Christmas in Conway

{{Infobox television

| image = Christmas_in_conway.jpg

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| caption = Promotional poster

| genre = Romantic drama

| writer = {{ubl|Stephen P. Lindsey|Luis Ugaz}}

| director = John Kent Harrison

| starring = {{ubl|Andy Garcia|Mandy Moore|Mary-Louise Parker}}

| music = Geoff Zanelli

| country = United States

| language = English

| executive_producer = {{ubl|Hawk Koch|Brent Shields}}

| producer = Andrew Gottlieb

| editor = David Beatty

| cinematography = James Chressanthis

| runtime = 96 minutes

| company = Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions

| budget =

| network = ABC

| released = {{Start date|2013|12|01}}

}}

Christmas in Conway is a 2013 American Christmas romantic drama television film directed by John Kent Harrison, written by Stephen P. Lindsey and Luis Ugaz, and starring Andy Garcia, Mandy Moore, and Mary-Louise Parker. The film is part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame series, and premiered on ABC on December 1, 2013.{{cite web|title=Hallmark Hall of Fame Presents 'Christmas in Conway'|url=http://corporate.hallmark.com/News-From-Hallmark/Hallmark-Hall-of-Fame-Presents-Christmas-in-Conway|work=Hallmark corporate press release|accessdate=5 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123153649/http://corporate.hallmark.com/News-From-Hallmark/Hallmark-Hall-of-Fame-Presents-Christmas-in-Conway|archive-date=23 November 2013|url-status=dead}}

Plot

When terminally-ill Suzy Mayor leaves the hospital to spend her last days at her home in Conway, South Carolina, her grouch of a husband, Duncan, is beside himself with concern for her and with annoyance at everyone else, including Natalie, the live-in hospice nurse who has come home with Suzy. When Duncan decides to build a Ferris wheel in the backyard as a Christmas present for Suzy, in honor of the place where Duncan proposed to her, the neighbors and townspeople of this quiet Southern town are quick to object.{{cite web|title=Christmas in Conway synopsis|url=http://hhof.tv/movies/christmas-in-conway/synopsis/|work=Hallmark Hall of Fame online Press Room|accessdate=11 February 2014|archive-date=15 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315173649/http://hhof.tv/movies/christmas-in-conway/synopsis/|url-status=live}}

Cast

Andy Garcia as Duncan Mayor
Mandy Moore as Natalie Springer
Cheri Oteri as Gayle Matthews
Riley Smith as Tommy Harris
Mary-Louise Parker as Suzy Mayor
Mark Jeffrey Miller as Henry

Production

The film was shot in and around Wilmington, North Carolina, in August 2013.{{cite web|last=Foss|first=Cassie|title=Mary-Louise Parker to star in Hallmark movie filming in area|url=http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20130715/ARTICLES/130719767#gsc.tab=0|work=Wilmington StarNews online|accessdate=5 February 2014|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518100750/http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20130715/ARTICLES/130719767#gsc.tab=0|url-status=live}} Its score was composed by Geoff Zanelli.{{cite web|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2013/09/16/geoff-zanelli-to-score-hallmarks-christmas-in-conway/|title=Geoff Zanelli to Score Hallmark's 'Christmas in Conway'|work=Film Music Reporter|date=September 16, 2013|accessdate=September 14, 2020|archive-date=September 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912234305/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2013/09/16/geoff-zanelli-to-score-hallmarks-christmas-in-conway/|url-status=live}}

Ratings

During its premiere broadcast on December 1, 2013, the episode received a 1.1 rating and a 3 share in the key 18- to 49-year-old adult demographic. It was viewed by 6.45 million total viewers.{{cite web|last=Kondolojy|first=Amanda|title=TV Ratings Sunday: 'Once Upon a Time' Stays at Low + 'Bob's Burgers' & 'American Dad' Fall|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/12/02/tv-ratings-sunday-once-upon-a-time-stays-at-low-bobs-burgers-american-dad-fall/219341/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203013335/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/12/02/tv-ratings-sunday-once-upon-a-time-stays-at-low-bobs-burgers-american-dad-fall/219341/|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2013|work=TVByTheNumbers|accessdate=5 February 2014}} The ratings were considered to be poor,{{cite web|last=Salem|first=Mitch|title=The Sked Network Scorecard - 12/1/13|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/the-sked-sunday-ratings-11.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428013241/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/the-sked-sunday-ratings-11.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 April 2015|work=ShowBuzzDaily.com|accessdate=5 February 2014}} and they were lower than a comparable Hallmark broadcast the previous year.{{cite web|last=Faughnder|first=Ryan|title=TV ratings: NBC wins night with falling NFL numbers; 'Amazing Race' up|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2013/dec/02/entertainment/la-et-ct-tv-ratings-redskins-giants-amazing-race-good-wife-20131202|work=Los Angeles Times|date=2 December 2013|access-date=5 February 2014|archive-date=29 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829193243/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/dec/02/entertainment/la-et-ct-tv-ratings-redskins-giants-amazing-race-good-wife-20131202|url-status=dead}}

Awards and nominations

The film was nominated for two MovieGuide Awards in 2014: the Faith and Freedom Award (Television), and the Free Enterprise Prize. It did not win in either category.{{cite news|last=Appelo|first=Tim|title='Shark Tank,' 'Duck Dynasty,' 'The Bible' Win Faith & Values Awards|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shark-tank-duck-dynasty-bible-678564|accessdate=February 11, 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 8, 2014|archive-date=March 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301181106/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shark-tank-duck-dynasty-bible-678564|url-status=live}}