''On Giant's Shoulders'' is a 1979 BBC

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

about the early life of

thalidomide Thalidomide, sold under the brand names Contergan and Thalomid among others, is a medication used to treat a number of cancers (including multiple myeloma), graft-versus-host disease, and a number of skin conditions including complications o ...

victim Terry Wiles, with Wiles playing himself. The drama also starred

Bryan Pringle Bryan Pringle (19 January 1935 – 15 May 2002) was an English character actor who appeared for several decades in television, film and theatre productions. Life and career Born in Glascote, Tamworth, Staffordshire, he was brought up in the L ...

and

Judi Dench Dame Judith Olivia Dench (born 9 December 1934) is an English actress. Regarded as one of Britain's best actresses, she is noted for her versatile work in various films and television programmes encompassing several genres, as well as for her ...

and won an

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

in 1980.Newland, Paul (ed), ''Don't Look Now: British Cinema in the 1970s''
Published by Intellect Bristol & Chicago (2010) pg 86 ''

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'' Based on a 1976 book of the same name by

Marjorie Wallace Marjorie Wallace (born January 23, 1954) is an American actress, television host, model and beauty queen. In 1973, she made history as the first woman from the United States to be crowned Miss World, but just 104 days later, pageant officials a ...

and Michael Robson, the 90 minute film was first shown on

BBC2 BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It covers a wide range of subject matter, with a remit "to broadcast programmes of depth and substance" in contrast to the more mainstream a ...

on 29 March 1979 as the 'Play of the Week', and was written by William Humble and Anthony Simmons; the latter was also the director. Terry Wiles had never acted before and, as he was then 17, his voice had to be dubbed by a child actor after filming as it had broken and he had to appear to be much younger, playing himself from age 9 to 12. The drama tells the story of Terry Wiles, who was born with severe disabilities following his mother's use of the

sedative A sedative or tranquilliser is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement. They are CNS depressants and interact with brain activity causing its deceleration. Various kinds of sedatives can be distinguished, but ...

, prescribed at that time for

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, during her pregnancy. Abandoned by his mother at birth, he is later adopted from a children's home by the middle-aged and childless couple Hazel (

) and Len Wiles (

). The couple quickly adjust to caring for so severely disabled a child, and Len Wiles develops a series of motorised wheelchairs (or 'Supercars') based on the

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, so that Terry can live as independent a life as possible. Eventually, through the love and care of his adoptive parents Terry adjusts to life in the normal world and attends school with able-bodied pupils for the first time. Judi Dench was nominated for a Best Actress BAFTA for her role as Hazel Wiles.Judi_Dench
's_nomination_for_''On_Giant's_Shoulders''.html" ;"title="Judi Dench">Judi Dench
's nomination for ''On Giant's Shoulders''">Judi Dench">Judi Dench
's nomination for ''On Giant's Shoulders''on the BAFTA website

Cast

* Terry Wiles - Himself * Len Wiles -

* Hazel Wiles -

* Sister Page - Hilda Braid * Mrs Proctor - Anna Wing * Teacher at Hospital - Barbara Young (actress), Barbara Young * Len Curry - Tim Wylton * Café cashier - Barbara Keogh * Solicitor - Frank Barrie * Hospital Administrator - Tony Church *

- Annabel Leventon * Registrar - Elizabeth Morgan * Limb Technician - Anthony Heaton * Miss Hudson - Jean Rimmer

References

External links

* *
Website about 'On Giants's Shoulders' the 1979 film of the life of Terry WilesBBC 'Play of the Week' entry for 'On Giant's Shoulders' (1979)
* ttp://www.djdchronology.com/opqr/ongiantsshoulders79.htm Excerpt from Judi Dench's biography dealing with ''On Giant's Shoulders'' {{DEFAULTSORT:On Giant's Shoulders British television films 1979 television films 1979 films International Emmy Award for Drama winners