Safe Harbor (film)
Encyclopedia
Safe Harbor is a 2009 television film based on a true story starring Treat Williams
and Nancy Travis
. The film first aired on Hallmark Channel
on May 30, 2009.
) and Robbie Smith (Nancy Travis
) are a happily married couple about to retire and spend their days cruising around the world on their sailboat
. But before they have the chance to leave, their good friend Judge David Roberts (Orson Bean
), asks them to care for two teenage boys he sentenced to juvenile hall. The facility is currently at capacity and instead of being sent to county jail, the judge tells the couple that the boys can help them prepare their boat for sailing day. The Smiths agree and soon take on two more boys with similar circumstances.
The Smiths are soon faced with a variety of challenges from the boys ranging from their surly attitude, to a fire. Ultimately Doug and Robbie see positive changes in the four young men who are now reluctant to leave their new "family." Doug and Robbie also see changes in themselves as they rethink their sailing trip, their decision not to have children, and what their future now holds.
. The Smiths' program teaches troubled teens the maritime
skills of voyaging under sail and under power, navigation; valuable vocational skills such as engine repair, electrical and welding
along with a strong academic program. The combination helps turn troubled boys into responsible young men.
The program has been in existence for over 25 years. The Safe Harbor academic and vocational education, teamed with the structure, discipline and love they receive has resulted in a 95% success rate with the boys served by the program.
Screenwriter Josef Anderson and Executive Producer Norton Wright spent hours interviewing Doug and Robbie Smith.
during its premiere. The film ranked among the top 5 for household and key demographics. It also ranked as the second-highest-rated ad-supported cable movie of the day and fourth-highest-rated of the week, delivering a 1.8 household rating with 1.5 million homes, over 2 million total viewers and 3.2 million unduplicated viewers.
Reviews were moderately positive. The NY Daily News called it an expected delivery of "decent people, solid values, [and] a general sense that there's more good than bad in the world." They also called it "heartwarming."
Critic Laura Fries from Variety says She also states that "obstacles and resistance are too easily overcome" and that there are deep characterizations of "good" and "bad" people, but that the talent of the cast makes it almost believable.
Treat Williams
Richard Treat Williams is a Screen Actors Guild Award–nominated American actor and children's book author who has appeared on film, stage and television...
and Nancy Travis
Nancy Travis
Nancy Ann Travis is an American actress. She is known for her roles in films Three Men and a Baby and its sequel, Three Men and a Little Lady , Married to the Mob , Air America , Internal Affairs , So I Married an Axe Murderer , Greedy , and Fluke...
. The film first aired on Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
on May 30, 2009.
Plot summary
Doug (Treat WilliamsTreat Williams
Richard Treat Williams is a Screen Actors Guild Award–nominated American actor and children's book author who has appeared on film, stage and television...
) and Robbie Smith (Nancy Travis
Nancy Travis
Nancy Ann Travis is an American actress. She is known for her roles in films Three Men and a Baby and its sequel, Three Men and a Little Lady , Married to the Mob , Air America , Internal Affairs , So I Married an Axe Murderer , Greedy , and Fluke...
) are a happily married couple about to retire and spend their days cruising around the world on their sailboat
Sailboat
A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...
. But before they have the chance to leave, their good friend Judge David Roberts (Orson Bean
Orson Bean
Orson Bean is an American film, television, and Broadway actor. He appeared frequently on televised game shows in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, including being a long-time panelist on the television game show To Tell the Truth....
), asks them to care for two teenage boys he sentenced to juvenile hall. The facility is currently at capacity and instead of being sent to county jail, the judge tells the couple that the boys can help them prepare their boat for sailing day. The Smiths agree and soon take on two more boys with similar circumstances.
The Smiths are soon faced with a variety of challenges from the boys ranging from their surly attitude, to a fire. Ultimately Doug and Robbie see positive changes in the four young men who are now reluctant to leave their new "family." Doug and Robbie also see changes in themselves as they rethink their sailing trip, their decision not to have children, and what their future now holds.
Cast
- Treat WilliamsTreat WilliamsRichard Treat Williams is a Screen Actors Guild Award–nominated American actor and children's book author who has appeared on film, stage and television...
as Doug - Nancy TravisNancy TravisNancy Ann Travis is an American actress. She is known for her roles in films Three Men and a Baby and its sequel, Three Men and a Little Lady , Married to the Mob , Air America , Internal Affairs , So I Married an Axe Murderer , Greedy , and Fluke...
as Robbie - Orson BeanOrson BeanOrson Bean is an American film, television, and Broadway actor. He appeared frequently on televised game shows in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, including being a long-time panelist on the television game show To Tell the Truth....
as David Roberts - Reiley McClendonReiley McClendonReiley McClendon is an American actor.-Personal life:McClendon was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. McClendon attended Grace Brethren High School, and graduated with the class of 2007, since he skipped 5th grade...
as Luke - Charlie McDermottCharlie McDermottCharlie McDermott is an American television and film actor. Since 2004, he has worked on a wide range of television series, including The Office, Private Practice and The Middle. He moved to Los Angeles at the age of 16....
as David Porter - Cameron MonaghanCameron MonaghanCameron Riley Monaghan is an American actor. He first appeared as Winthrop Paroo in the 2003 TV movie, The Music Man and appeared opposite Adam Sandler in the 2006 movie Click as Kevin O'Doyle. He made a few guest appearances on Malcolm in the Middle as Dewey's classmate Chad...
as Larry Parker - Sam Jones IIISam Jones IIISamuel L. Jones III is an American actor, best known for playing Pete Ross on the first three seasons of the television series Smallville.-Career:...
as Billy - Jimmy Ortega as Sheriff
True Story
Doug and Robbie Smith founded a residential educational program for at risk teen-aged boys on the Saint Johns River in Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. The Smiths' program teaches troubled teens the maritime
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
skills of voyaging under sail and under power, navigation; valuable vocational skills such as engine repair, electrical and welding
Welding
Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. This is often done by melting the workpieces and adding a filler material to form a pool of molten material that cools to become a strong joint, with pressure sometimes...
along with a strong academic program. The combination helps turn troubled boys into responsible young men.
The program has been in existence for over 25 years. The Safe Harbor academic and vocational education, teamed with the structure, discipline and love they receive has resulted in a 95% success rate with the boys served by the program.
Screenwriter Josef Anderson and Executive Producer Norton Wright spent hours interviewing Doug and Robbie Smith.
Reception
Safe Harbor did moderately for Hallmark ChannelHallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
during its premiere. The film ranked among the top 5 for household and key demographics. It also ranked as the second-highest-rated ad-supported cable movie of the day and fourth-highest-rated of the week, delivering a 1.8 household rating with 1.5 million homes, over 2 million total viewers and 3.2 million unduplicated viewers.
Reviews were moderately positive. The NY Daily News called it an expected delivery of "decent people, solid values, [and] a general sense that there's more good than bad in the world." They also called it "heartwarming."
Critic Laura Fries from Variety says She also states that "obstacles and resistance are too easily overcome" and that there are deep characterizations of "good" and "bad" people, but that the talent of the cast makes it almost believable.
External links
- Safe Harbor on Hallmark ChannelHallmark ChannelThe Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
's press site - Hallmark Channel website
- Safe Harbor Boys Home official website