Fall from Grace (1990 film)
Encyclopedia
Fall from Grace is a drama, concerning the lives of Jim Bakker
and his then-wife, Tammy Faye
Bakker Messner during the 1980s, and starred Kevin Spacey
and Bernadette Peters
. This made-for-television movie aired on NBC on April 29, 1990.
Bernadette Peters, as Tammy Faye Bakker, sings several gospel songs, among them "Amazing Grace
", "God Rides on the Wings of Love", and "His Eye is on the Sparrow
". Peter Matz
arranged the music.
A Los Angeles Times article noted that both Peters and Spacey said "they had doubts about taking part in the show because of the caricature, 'Saturday Night Live' aspect of their characters.", but were assured that they would not play caricatures.
Jim Bakker
James Orsen "Jim" Bakker is an American televangelist, a former Assemblies of God minister, and a former host of The PTL Club, a popular evangelical Christian television program.A sex scandal led to his resignation from the ministry...
and his then-wife, Tammy Faye
Tammy Faye
Tamara Faye LaValley Bakker Messner was an American Christian singer, evangelist, entrepreneur, author, talk show host, and television personality. She was married to televangelist, and later convicted felon, Jim Bakker . She co-hosted with him on The PTL Club...
Bakker Messner during the 1980s, and starred Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey, CBE is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and crooner. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television...
and Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
. This made-for-television movie aired on NBC on April 29, 1990.
Plot summary
Jim Bakker (Kevin Spacey) establishes a large televangelical empire in the 1980s, including Heritage Village. However, they are removed from P.T.L, the ministry that they had established in 1987. Mr. Bakker was sentenced to prison on fraud and conspiracy charges. Not shown in the movie is the subsequent divorce, in 1992, of the Bakkers.Bernadette Peters, as Tammy Faye Bakker, sings several gospel songs, among them "Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
", "God Rides on the Wings of Love", and "His Eye is on the Sparrow
His Eye is on the Sparrow
"His Eye Is on the Sparrow" is a Gospel hymn. Although today it is a staple of African-American worship services, the song was originally written in 1905 by two white songwriters, lyricist Civilla D. Martin and composer Charles H. Gabriel...
". Peter Matz
Peter Matz
Peter Matz was an award winning American musician, composer, arranger and conductor. His musical career in film, theater, television and studio recording spanned fifty years, and he worked with a number of prominent artists, including Marlene Dietrich, Noël Coward and Barbra Streisand...
arranged the music.
Cast
- Jim Bakker -- Kevin SpaceyKevin SpaceyKevin Spacey, CBE is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and crooner. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television...
- Tammy Faye Bakker -- Bernadette PetersBernadette PetersBernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
- Richard Dortch -- Richard HerdRichard HerdRichard Herd, Jr. is an American actor in television and film. He is well known in the science fiction community for his role in the 1983 NBC miniseries V and the 1984 sequel V: The Final Battle, as John, the Visitors' Supreme Commander...
- Rev. Jerry Falwell -- Richard PaulRichard PaulRichard Paul was an American actor.He was born in Los Angeles, California. He was able to imitate most American and many foreign dialects. He had a tenor voice and trained with Lee Sweetland....
- Jessica Hahn - Annie Wood
Production
The rights to the Bakkers' story were sold to NBC Productions in 1987. After Ken Trevey was hired to write the movie, his assistant interviewed the Bakkers. After the bankruptcy trial in 1989, the script was rewritten. Spacey at first declined the role, but finally decided to take it, because of "Jim's complexity — and a 3½-hour phone conversation with director Arthur." Because Tammy's weight fluctuated, Peters sometimes had to have extra padding; she wears false nails and five wigs. The movie cost $3-million-plus to make.A Los Angeles Times article noted that both Peters and Spacey said "they had doubts about taking part in the show because of the caricature, 'Saturday Night Live' aspect of their characters.", but were assured that they would not play caricatures.
Response
The Entertainment Weekly reviewer wrote that "Kevin Spacey as Jim and Bernadette Peters as Tammy are absolutely fabulous" but that, in a "miscalculation", the "movie they're in is so petrified of offending religious viewers that it pulls back."Awards and nominations
Emmy Awards- Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Special—WINNER (tied with "The Phantom of the Opera")
- Outstanding Achievement in Makeup for a Miniseries or a Special—nominated