IMDb RATING
6.3/10
277
YOUR RATING
Based on the true story of Tom Butterfield and his crusade to provide family life for homeless children, becoming not only the first bachelor caretaker, but the youngest single adult to beco... Read allBased on the true story of Tom Butterfield and his crusade to provide family life for homeless children, becoming not only the first bachelor caretaker, but the youngest single adult to become a legal foster parent in the state of Missouri.Based on the true story of Tom Butterfield and his crusade to provide family life for homeless children, becoming not only the first bachelor caretaker, but the youngest single adult to become a legal foster parent in the state of Missouri.
Fredric Lehne
- Tom Butterfield
- (as Fred Lehne)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
What an eye opening film makes you wonder why . There are not a lot more people like tom in this world .Brilliant true story good on you tom.Shows you that there are people out there that do care for our young and vulnerable. But for such a young man two take so much responsibility at such a young age without thought for his self and just for others puts us all two shame .The performance by both main characters was tear jerking.May be we can all learn something from this film. I have that it is for us all two help out in this world no matter how big or how small it all helps in the end .So my message two a lot of people is two watch this truly amazing film you wont regret it trust me .
If Tom lived and did what he did here in England he would be Sir Tom now. What a wonderful man I watched the film and was extremely moved. If there were other great men/women like Tom the world would be a happier place. We should hear more about Tom although the film says it all. The USA should have given him The Con Medal of Honour. Plus any other honors they could find. What a great, great man. Such courage and determination I will always be a great admirer. I have recorded the film it has been shown in the UK on 01 January 2013. I am sure many many people here in England were moved by the film too and will write many comments. Here's to you Sir Thomas
Just now - 2011 - and have just finished watching this Film. Have to say am blown away, by the courage and hard work it must have taken for all involved. Great Film, great story and even happier to see that it didn't end there. That with thanks to 1 individual hundreds of kids were able to have a place to sleep and food in their stomach.Complete Respect!!Wish i had known about this film earlier. Will def. recommend it to all my friends and family. Guess its kind of an eye opener esp. in today worlds where everyone looks out for Number 1 - themselves.This film and others like it, is what should be taught in todays world if we don't help the children - who will.
My mom worked with Tom Butterfield at the mental health institution where he worked. I went to school with many of the kids from the ranch, including the real "Zim." Another kid from the ranch invited me out to the ranch for a Saturday of horseback riding (each kid had their own horse at the time) in 1963 when I was 8 and I met and was quite impressed by Tom Butterfield. The movie was not over-dramatized at all as these were pretty much how events transpired. In Marshall, I was close friends with the family of Joey Turley, who played Tom's first kid in the movie and even remember his birth. This movie depicts a very interesting time in Marshall, though I was too young to understand all that was going on at the time. It always seems strange for me to see in it many of the real people that I knew in town, as characters portrayed by actors and it was quite interesting to see the filming of the movie in our fair town. I do have many memories of the kids at the original ranch, including Johnny Kates and the great work that Tom Butterfield was performing and what he stood for. Tom's passing was a very sad occasion.
This movie is the true story of my uncle, Tom Butterfield. I wanted to clarify that the reason the black character was introduced in the movie, is because there really was a black boy that Tom adopted into the boys ranch. Tom truly had a heart for all youth, and never even considered their race to be a factor. I even met the "real" black boy while visiting the ranch, and he was such a joy. So please know that when watching this film, it was not a fake scene just to be politically correct. The Butterfield Youth Services in Marshall, Missouri, still exists today, and has expanded into several more group homes that also include boys and girls ranches and inpatient/outpatient treatment centers. Even though my uncle Tom is in heaven now, his legacy continues to live on. Thank you for continuing to pay tribute to him by watching this film. He worked so hard to get this story out so that others would be helped, that might have been forgotten. Thank you for listening.
Did you know
- TriviaThis was Michelle Pfeiffer's first leading role.
- SoundtracksHappy Birthday to You
(uncredited)
Written by Patty S. Hill and Mildred J. Hill
Performed by Fredric Lehne, Michelle Pfeiffer and the children
Details
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content