Heartsounds

Heartsounds (1984)

New York urologist Harold Lear gets a taste of his own medicine when he suffers a heart attack and is confronted with a medical institution which doesn't seem equipped to help. Wife Martha steps in to fight the system and get a measure of service and compassion. Ultimately the greatest battle is not waged against the medical profession, however, but against Lear's own failing body and his own mortal fears.

Date of release
1984-09-30
TMDB
8.0 / 10 (3)
Runtime
2h 8m
Genres
Drama, TV Movie
Director
Glenn Jordan

Casting

Interesting facts

  • Filmed in: New York City

Heartsounds is a 1984 American drama television film directed by Glenn Jordan and written by Fay Kanin, based on the book Heartsounds: The Story of a Love and Loss by Martha Weinman Lear. It stars Mary Tyler Moore and James Garner, with Sam Wanamaker, Wendy Crewson, David Gardner, and Carl Marotte in supporting roles. Produced by Embassy Television, the film premiered on ABC on September 30, 1984, as part of the anthology series ABC Theater.

Production

Veteran television producer Norman Lear, who was Harold Lear's cousin, produced the film, initially offering the lead role to Paul Newman in anticipation of a theatrical release. Uneasy about the prospect of portraying an infirm and moribund character, Newman declined to participate. Garner, however, had been in and out of hospitals from the age of five and had no reservations about accepting the role.

According to The Washington Post, author Martha Weinman Lear said: "I'm thrilled by the casting" and "I'm extremely lucky to have landed in the care of all these people… The screenplay is incredibly faithful to the spirit and substance of the book."

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