Jump to content

A Will of Their Own

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Will of Their Own
Written bySusan Nanus
Lynn Roth[2]
Directed byKaren Arthur[3]
StarringLea Thompson
Ellen Burstyn
Faye Dunaway
Thomas Gibson
Theme music composerDavid Michael Frank[4]
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes2
Production
ProducersElliot Friedgen
Susan Nanus[5]
CinematographyTom Neuwirth[6]
EditorTina Hirsch[5]
Running time225 minutes
Original release
NetworkNBC[1]
ReleaseOctober 18 (1998-10-18)[1] –
October 19, 1998 (1998-10-19)[1]

A Will of Their Own is a 1998 American television miniseries directed by Karen Arthur. It was adapted from the novel Daughters of the New World by Susan Shreve.[7] The film follows six generations of females within one family, and their struggle for power and independence in America.[6][4] The film debuted on October 18, 1998, on the NBC network to mixed critical reviews.[1][8][4][2][3] It was released to DVD late 2003.[citation needed]

PlotAr

[edit]

The film begins in 1894 and ends in the 1985.[2]

Annie Jermaine (Reiko Aylesworth) immigrates from Europe to America where she becomes a housemaid for a wealthy doctor.[7] She breaks class restrictions when she marries the doctor's son and begins training as a nurse. However, she is unable to utilize her knowledge due to the popular belief that women were not capable of practicing medicine.

Amanda Steward (Lea Thompson) is a young woman who aspires to become a photographer but is turned down because she is a woman. She goes through life in trying to help women and make them stronger.

Sarah (Paris Jefferson) faces difficulties being the wife of a powerful U.S. senator.

Susan (Charlotte Ross) is a hippie who becomes a doctor and later opens up a health clinic for battered women.[5]

Jessie (Sônia Braga) is a farm worker who walked the fields of the San Joaquin Valley for nearly half a century. She is the first female organizer for the United Farm Workers. Seeing those around her struggle and sometimes die because of poor living and working conditions, she wanted to help and joined César Chávez to make a change.

Cast

[edit]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

Motion Picture Sound Editors

  • Nominated, "Best Sound Editing - Television Mini-Series - Dialogue & ADR unknown"[10]
  • Nominated, "Best Sound Editing - Television Mini-Series - Music unknown"[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Shales, Tom (October 17, 1998). "Miniseries moves from cause to cause without much finesse". Detroit Free Press. p. 37. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Bianculli, David (October 16, 1998). "A sorry 'Will' is NBC's way". Daily News. p. 476. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Hughes, Mike (October 18, 1998). "Suffrage miniseries won't please feminists". Lansing State Journal. p. 41. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d Richmond, Ray (October 16, 1998). "A Will of Their Own". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d "A Will of Their Own". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c Pennington, Gail (May 14, 1998). "Hollywood types enjoy evening at St. Louis' Planet Hollywood". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 94. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d Brennan, Patricia (October 18, 1998). "Miniseries `A Will of Their Own' tells story of independent women". Deseret News. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d Bobbin, Jay (October 18, 1998). "Lea Thompson and others find 'A Will of Their Own' in NBC saga". The Buffalo News. p. 152. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  9. ^ a b King, Susan (October 17, 1998). "Miniseries depicts a century of women's struggles". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 34. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Olson, Eric J. (February 23, 1999). "Sound editors shout Golden Reel noms". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
[edit]


Stub icon

This article related to an American TV movie is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A_Will_of_Their_Own&oldid=1297680534"