A Simple Wish
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A Simple Wish
''A Simple Wish'' is a 1997 American children's-fantasy-comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie, and starring Martin Short, Mara Wilson, and Kathleen Turner. The film is about a bumbling male fairy godmother named Murray (Short), who tries to help Annabel (Wilson) fulfill her wish that her father, a carriage driver, wins the leading role in a Broadway theatre, Broadway musical. It was the last film from director Michael Ritchie before his death in 2001.Nat Segaloff, ''Final Cuts: The Last Films of 50 Great Directors'', Bear Manor Media 2013 p 247-248 Plot NYC horse carriage driver Oliver Greening (Robert Pastorelli) aspires to perform on Broadway and, despite an outstanding audition for ''A Tale of Two Cities'' musical, he loses out to seasoned Tony Sable (Alan Campbell (actor), Alan Campbell), as he is considered more bankable, as Oliver's reputation as an actor is non-existent. Later that night, Annabel (Mara Wilson), Oliver's young daughter, doesn't convince her elder brother ...
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Michael Ritchie (film Director)
Michael Brunswick Ritchie (November 28, 1938 – April 16, 2001) was an American film director, producer, and writer of films with comical or satirical leanings, such as The Candidate (1972 film), ''The Candidate'' and Smile (1975 film), ''Smile''. He scored commercial successes directing sports films, like ''Downhill Racer'' and ''The Bad News Bears'', and Chevy Chase's ''Fletch (film), Fletch'' comedies and Eddie Murphy's ''The Golden Child''. Personal life Ritchie was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the son of Patricia (married and maiden names, née Graney) and Benbow Ferguson Ritchie. His family later moved to Berkeley, California, where his father was a professor of experimental psychology at the University of California at Berkeley and his mother was the art and music librarian for the city. He attended Berkeley High School (Berkeley, California), Berkeley High School before becoming interested in film, and was accepted at Harvard University following high school. He t ...
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A Tale Of Two Cities
''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the Bastille in Paris, and his release to live in London with his daughter Lucie whom he had never met. The story is set against the conditions that led up to the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. In the Introduction to the ''Encyclopedia of Adventure Fiction'', critic Don D'Ammassa argues that it is an adventure novel because the protagonists are in constant danger of being imprisoned or killed. As Dickens's best-known work of historical fiction, ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is said to be one of the best-selling novels of all time. In 2003, the novel was ranked 63rd on the BBC's The Big Read poll. The novel has been adapted for film, television, radio, and the stage, and has continued to influence popular culture. Synopsis Book the ...
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Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert (; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American film critic, film historian, journalist, screenwriter, and author. He was a film critic for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, Ebert became the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. Neil Steinberg of the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' said Ebert "was without question the nation's most prominent and influential film critic," and Kenneth Turan of the ''Los Angeles Times'' called him "the best-known film critic in America." Ebert was known for his intimate, Midwestern writing voice and critical views informed by values of populism and humanism. Writing in a prose style intended to be entertaining and direct, he made sophisticated cinematic and analytical ideas more accessible to non-specialist audiences. While a populist, Ebert frequently endorsed foreign and independent films he believed would be appreciated by mainstream viewers, which often resulted in such film ...
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Lanny Flaherty
Lanny Flaherty (born July 27, 1942) is an American actor. Career He has given his most memorable performances in ''Lonesome Dove'', ''Natural Born Killers'', '' Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2'' and '' Signs''. Flaherty attended University of Southern Mississippi after high school. He also had a brief role in ''Men in Black 3'', and appeared as Jack Crow in Jim Mickles 2014 adaptation of '' Cold in July''. Other film appearances include ''Winter People'', '' Millers Crossing'', ''Blood In Blood Out'', ''Tom and Huck'' and ''Home Fries'' while television roles include guest appearances on '' The Equalizer'', ''New York News'' and '' White Collar'' as well as a 2 episode stint on ''The Education of Max Bickford'' as Whammo. Personal life Flaherty resides in New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distri ...
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Jack McGee (actor)
Jack McGee (born February 2, 1949) is an American television and film character actor. He has appeared in over 100 films and television series. Known for his gravelly raspy voice, McGee tends to play gruff, blue-collar type characters. He is best known as Chief Jerry Reilly on the television series '' Rescue Me''. He was a regular cast member on the FX series for three seasons. In 2010, he co-starred as Hickey on the Spike TV comedy series '' Players''. Life and career McGee was born in the South Bronx, New York, the youngest of eight children. He attended Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, where he was class president and also played on the Football team, and appeared as a member of the background harmony in The Young Rascals. In 1977, he became a firefighter for the New York City Fire Department in order to pursue his acting career. As a firefighter, he served with FDNY Engine Company 38 and Ladder Company 51 in the Bronx. In the TV Series Rescue Me, he portrayed FDNY 15 ...
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Deborah Odell
Deborah Lee O'Dell (born October 5, 1973) is a Canadian actress and singer. She has appeared in various films and TV series. Early life Deborah O'Dell was born in St. John's, Newfoundland on October 5, 1973. Career Deborah made her acting debut in the 1997 fantasy film '' A Simple Wish'', which featured Mara Wilson and Martin Short. Deborah has made various television appearances including '' F/X: The Series'', '' Earth: Final Conflict'', and ''Mythic Warriors''. She voiced Ariel Flyer in the animated series, ''Rescue Heroes Rescue Heroes are a line of action figures targeted towards Preschool age children, released by Fisher-Price. The line was first introduced in 1997, depicting various rescue personnel, such as firefighters, police officers, and construction work ...'', taking over for Lisa Messinger, who previously voiced Ariel Flyer for the first season. Filmography Film Television References External links * 1973 births Actresses from Newfoundland an ...
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Jonathan Hadary
Jonathan Hadary (born October 11, 1948) is an American actor. Early life and education Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Bethesda, Maryland, Hadary arrived at Tufts University already an accomplished actor. He was cast in many shows at Tufts, both student and faculty directed. During his sophomore year, he became an understudy for the Boston company of '' You're a Good Man Charlie Brown''. This being the Vietnam era, the actor playing Charlie Brown was drafted. The actor playing Schroeder was moved to the Charlie Brown role, and Hadary took the part of Schroeder. He finished the Boston run of the show and the toured with it for some time. Career Hadary made his New York City stage debut in the 1976 Playwrights Horizons staging of Albert Innaurato's ''Gemini''. Critical acclaim for the off-Broadway production resulted in it transferring to PAF Playhouse and then to Circle Repertory Company, and finally to Broadway, where it ran for 1819 performances. Hadary worked ...
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Understudy
In theater, an understudy, referred to in opera as cover or covering, is a performer who learns the lines and blocking or choreography of a regular actor, actress, or other performer in a play. Should the regular actor or actress be unable to appear on stage because of illness, injury, emergencies or death, the understudy takes over the part. Usually when the understudy takes over, the theater manager announces the cast change prior to the start of the performance. Coined in 1874, the term ''understudy'' has more recently generally been applied only to performers who can back up a role, but still regularly perform in another role. Similar tasks Performers who are only committed to covering a part and do not regularly appear in the show are often referred to as standbys and alternates. Standbys are normally required to sign in and remain at the theater the same as other cast members, although sometimes they may call in, until they are released by the production stage manager. If ...
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Ballerina
A ballet dancer ( it, ballerina fem.; ''ballerino'' masc.) is a person who practices the art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet; however, dancers have a strict hierarchy and strict gender roles. They rely on years of extensive training and proper technique to become a part of a professional ballet company. Ballet dancers are at a high risk of injury due to the demanding technique of ballet. Training and technique Ballet dancers typically begin training at an early age if they desire to perform professionally and often take part in international competitions such as YAGP and Prix de Lausanne. At these events, scholarships are being granted to the most talented dancers, enabling them to continue their training at renowned ballet schools around the world, such as the John Kranko Schule in Germany and the Académie de Danse Classique Princesse Grace in Monaco. Pre-professional ballet dancers can audition to enroll at a vocational ballet school such a ...
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Brer Rabbit
Br'er Rabbit (an abbreviation of ''Brother Rabbit'', also spelled Brer Rabbit) is a central figure in an oral tradition passed down by African-Americans of the Southern United States and African descendants in the Caribbean, notably Afro-Bahamians and Turks and Caicos Islanders. He is a trickster who succeeds by his wits rather than by brawn, provoking authority figures and bending social mores as he sees fit. Popularly known adaptations of the character was originally written by Joel Chandler Harris in the 19th century, and later by Walt Disney Productions adapted it for the film '' Song of the South'' in 1946. __TOC__ African origins The Br'er Rabbit stories can be traced back to trickster figures in Africa, particularly the hare that figures prominently in the storytelling traditions in West, Central, and Southern Africa. Among the Temne people in Sierra Leone, they tell children stories of a talking rabbit. Other regions of Africa also tell children stories of ta ...
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Central Park
Central Park is an urban park in New York City located between the Upper West Side, Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan. It is the List of New York City parks, fifth-largest park in the city, covering . It is the most visited urban park in the United States, with an estimated 42 million visitors annually , and is the most filmed location in the world. After proposals for a large park in Manhattan during the 1840s, it was approved in 1853 to cover . In 1857, landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a Architectural design competition, design competition for the park with their "Greensward Plan". Construction began the same year; existing structures, including a majority-Black settlement named Seneca Village, were seized through eminent domain and razed. The park's first areas were opened to the public in late 1858. Additional land at the northern end of Central Park was purchased in 1859, and the park was completed in 1876. After a period of de ...
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Nebraska
Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the southwest; and Wyoming to the west. It is the only triply landlocked U.S. state. Indigenous peoples, including Omaha, Missouria, Ponca, Pawnee, Otoe, and various branches of the Lakota ( Sioux) tribes, lived in the region for thousands of years before European exploration. The state is crossed by many historic trails, including that of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Nebraska's area is just over with a population of over 1.9 million. Its capital is Lincoln, and its largest city is Omaha, which is on the Missouri River. Nebraska was admitted into the United States in 1867, two years after the end of the American Civil War. The Nebraska Legislature is unlike any other American legislature in that it is unicameral, and its members are elected ...
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