There Must Be a Pony is a 1986 American made-for-television drama film directed by Joseph Sargent. It is based on the novel of the same name by James Kirkwood Jr., and the title refers to a common anecdote about optimism in the midst of adversity.[1]
| There Must Be a Pony | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Based on | There Must Be a Pony |
| Written by | James Kirkwood Jr. |
| Screenplay by | Mart Crowley |
| Directed by | Joseph Sargent |
| Starring | Elizabeth Taylor Robert Wagner James Coco William Windom Edward Winter Ken Olin Dick O'Neill Chad Lowe |
| Composer | Billy Goldenberg |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Robert Wagner |
| Producer | Howard Jeffrey |
| Cinematography | Gayne Rescher |
| Editor | Jack Harnish |
| Running time | 95 min. |
| Production companies | R.J. Productions Columbia Pictures Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | October 5, 1986 |
Premise
editMarguerite Sydney is a celebrated Hollywood star attempting a comeback after a stay in a mental hospital, as well as trying to re-establish a relationship with her teenage son, and risking a romance with a mysterious new suitor.[2]
Cast
edit- Elizabeth Taylor as Marguerite Sydney
- Robert Wagner as Ben Nichols
- James Coco as Mervin Trellis
- William Windom as Lee Hertzig
- Edward Winter as David Hollis
- Ken Olin as Jay Savage
- Dick O'Neill as Chief Investigator Roy Clymer
- Chad Lowe as Josh Sydney
Reception
edit"Miss Taylor and Mr. Lowe are worth the effort of watching but, in the end, the movie illustrates one of Marguerite's pearls of wisdom: 'Talk about grinding it out. TV brings new meaning to the words chopped liver," said The New York Times.[3] People advised, "Think of this as a one-woman show, Elizabeth Taylor’s show, and you’ll be in for some moments to remember... If you own a VCR, tape this show, then speed through it, stopping only to savor Liz’s scenes. Then erase the tape."[4]
Awards
editThe film was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie in 1987.[5]
References
edit- ^ "There Must Be a Pony Somehwere". Quote Investigator. December 13, 2013. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "LIZ, LINDA EVANS SQUARE OFF IN FILMS". Los Angeles Times. 4 October 1986.
- ^ O'Connor, John J. (October 3, 1986). "'There Must Be a Pony' with Elizabeth Taylor". The New York Times. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ Jarvis, Jeff (October 6, 1986). "Picks and Pans Review: There Must Be a Pony". People. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
- ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Emmys.com. Retrieved April 29, 2017.