Out of Darkness (1994 film)

Out of Darkness is a 1994 American made-for-television drama film starring singer-actress Diana Ross. The movie was distributed and released by ABC on January 16, 1994, in the United States, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Italy and Portugal.

Out of Darkness
VHS cover
GenreBiography
Drama
Written byBarbara Turner
Directed byLarry Elikann
StarringDiana Ross
Ann Weldon
Rhonda Stubbins White
Beah Richards
Carl Lumbly
Music byMichel Colombier
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersDiana Ross
Andrew Adelson
ProducerGeorge W. Perkins
CinematographyEric Van Haren Noman
EditorPeter V. White
Running time100 minutes
Production companiesAnaid Film Productions
Andrew Adelson Company
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseJanuary 16, 1994 (1994-01-16)

Plot

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In the film, Ross's character, named Pauline Cooper, is a former medical student who becomes ill with paranoid schizophrenia and loses 18 years of her life due to the sickness. After her release from a mental ward, Pauline returns home to live with her mother and struggles to rebuild her life with help from doctors, nurses, and a new experimental medication that will help aid her back to health but refusing to set foot in the outside world.

A psychiatric worker, Lindsay Crouse who resolves to help Pauline face up to herself and what lies beyond the front door.[1]

Throughout the movie, Pauline seeks to better herself in a world that she felt had shunned her.

The story is open-ended, concluding with Pauline seeing a homeless woman rummaging through junk cans and talking to herself, leaving Pauline in tears. The question of whether this will be Pauline's future or was a fate Pauline had avoided but to which she could still fall victim to was not answered, only raised.

Cast

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Production

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The film was rated PG-13 and rated M in Australia. The movie was made by several different production companies; these included Ross's Anaid Film Productions Inc., Andrew Delson Company, Capital Cities/ABC Video Enterprises Inc. and Empty Chair Productions Inc.

In an attempt to improvise the "walk" of a homeless indigent, Ross discreetly placed an orange between her skirted thighs and proceeded to hobble along on cue. The effort required to keep the concealed orange in place, and without using her hands, resulted in a gait so uncanny that Ross's director, Larry Elikann, later quizzed her about how she walked the "walk." But according to Ross herself, as she related to the audience of Inside the Actors Studio on February 19, 2006, she never did disclose the simplicity of her little ruse.

Awards

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Ross earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film at the 52nd Golden Globe Awards in 1995.

References

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  1. ^ Gibraltar Chronicle newspaper; Entertainment Guide section; 30/08/1995; Page 17
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