Filmed in Canada for American television, Love Mary is based on the true story of Dr. Mary Groda Lewis. When we first meet Mary, she's neither a Lewis nor a doctor, but instead a troubled young girl played by Kristy McNichol. Diagnosed as retarded and incorrigible, Mary is shunted off to a reform school. Here, counselor Rachel Ticotin discovers that Mary's handicap is not retardation but dyslexia. After years of intense and compassionate therapy, Mary is allowed to re-enter the outside world--where two illegitimate pregnancies and a debilitating stroke do not dissuade the girl from her goal of becoming a doctor. Refreshingly, there is no individual human villain in Love Mary; her parents (Piper Laurie and Matt Clark) are supportive throughout the film, while the other authority figures are shown to be subservient to a faulty, pigeonholing "system." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Michael S. Bolton - Art Director, Robert Day - Director, Ray Daniels - Editor, Robert Drasnin - Composer (Music Score), Frank Stanley - Cinematographer, Stan Hough - Producer, Ellis A. Cohen - Producer, Clifford Campion - Screenwriter
Mary was a lonely and poor child, from a family of poor farm workers in Portland, Oregon. She was always in trouble with juvenile authorities partly because she hated to go to school.
After a number of breaks from juvenile authorities, Mary's good luck ran out. She and another troubled male teen got caught while they were joy-riding with a stolen car that they crashed. That was enough for the Judge who had no choice but to incarcerate Mary.
A social worker took an interest in Mary and realized that she struggled with dyslexia. She then helped Mary excel in studies. Mary gained confidence and began to fight back against her impediment, eventually going to college.