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IMDbPro

Prayers for Bobby

  • TV Movie
  • 20092009
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
17K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,053
1,514
Sigourney Weaver, Henry Czerny, Ryan Kelley, and Austin Nichols in Prayers for Bobby (2009)
BiographyDramaRomance
True story of Mary Griffith, gay rights crusader, whose teenage son committed suicide due to her religious intolerance. Based on the book of the same title by Leroy Aarons.True story of Mary Griffith, gay rights crusader, whose teenage son committed suicide due to her religious intolerance. Based on the book of the same title by Leroy Aarons.True story of Mary Griffith, gay rights crusader, whose teenage son committed suicide due to her religious intolerance. Based on the book of the same title by Leroy Aarons.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
17K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,053
1,514
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Russell Mulcahy
    • Writers
      • Katie Ford(teleplay)
      • Leroy Aarons(book)
    • Stars
      • Sigourney Weaver
      • Henry Czerny
      • Ryan Kelley
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Russell Mulcahy
    • Writers
      • Katie Ford(teleplay)
      • Leroy Aarons(book)
    • Stars
      • Sigourney Weaver
      • Henry Czerny
      • Ryan Kelley
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 71User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 4 wins & 16 nominations total

    Photos21

    Prayers for Bobby (2009)
    Prayers for Bobby (2009)
    Prayers for Bobby (2009)
    Ryan Kelley in Prayers for Bobby (2009)
    Sigourney Weaver in Prayers for Bobby (2009)
    Ryan Kelley in Prayers for Bobby (2009)
    Ryan Kelley in Prayers for Bobby (2009)
    Ryan Kelley in Prayers for Bobby (2009)
    Sigourney Weaver in Prayers for Bobby (2009)
    Sigourney Weaver and Ryan Kelley in Prayers for Bobby (2009)
    Prayers for Bobby / U.S. DVD distributed by Lionsgate
    Trevor Project Live at the Wiltern Theater red carpet arrivals - Prayers for Bobby stars Scott Bailey, Ryan Kelley, Sigourney Weaver with executive producers Chris Taaffe and Daniel Sladek

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sigourney Weaver
    Sigourney Weaver
    • Mary Griffith
    Henry Czerny
    Henry Czerny
    • Robert Griffith
    Ryan Kelley
    Ryan Kelley
    • Bobby Griffith
    Austin Nichols
    Austin Nichols
    • Ed Griffith
    Carly Schroeder
    Carly Schroeder
    • Joy Griffith
    Shannon Eagen
    Shannon Eagen
    • Nancy Griffith
    • (as Shannon Eagan)
    Scott Bailey
    Scott Bailey
    • David
    Rebecca Louise Miller
    Rebecca Louise Miller
    • Jeanette
    Lee Garlington
    Lee Garlington
    • Psychologist
    Madge Levinson
    • Ophelia
    Marshall McClean
    • Reverend Owens
    Susan Ruttan
    Susan Ruttan
    • Betty Lambert
    Dan Butler
    Dan Butler
    • Reverend Whitsell
    Anna Badalamenti
    • Michelle
    Ele Bardha
    Ele Bardha
    • Doug
    Linda Boston
    Linda Boston
    • Marge
    Marty Bufalini
    • Councilman
    Hadas Corey
    • Cheryl
    • Director
      • Russell Mulcahy
    • Writers
      • Katie Ford(teleplay)
      • Leroy Aarons(book)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the scene were the two men from the church are talking with the Griffith family, some of the pictures on the mantel are pictures of the real Bobby Griffith.
    • Goofs
      Bobby's mother sends him a church pamphlet about AIDS (in the film's time-line, this would be 1981 or sometime in 1982). The CDC began using the acronym AIDS in September 1982, but it was some time before the term became widely used.
    • Quotes

      Mary Griffith: Homosexuality is a sin. Homosexuals are doomed to spend eternity in hell. If they wanted to change, they could be healed of their evil ways. If they would turn away from temptation, they could be normal again if only they would try and try harder if it doesn't work. These are all the things I said to my son Bobby when I found out he was gay. When he told me he was homosexual my world fell apart. I did everything I could to cure him of his sickness. Eight months ago my son jumped off a bridge and killed himself. I deeply regret my lack of knowledge about gay and lesbian people. I see that everything I was taught and told was bigotry and de-humanizing slander. If I had investigated beyond what I was told, if I had just listened to my son when he poured his heart out to me I would not be standing here today with you filled with regret. I believe that God was pleased with Bobby's kind and loving spirit. In God's eyes kindness and love are what it's all about. I didn't know that each time I echoed eternal damnation for gay people each time I referred to Bobby as sick and perverted and a danger to our children. His self esteem and sense of worth were being destroyed. And finally his spirit broke beyond repair. It was not God's will that Bobby climbed over the side of a freeway overpass and jumped directly into the path of an eighteen-wheel truck which killed him instantly. Bobby's death was the direct result of his parent's ignorance and fear of the word gay. He wanted to be a writer. His hopes and dreams should not have been taken from him but they were. There are children, like Bobby, sitting in your congregations. Unknown to you they will be listening as you echo "amen" and that will soon silence their prayers. Their prayers to God for understanding and acceptance and for your love but your hatred and fear and ignorance of the word gay, will silence those prayers. So, before you echo "amen" in your home and place of worship. Think. Think and remember a child is listening.

    • Crazy credits
      Epilogue:  "On December 6th 1995 Mary Griffith testified before members of the Congress of the United States. Her tireless work protecting the rights of gay and Lesbian youth has established her as a major force in the fight for human rights."
    • Connections
      Featured in The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Here I Am
      Produced by Michael Lloyd, Greg O'Connor

    User reviews71

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Will it reach them?
    It would be so wonderful if the people that this piece is about actually watched it and understood what kind of hell they're putting their kids in for no particularly good reason.

    It should be required viewing in every Baptist church on the planet. And there are a few other evangelical organizations with strange ideas about human beings who might learn something.

    I will be surprised if Sigourney Weaver doesn't get at least an Emmy nomination, particularly given the speech she gives to the city council, both well written and well delivered.

    Ryan Kelly also delivers a believable performance as Bobby, regardless of some of the cutting required to get the film into a two hour programming window.
    helpful•51
    8
    • oaksong
    • Jan 28, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 24, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Lifetime TV
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Dualar Bobby için
    • Filming locations
      • Detroit, Michigan, USA
    • Production companies
      • Daniel Sladek Entertainment
      • Once Upon a Time Films
      • Permut Presentations
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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    Sigourney Weaver, Henry Czerny, Ryan Kelley, and Austin Nichols in Prayers for Bobby (2009)
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