The Dollmaker

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The Dollmaker
Genre	Drama
Based on	The Dollmaker novel by Harriette Arnow
Written by	Susan Cooper Hume Cronyn
Directed by	Daniel Petrie
Starring	Jane Fonda
Music by	John Rubinstein
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producer
Producer	Bill Finnegan
Production locations	Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Cinematography	Paul Lohmann
Editor	Rita Roland
Running time	150 minutes (total)
Production companies	IPC Films
Distributor	Lorimar Telepictures (1986-1989) Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original network	ABC
Picture format	Color
Audio format	Mono
Original release	May 13, 1984 (1984-05-13)

The Dollmaker is a 1984 American made-for-television drama film starring Jane Fonda and based on the 1954 novel of the same title written by Harriette Arnow. It was originally broadcast on ABC on May 13, 1984.

Fonda was awarded the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Special for her performance. Director Daniel Petrie won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials.

Plot summary[]

The film is the story of a family that moves from the rural home in Appalachia to Detroit, Michigan where the father intends to find work in a factory. Gertie is hesitant to leave their home; her husband Clovis believes that it will bring the family a regular income and better way of life. What Gertie finds is a new place to exist, rather than live, and the family settles down in a tar paper shack by the railroad tracks in an industrial neighborhood.

All the while Gertie holds onto her homespun ways, one of which is carving. Clovis begins to dismiss her talents and puts down Gertie for holding onto her folk art in a modern world. Still, her handiwork is admired by those around her. One of the items that she hangs onto is a piece of a tree limb in which she sees a figure of Jesus calling to her to carve from it.

One setback after another begins to pull the family apart. Clovis doesn't find work and begins to get involved with matters that trouble Gertie; her children begin to also get involved in unsavory affairs.

The event that breaks Gertie's passivity to her situation is the death of her youngest daughter, who is killed by a railroad car. She confronts her husband, whose best intentions have led the family to this tragedy. Gertie decides that she will earn enough money to get the family back home to where it belongs. To do this she will make dolls, but she has no material from which she can carve the dolls. It is then that she takes the treasured piece of lumber that she longed to carve the Christ figure from, and splits it with an axe. From one piece of wood, she will carve many dolls. It is the only way to save the family.

From this sacrifice, the family is able to return home.

Cast[]

• Jane Fonda – Gertie Nevels
• Levon Helm – Clovis Nevels
• Amanda Plummer – Mamie Childers
• Susan Kingsley – Sophronie Meanwell
• Ann Hearn – Max
• Bob Swan – Victor
• Geraldine Page – Mrs. Kendrick
• Jason Yearwood – Reuben
• David Brady Wilson – Enoch
• Starla Whaley – Clytie
• David Dawson – Amos
• Nikki Creswell – Cassie
• Raymond Serra – Joe
• Dan Hedaya – Skyros
• Ellen Marchman – Wheateye
• Sheb Wooley – Mr. Kendrick

External links[]

• The Dollmaker at IMDb