''Doonby'' is a 2013 independent film written and directed by Peter Mackenzie. It stars John Schneider, Jenn Gotzon,

Ernie Hudson Earnest Lee Hudson (born December 17, 1945) is an American actor. His roles include Winston Zeddemore in the '' Ghostbusters'' film series, Sergeant Darryl Albrecht in '' The Crow'' (1994), and Warden Leo Glynn on HBO's '' Oz'' (1997–2003) ...

Jennifer O'Neill Jennifer O'Neill (born February 20, 1948) is a Brazilian-born American actress, model, author, and activist. She is known for her modeling and spokesperson work for CoverGirl cosmetics starting in 1963, and her starring role in the Oscar-winn ...

, Will Wallace,

Robert Davi Robert John Davi (born 1953) is an American actor, singer and filmmaker. Over the course of his acting career, Davi has performed in more than 130 films. Among his most known roles are opera-singing heavy Jake Fratelli in ''The Goonies'' (1985), ...

and

Joe Estevez Joseph Estévez (born February 13, 1946) is an American actor and director. He is the younger brother of actor Martin Sheen and the uncle of Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Renée Estevez, and Ramon Estevez. Life and career Early life Estevez ...

Plot summary

Sam Doonby (John Schneider) is a mysterious drifter who gets off a bus one afternoon in a small Texas town to change and improve the lives of all he comes in contact with. It is a story of greed and envy, played out against the backdrop of the classic country and blues music that is performed in Leroy’s Bar. The film has been described by the producers as ''

Crazy Heart ''Crazy Heart'' is a 2009 American drama film, written and directed by Scott Cooper, in his feature directorial debut. Based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Thomas Cobb, the film centers on a down-and-out country music singer-songwriter ( ...

''-meets-''

It's A Wonderful Life ''It's a Wonderful Life'' is a 1946 American Christmas fantasy drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra, based on the short story and booklet ''The Greatest Gift'', which Philip Van Doren Stern self-published in 1943 and is in turn loos ...

'', while Schneider described it as "''It's A Wonderful Life'' without the Wonderful."

Cast

* John Schneider as Sam Doonby * Jenn Gotzon as Laura Reaper *

as Leroy *

as Sheriff Woodley *

as Barbara Ann *Will Wallace as Tony *

as Cyrus

Production

The film was shot on location in

Smithville, Texas Smithville is a city in Bastrop County, Texas, United States, near the Colorado River. The population was 3,922 at the 2020 census. History Thomas Jefferson Gazley arrived in 1827 and set the pace of development for Smithville by building the fi ...

Release

''Doonby'' was previewed during the 64th annual

2011 Cannes Film Festival The 64th Cannes Film Festival was held from 11 to 22 May 2011. American actor Robert De Niro served as the president of the jury for the main competition and French filmmaker Michel Gondry headed the jury for the short film competition. South ...

. It received a limited release in February 2012 to be followed by wider release in the United States during the spring. The film was given wide release on February 17, 2012 by

Freestyle Releasing Freestyle Releasing, LLC is an independent film distributor based in Los Angeles, California, founded in 2004, specializing in releasing films theatrically. Unlike most distributors, Freestyle Releasing does not put up any prints and advertising ...

In 2014 distribution company CMD Distribution obtained DVD distribution rights.

Reception

''Doonby'' resonated with many anti-abortion organizations due to its anti-abortion theme. Activist

Norma McCorvey Norma Leah Nelson McCorvey (September 22, 1947 – February 18, 2017), also known by the pseudonym "Jane Roe", was the plaintiff in the landmark American legal case ''Roe v. Wade'' in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1973 that individual ...

(1947-2017), known as the plaintiff Jane Roe of the Supreme Court landmark decision ''

Roe v. Wade ''Roe v. Wade'', 410 U.S. 113 (1973),. was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States conferred the right to have an abortion. The decision struck down many federal and s ...

'' which legalized abortion in the United States in 1973, appeared in a cameo in the film. It has also been endorsed by the

Vatican Vatican may refer to: Vatican City, the city-state ruled by the pope in Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum The Holy See * The Holy See, the governing body of the Catholic Church and sovereign entity recognized ...

and has premiered at the Landmark E Street Cinema during the 2013

March for Life March for Life may refer to: * March for Life (Washington, D.C.), an annual anti-abortion gathering held in Washington, D.C. * March for Life (Paris), an annual demonstration held in Paris protesting abortion * March for Life (Prague), an annual ...

, an annual anti-abortion march protesting abortion in the United States.

References

External links

* * {{youTube, _0svFXwHs7k, Theatrical trailer 2013 independent films American independent films Films about abortion Films shot in Texas Films set in Texas 2010s English-language films Films produced by Mark Joseph (producer) 2010s American films