the film version of "The Miracle Worker," she meets with a lawyer who discusses whether she wants to enter a lifetime contract and be adopted by the Rosses. They stress that Patty hasn't seen her father for ten years and that Frances could be institutionalized. Patty refuses to sign the contract and Ethel is infuriated, thinking she and John are responsible for all of her family's "success." Then, John learns that Patty has earned a best supporting actress Oscar nomination for "The Miracle Worker." The Rosses don't allow Patty's parents to attend the Academy Award ceremony, where their daughter wins and becomes -- at sixteen -- the youngest Oscar recipient. Afterward, Patty calls Frances, who wonders why she gave such a short acceptance speech. That night, John crawls into bed with Patty and starts to sexually assault her before she flees. By 1964, John is micromanaging "The Patty Duke Show" and keeping Patty supplied with pills. One day on set, Patty notices a new assistant director, Harry Falk. Ethel doesn't like her leering but Patty shows that she understands her importance to them. That night, Ethel learns that John tried to kill himself with sleeping pills. Soon, Patty starts spending exorbitant amounts of money on clothes and accessories. Later, Patty calls Harry and goes over to his house for support. Soon, they are kissing. Patty returns home late, and John and Ethel reveal that her father just died of a coronary thrombosis. Patty reluctantly attends his funeral and sees her mother. Later, Patty tells Ethel that she doesn't want her show moved to the West Coast. Ethel blames Patty for John trying to commit suicide. Soon, Patty is married to Harry and collecting what's left of her childhood earnings. Meanwhile, "The Patty Duke Show" gets canceled. By 1967 in Beverly Hills, Patty has gone into depression about the show's cancellaton and simply hangs around her messy house, drinking and smoking. Harry tries to find a script for his wife to get her back on track, suggesting that she take "Me, Natalie" in New York since she gets along with its director, Fred Coe. Patty unexpectedly lashes out at Harry, claiming he must be seeing somebody else. Patty locks herself in the bathroom and pops some pills. Later, a revived Patty takes the part and heads to New York. Returning to her dressing room after a day of shooting, Patty finds Harry there. Harry is curious why a man sent her some flowers. They spat and Harry storms out, saying he's done with her. Soon, Patty is back drinking and smoking. The next morning, Patty awakens in the hospital, with Fred explaining that she had her stomach pumped after she passed out on pills. At the wrap party, Fred salutes Patty's performance. By 1970 in Los Angeles, Patty receives a call from Desi Arnaz Jr., who wants to take her out to dinner. On their date, Desi acts "demonstrative." They return to Patty's apartment at 2 a.m. to listen to her new record, "Don't Just Stand There," which she hates. Soon, Desi and Patty are dating, going roller-skating in the park and to discos. One day, Patty learns from agent Fred Maxwell that her relationship with Desi is over, disallowed by his mother, Lucille Ball. He shows her how she's become tabloid fodder with headlines declaring that she's six years older than Desi, as well as a divorcee. Later, Patty gets a call informing her that John has just died, which affects her more than she expected. The next day Patty goes to find Desi, but he says things are "complicated" and that there could be "legal issues" since he's only seventeen. Later, Patty meets actor John Astin on a set and soon the two are in bed. Patty speaks with her mother, finding her crying as they head to the Emmy awards, with Patty having been nominated for "My Sweet Charlie." Frances reveals that she doesn't like her dress, after which Patty gives her the one she was planning to wear. Then, potential renter Glenn Bell comes by Patty's apartment, wanting to check it out for a sublet. At the Emmys, Patty wins and gives a rambling speech. Backstage, Patty hands her award to a reporter and tells the press that acting, and her life, are "meaningless" and that she will be entering another profession. Though pregnant, Patty is soon rehearing for a play, "The Paisley Convertible," and finds she must excuse herself from the set to deal with morning sickness. She asks out of her contract and moves back to Los Angeles, finding Glenn living there as planned. Patty calls Desi and asks him to come see her, claiming she needs him, but he refuses and says "it's over" before hanging up. Glenn tries to cheer Patty up and she reveals that she is pregnant. Glenn asks if she wishes to marry him on a whim, and she accepts. They head to Las Vegas for a quickie wedding. There, however, Patty goes crazy and chases Glenn away. A year later, Patty has a young baby, Sean, and she is back working on a new film, "Two on a Bench," at Universal Studios. There, John reveals that he has separated from his wife and Patty says that her marriage to Glenn was annulled. John tells Patty that he feels Sean is his son, and Patty says she thinks that it's true. Once married to John and having had another son, Mackenzie, Patty goes to see a psychiatrist, Dr. Harold Arlen, to deal with her mental instability, bringing the narrative to where it began. The doctor gives her some advice which she refuses to take. Soon, Patty has won another Emmy for playing Anne Sullivan in a made-for-television version of "The Miracle Worker." Afterward, Patty gets a call informing her that Frances has been put in a psychiatric hospital. Upset, Patty retrieves her mother and brings her to meet Dr. Arlen. On Christmas day, Patty flips out when Sean doesn't come home on time and begins tearing up the house as John tries to stop her. John leaves with the boys. This time, Frances, who's benefited from her work with Dr. Arlen, advises her daughter to give the psychiatrist another chance. One night, a frantic Patty goes searching for pills, unable to find any. Patty finally seeks out Dr. Arlen, asking for help in managing her increasinlgy out-of-control behavior. Dr. Arlen diagnoses her as a manic-depressive and prescribes lithium for her. Three years later, cured courtesy of the lithium and therapy, she's at work on a new television movie, "A Time to Triumph." There, Patty is advised to run for the presidency of the Screen Actors Guild. Patty responds favorably and goes on to win in 1985. She is soon addressing the Senate as part of the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill, detailing how lithium changed her life. Graphics address Patty's subsequent marriage to her fourth husband, Michael Pierce, and how they adopted a nine-month-old boy, Kevin. Also, includes an "ABC News Brief" with Brit Hume. Includes commercials.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: November 11, 1990 Sunday 9:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:55:37
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:20517
  • GENRE: Drama
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1990
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - "Three Men and a Little Lady" motion picture
    • TV - Commercials - Alberto mousse
    • TV - Commercials - Benadryl Plus cold relief
    • TV - Commercials - Bridgestone tires
    • TV - Commercials - Buick automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Choice Hotels International
    • TV - Commercials - Country Crock spreadable cheese
    • TV - Commercials - GM automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Great Western Banks
    • TV - Commercials - Isotoner slippers
    • TV - Commercials - JC Penney stores
    • TV - Commercials - Jeep automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Nut & Honey cereal
    • TV - Commercials - Keri lotion
    • TV - Commercials - L'eggs pantyhose
    • TV - Commercials - Light Balance meals
    • TV - Commercials - Little Caesars pizza
    • TV - Commercials - Louis Rich cold cuts
    • TV - Commercials - Made in the USA
    • TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - MetLife insurance
    • TV - Commercials - National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
    • TV - Commercials - Oldsmobile automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Orville Redenbacher's popcorn
    • TV - Commercials - Post Honey Bunches of Oats cereal
    • TV - Commercials - Sine-aid sinus medication
    • TV - Commercials - Sony televisions
    • TV - Commercials - Sprint calling plans
    • TV - Commercials - Swanson frozen meals
    • TV - Commercials - Toyota automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Toys "R" Us stores
    • TV - Commercials - Tylenol Cold medicine
    • TV - Promos - "Coach"
    • TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
    • TV - Promos - "Head of the Class"
    • TV - Promos - "I'll Take Romance"
    • TV - Promos - "MacGyver"
    • TV - Promos - "Monday Night Football"
    • TV - Promos - "Primetime Live"
    • TV - Promos - "Roseanne"
    • TV - Promos - "Stephen King's It"
    • TV - Promos - "The Barbara Walters Special"
    • TV - Promos - "Who's the Boss?"
    • TV - Promos - "thirtysomething"

CREDITS

  • Sheldon Pinchuk … Executive Producer
  • Gilbert Cates … Producer, Director
  • Anna Duke-Pearce … Co-Producer
  • Peggy Griffin … Associate Producer
  • John McGreevey … Writer
  • Patty Duke … Based on the book "Call Me Anna" by
  • Kenneth Turan … Based on the book "Call Me Anna" by
  • Garry Sherman … Music by
  • Patty Duke … Cast, Herself
  • Timothy Carhart … Cast, Harry Falk
  • Howard Hesseman … Cast, John Ross
  • Deborah May … Cast, Ethel Ross
  • Ari Meyers … Cast, Patty Duke (Young)
  • Millie Perkins … Cast, Frances Duke
  • Jenny Robertson … Cast, Patty Duke (Young Adult)
  • Arthur Taxier … Cast, John Astin
  • Matthew L. Perry … Cast, Desi Arnaz Jr.
  • David Packer … Cast, Glenn Bell
  • Dana Gladstone … Cast, Fred Maxwell
  • Woody Eney … Cast, Fred Coe
  • Francois Giroday … Cast, Bob McLaren
  • Lora Staley … Cast, Anne Bancroft
  • Richard Fancy … Cast, Contract Lawyer
  • Seth Isler … Cast, Game Show Producer
  • Ray Duke … Cast, John Patrick Duke
  • Nicholas Hormann … Cast, Game Show Host
  • James DiStefano … Cast, Actor
  • Glenn Quinn … Cast, George Chakiris
  • Paige Gosney … Cast, Billy
  • Zachary Benjamin … Cast, Sean Astin (Young)
  • Matthew Linville … Cast, Mackenzie Astin (Young)
  • Michael Chieffo … Cast, Photographer
  • Jane Singer … Cast, Award Presenter
  • Al Septien … Cast, Reporter
  • Stephanie Phillips … Cast, Reporter No. 2
  • Cory Danzinger … Cast, Sean Astin
  • Ryan Francis … Cast, Mackenzie Astin
  • Karl Malden … Cast, Dr. Harold Arlen
  • for "ABC News Brief"
  • Brit Hume … Anchor