When Every Day Was the Fourth of July

Just discovered this quality family movie. If you have the chance to see it, don't pass it up. You will not be disappointed.

"When Every Day Was the Fourth of July" is a made for TV movie---and an excellent one at that. In many ways, it seems reminiscent of "To Kill a Mockingbird" but if you can believe the epilogue, it's based on true events.

The story is set in New England in 1937. A young girl comes to befriend a mute man who others make fun of and call 'Snowman' because of his white hair. However, when Snowman is accused of murder, the child appeals to her father (Dean Jones) to defend the man in court. Much of the film consists of this tense trial as well as the eventual discovery of the true reason for the murder.

Overall, this is a very well made film--the sort of TV movie they just don't make anymore. The acting is really very nice (especially for child actors) and Jones is just terrific. The story is also nice and engaging--a food one for the entire family without being saccharine. Sadly, however, although I loved this film, two years later they made another with mostly different people (other than Jones) playing the same characters--and it just wasn't nearly as good. Both are available together on DVD.

When the story starts out, I thought it was fiction. I was shocked at the end of the show, to learn that it was a true story when it was stated that the teen-age bully "Red Doyle" was a marine sargeant who won the medal of honor posthumously fighting on Iwo Jima. The story seemed to hint at who was the real murderer especially when the neighbor whispers into red doyle's father ear. But without evidence or an indictment the real murderer escaped punishment. It seems as though red doyle sufferer the sins of his father. I probably would have forgotten the show had it not been for the epilogue. I am grateful that this story was presented. The lawyer played by Dean Jones reminded me of Gregory Peck in his role as Atticus Finch.

I have not seen this since 1978 when my then wife and I watched it on TV. We made a habit of trying to catch every Disney movie that hit the theater and were not disappointed by this one. Disney had not done many dramas during that period so it was refreshing to see Dean Jones in a drama. Mr. Jones delivered a fantastic performance and as noted, it was easy to see the parallels between him and Gregory Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird and same with this movie being similar with TKAM. Though TV Guide said it was a pilot for a series and we looked for it but it never happened. I did not know there was a sequel so I will have to find it. I think it would have been a good show if they could have equaled the movies.

The nation had come to a period of national disappointment and questioning our faith of our cultural icons with the Watergate Scandal, the Vietnam War, and the shocking untimely death of Elvis Presley. Dean Jones and others in this movie showed there were still good people to believe in who would deliver as the characters did in this movie. Dean Jones always delivered a solid performance whether comedy or drama or whether he was the hero or the villain. He brought us a lot of clean entertainment and joy. We lost him just before the explosion of a number of Christian movies and he would have found a home there. Good job for everyone and rest in peace Mr. Jones.

Well written, well acted enjoyable story which holds your interest. Katy Kurzman does an engaging portrayal of Sarah.