93 minutes
9/14/2002
The story of two small town boys from different sides of the tracks: 1950's childhood and self-redemption. Young "Whitey" Black (so called because of a tuft of blanched hair on the left side of his head) lives in poverty with his single mother and ailing, four-year old sister, Sandy. Just across town, young Jerry Barlow lives the advantages of a middle class lifestyle with both parents and his younger brother. When mischief casts Whitey and Jerry into a shared paper route, Jerry quickly learns of Whitey's desire to buy his sister an angel doll for Christmas. Even though no such dolls exist in their hometown, Whitey, Jerry and a host of colorful characters set out in search of Sandy's gift. Along the way, reversals of fortune, theft, prejudice and, ultimately, the boy's friendship opens their eyes to the vastness of the small town around them.
Keith Carradine
as Adult Jerry Barlow
Betsy Brantley
as Mary Barlow
Beatrice Bush
as Pearl Cumberland
Pat Hingle
as Noah Roudabush
Gil Johnson
as Jack Barlow
Nick Searcy
as Col. Brandeis
Cody Newton
as Whitey Black
Michael Welch
as Little Jerry Barlow
Diana Scarwid
as Fronia Black
Nick Angel
as Santa
Don Henderson Baker
as Somber Man
Calleigh Crumpler
as Emily
John Copeman
as Milkman Woodrow Jones
Christian Durango
as Randy Clark
Cordereau Dye
as Let Cumberland
Kate Finlayson
as Pageant Director
Kelly Jones Gabriele
as Mrs. Edwards
Lindsey Good
as Sandy Black
Deborah Hobart
as Rose Clark
John Keenan
as Emily's Dad
Chuck Kinlaw
as Stump Parker
Bubba Lewis
as Billy Barnes
Robin Mullins
as Mrs. Barnes
Joanne Pankow
as Nurse
Suzanne Pavlat
as St. Jude Patient
Nina Repeta
as Clerk
Leslie Riley
as Emily's Mom
Dakota Smith
as Bobby Rink
L.H. Smith
as Theatre Manager
Patrick Stogner
as Larry Barlow
Larry Tobias
as Otis Madger
Suellen Yates
as Linda Barlow
Derek Chandler
as Military Police
Madeline Crow
Giancarlo D'Alessandro
as Boy Drinking Cheerwine (uncredited)
Sage Griffin
as Boy in Hospital (uncredited)