| Gordy |
Theatrical release poster |
| Directed by |
Mark Lewis |
| Produced by |
Sybil Robson
Leslie Stevens
Frederic W. Brost |
| Written by |
Leslie Stevens
Jay Sommers
Dick Chevillat |
| Starring |
Doug Stone
Tom Lester
Kristy Young
James Donadio
Deborah Hobart
Justin Garms (voice)
Michael Roescher |
| Cinematography |
Richard Michalak |
| Editing by |
Lindsay Frazer
Duane Hartzell |
| Distributed by |
Miramax Family Films |
| Release date(s) |
May 12, 1995 |
| Language |
English |
Gordy is a 1995 feature film about a piglet who searches for his missing family (who are taken away to Nebraska to a slaughterhouse). The piglet, named Gordy, experiences the lives of others which are part of the film's side plots, including travelling country music singers Luke McAllister and his daughter Jinnie Sue; and lonely boy Hanky Royce whose mother is engaged to a sinister businessman, Gilbert Snipes. Gordy changes lives for the people he encounters due to their ability to understand him. The film was released to theatres on May 12, 1995. It was distributed by Miramax Family Films and released in video under the label "Disney Presents". Gordy stars country music singer Doug Stone in his only acting role, as Luke McAllister, a struggling musician. Other stars in the film include Tom Lester, Kristy Young, James Donadio, Deborah Hobart, Justin Garms as the voice of the title character, and Michael Roescher as Hanky Royce.
Gordy was originally conceived in the early 1970s by Green Acres creator Jay Sommers and writer Dick Chevillat as a vehicle for the Arnold Ziffel character from the television series. Both are given writing credit for the film, although Sommers had died some ten years before the release of Gordy.
Synopsis
A young spunky piglet, named Gordy (Justin Garms), lives on Meadow Brook Farm somewhere in Arkansas. After his father is taken up North to an undetermined fate (in Gordy's point of view anyway), the piglet learns from the farm's rooster that his mother and siblings were taken while he pursued his father. Determined to locate his family and return to the farm, Gordy heads out alone to find them. He eventually ends up in the care of Jinnie Sue MacAllister (Kristy Young), a young upbeat country singer who lives in a campervan with her also country singer father, Luke (Doug Stone), and their "manager", Cousin Jake (Tom Lester). Jinnie Sue, not knowing Gordy's name, calls him Pinky.
They travel to a dinner party where Luke performs for the governor of Arkansas. Also there is rich businessman, Henry Royce (Ted Manson), his daughter Jessica (Deborah Hobart), her rather dull but scheming fiance, Sipes (James Donadio), and Jessica's lonely young son Hanky. Hanky wanders off on his own and meets Gordy and Jinnie Sue. Hanky falls into a swimming pool, but cannot swim. Jinnie Sue rushes off to get help, but Gordy dives into the pool with an inflatable and saves Hanky. Grateful, Hanky is given Gordy as a pet. Gordy's bravery also makes him suddenly famous.
Royce and Snipes have alternate decisions on who the new mascot of the Royce company should be: Gordy or Jessica. In the end, Gordy wins, due to a bad camera lens used on Jessica's promotion. Sipes is determined to remove Gordy and then take control of the company. He sends his two guards, Dietz and Krugman to kidnap Gordy, but Gordy and Hanky escape onboard a school bus, which the two men pursue. On the way, they are distracted briefly by a crossdressing thief, and discover that Gordy and Hanky have escaped onto a feeding truck. The two unexpectedly meet up with the MacAllisters, who learn from the radio that Hanky has apparentely runaway. Another bulletin follows, revealing Henry Royce has died of a heart attack. The MacAllisters return Hanky and Gordy to the Royce building in St. Louis, Missouri where an attorney reveals Henry has left his company to Hanky and Gordy.
Cousin Jake, upon learning Gordy's family is missing, organises a giant country-wide search to locate them and also a country music concert in Branson, Missouri in Gordy's name. A host of country singers perform, as well as a surprise speech from President Bill Clinton (just an impersonator) who unveils a new stamp of Gordy. Sipes sends his men to kill Gordy but he is saved by Cousin Jake. Jake returns Gordy to Hanky and Jinnie Sue. Hanky explains to everyone Gordy's parents are going to be slaughtered at an unidentified slaughterhouse in Nebraska. Sipes tries to hide the fact that the very same slaughterhouse is owned by the Royce family. However, a battle happens between Sipes and Luke, Jessica and Luke knocking him out with the suitcase of Brinks, the family attorney. Gordy, Hanky, Jinnie Sue, Jessica, Luke, Cousin Jake and Brinks race to stop the slaughterhouse from killing Gordy's parents but a train slows them down. Hanky successfully rings the lovestruck owner and the slaughterhouse is shut down just in time. To Gordy's happiness his parents and siblings have survived. The pigs are moved back to the farm, which Luke decides to buy and in the end he marries Jessica, Hanky, Jinnie Sue and Cousin Jake moving in too. Gordy has a happy ending, his family together again with new members.
Cast
- Gordy (Justin Garms): A young piglet who sets out from his home to find his missing family
- Luke MacAllister (Doug Stone): A country singer, and the father of Jinnie Sue.
- Jinnie Sue MacAllister (Kristy Young): The daughter of Luke, also a country singer.
- Cousin Jake (Tom Lester): Luke's cousin and the manager of his group.
- Jessica Royce (Deborah Hobart): The daughter of Henry Royce and mother of Hanky, engaged to Sipes.
- Hanky Royce (Michael Roescher): The lonely but friendly son of Jessica. He becomes a good friend to Gordy.
- Gilbert Sipes (James Donadio): The fiance of Jessica. He is a rather selfish and scheming man who is looking to take over the Royce company.
- Henry Royce (Ted Manson): The elderly executive of the Royce company, father of Jessica and grandfather of Hanky. He dies part-way through the film of a heart attack.
- Brinks (Tom Key): The comical friendly attorney of the Royce family and Sipes. He usually follows the advice of his conscience.
- Dietz and Krugman (Jon Kohler, Afemo Omilami): Sipes's incompetent henchmen.
- Gordy's Father (Hamilton Camp): Gordy's father who was taken up North to be slaughtered.
- Gordy's Mother (Jocelyn Blue): Gordy's mother. She and her children are also taken for slaughter.
Reception
Gordy was eclipsed by the movie Babe, which was another film featuring a young talking pig. Both movies premiered in the same year. Although Gordy was released first, it was not very successful, while Babe was a box office hit, won several awards, (including an Academy Award for Visual Effects) and spawned a sequel.
HBO and Cinemax are still airing this movie, and Cartoon Network and TBS aired the film in November 2007 (all four of these channels are owned by Time Warner).
External links
