Doonby


Doonby is a 2013 independent film written and directed by Peter Mackenzie. It stars John Schneider, Jenn Gotzon, Ernie Hudson, Jennifer O'Neill, Will Wallace, Robert Davi, and Joe Estevez.
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Plot summary

Sam Doonby is a mysterious drifter who gets off a bus one afternoon in a small Texas town to change and improve the lives of all with whom he comes in contact. It is a story of greed and envy, played out against the backdrop of the classic country and blues music that is performed in Leroy’s Bar. The film has been described by the producers as Crazy Heart-meets-It's a Wonderful Life, while Schneider described it as "It's a Wonderful Life without the Wonderful."

Cast

Production

The film was shot on location in Smithville, Texas.

Release

Doonby received a limited release in early February 2012, followed by a wider release in the United States on February 17, 2012 by Freestyle Releasing. In 2014, CMD Distribution obtained DVD distribution rights.

Reception

Doonby resonated with many antiabortion organizations due to its antiabortion theme. Activist Norma McCorvey, known as the plaintiff Jane Roe of the Supreme Court of [the United States|Supreme Court] landmark decision Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States in 1973, appeared in a cameo in the film. It has also been endorsed by the Vatican and has premiered at the Landmark E Street Cinema during the 2013 March for Life, an annual antiabortion march protesting abortion in the United States.