December 18, 2000

GLENN CLOSE AND JENA MALONE STAR
IN "THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE," AN ADVENTUROUS SAGA TO BE BROADCAST FEB. 18 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Robert Pastorelli and Meat Loaf Also Star

THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE, a new television movie starring Glenn Close ("Cookie's Fortune," "Sarah, Plain and Tall") and Jena Malone ("Stepmom," "Ellen Foster"), will be broadcast Sunday, Feb. 18 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. This colorful saga tells the story of a mother and daughter and the adventures, obstacles and victories they face as they make a home for themselves with little more than one another on the wild America frontier during the California Gold Rush. Robert Pastorelli ("Murphy Brown") and Meat Loaf ("Wayne's World," "Fight Club") also star.

Close plays Arvella Whipple, a recently widowed mother of three who uproots her family from their comfortable home in the East to start an exciting new life on the burgeoning new frontier. Arvella sees Lucky Diggins, Calif., as a town filled with possibility and is not at all deterred by the fact that the boarding house she has agreed to run is nothing but a ramshackle tent at the back of the saloon.

Arvella's spirited 13-year-old daughter, California (Malone), does not share her mother's dream, however, and, ignoring Arvella's pleas to appreciate the opportunities before her, sees Lucky Diggins only as an uncivilized town populated by men hoping to strike it rich digging for gold. Arvella tries to instill in her daughter independence and a thirst for adventure, but California rebels against her imposed new lifestyle and even changes her name to a more sedate Lucy. This triggers a change in the teenager's attitude, as she discovers more about her environment and those who inhabit it.

When the harsh realities of Lucky Diggins test Arvella's resilience, and take their toll on everyone who lives there, Lucy is transformed from a child into a young woman, while Arvella is given another chance at happiness.

Robert Pastorelli plays Clyde Claymore, the new town preacher who takes an instant liking to the emotionally reserved Arvella. Meat Loaf plays Amos, a blacksmith with a knack for storytelling.

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Glenn Close made her feature film debut in "The World According to Garp," for which she earned the first of her three Academy Award nominations as Best Supporting Actress. She was also nominated in that category for "The Big Chill" and "The Natural." She received Academy Award nominations for best Actress for "Fatal Attraction" and "Dangerous Liaisons." Her more recent films include "Reversal of Fortune," "Hamlet," "Meeting Venus," "The House of the Spirits," "The Paper," "101 Dalmatians," "Mars Attacks," "Air Force One" and "Tarzan." She won Tony Awards for her Broadway performances in "The Real Thing," "Death of a Maiden" and "Sunset Boulevard." She appeared in the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentation "Stones for Ibarra," and in the three "Sarah, Plain and Tall" films, for which she was also co-executive producer. She won an Emmy Award for her performance in the television movie "Serving in Silence," for which she was also the executive producer. She is currently starring in the feature film "102 Dalmatians."

Jena Malone's television credits include the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentation "Ellen Foster," on the Network, "Hope," for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, "Hidden in America," "Cheaters" and "Bastard Out of Carolina." She has also appeared on the CBS series "Touched By An Angel" and "Chicago Hope." Her feature film credits include "For Love of the Game," "Stepmom" and "Contact."

Robert Pastorelli is well known to television audiences for portrayal of Eldon in the long-running CBS series "Murphy Brown." He was also a series regular on "Cracker." His television movie credits include "The West Side Waltz" and "Robin Cook's Harmful Intent," on the Network, and "Happily Ever After." His feature film credits include "A Simple Wish," "The Asphalt Quartet," "Michael," "Eraser," "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit," and "Dances with Wolves."

Rock music star Meat Loaf has appeared in the Network series "Nash Bridges" and "The Equalizer" as well as in "Tales from the Crypt." His television movie credits include "Dead Man's Gun," "Everything That Rises," and "To Catch a Yeti." Among his feature film credits are "The Fight Club," "The Mighty," "Leap of Faith," "The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag," "Wayne's World" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," in which he reprised his Broadway stage role as Eddie.

THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE, based on the book by Newberry Medal-winning author Karen Cushman, was produced by Craig Anderson Productions ("The Piano Lesson," "True Women"), in association with Glenn Close's Trillium Productions. Craig Anderson and Glenn Close are the executive producers. Jeremy Kagan ("Courage," "Roswell") directed the film from a script by Christopher Lofton ("The Staircase," "True Women").

RATING: To Be Announced

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Press Contacts: Susan J. Marks (L.A.) 323/575-2118 susan.marks@tvc.cbs.com

Barbara Abseck (N.Y.) 212/975-4637 babseck@cbs.com