Donald Wrye

Director

September 24, 1934 (80 years)

† May 15, 2015

Riverside - California - USA

Biography

Donald Wrye (September 24, 1934 – May 15, 2015) was an American director, screenwriter, and producer, best known for directing the 1978 film Ice Castles, a romantic drama about a young figure skater's rise and fall from stardom. He began his career with documentary shorts, including An Impression of John Steinbeck: Writer (1969), which was nominated for an Academy Award. Wrye's work often explored human resilience and emotional depth, leaving a lasting impact on American cinema.

Filmography

5.7

Amerika

Amerika is a miniseries about life in the United States, ten years after a bloodless takeover engineered by the Soviet Union.

6.3

Ice Castles

Young, beautiful, talented Alexis Winston comes from nowhere to become a figure skating superstar. But her rise to stardom isn’t easy. She has to push herself, reinvent herself, and most painfully of all, leave her hometown boyfriend behind. When a tragic fall leaves her blind, she needs someone to believe in her, to love her; someone to convince her she has the strength to skate and dream again.

7.4

Ice Castles

Alexis is on top of the world until a tragic accident dashes her hopes and dreams of becoming a world-class figure skater. Only with the help of those who love her can she prove to the world — and herself — that she still has the potential to realize her dreams.

6.3

Born Innocent

A constant runaway is given over to the care of the state and finds herself in a remand centre for girls. She is soon caught between the uncaring bureaucracy, the sometimes brutal treatment from her peers and her own abusive family, and only one care worker sees her potential to rise above her tragic circumstances.

7.7

Lucky Day

When 30-year-old Allison Campbell wins a $2 million lottery, her family life turns upside down not just because of her winnings but because Allison is mentally handicapped. Kari, her younger sister, has been caring for Alison for 10 years. Problems arise when the girls' mother, Katherine, decides she wants Allison to live with her.

6.6

A Family Divided

College swimmer Chad Billingsley is his middle class family's pride and joy. After a moody phase of scared denial, he owns up to father, attorney Roger, that Rosalie Frank, the provocatively dressed waitress who attended his frat's last party and is missing since, had sex with five of them. Roger does his utmost to prevent the potential statutory rape case ruining his son's future, but confides in his moralistic wife, refuge house worker Karen, who instead of supporting the boys haunts them like Rosalie's mother Inez, with multiple tragic results.

3.2

The House of God

Comedy about a couple of interns in a hospital named 'The House of God'.

5.5

High Stakes

A former news reporter marries and tries to adjust to the life of a house wife and mother. However, her need for an adrenaline high is overpowering and she becomes a gambling addict.

6.5

83 Hours 'Til Dawn

A wealthy man's daughter is kidnapped and placed in a box with air for only 83 hours.

5.0

Range of Motion

A woman intensely believes her husband will recover from a coma during the holiday season.

4.6

It Happened One Christmas

It's Christmas Eve 1944 in the small town of Bedford Falls, New York. A despondent and suicidal Mary Bailey Hatch is praying for guidance on what to do about an incident no fault of her own which threatens her name and the community standing of her longtime family business, the Bailey Building and Loan, which she took over after the passing of her father. What Mary does not know is that most in town, including her husband George Hatch and their children, are also praying for her. All the prayers are heard by Joseph, God's gatekeeper of prayers. As there are no other angels available on such a busy day, Joseph assigns Clara Oddbody, angel second class (i.e. she has yet to receive her wings), to Mary's case, which he reluctantly does as Clara has never been assigned a case on her own in the two hundred years she's been in heaven for good reason.

4.0

Reckless Behavior: Caught on Tape

A young school teacher engaged to a handsome firefighter has the seemingly perfect life until she accompanies some girlfriends on a beach trip. When she returns home, a scandalous video tape of her "going wild" jeopardizes her job, fiancé and family.

7.5

Divorce Wars: A Love Story

Successful divorce lawyer Jack Sturgess discovers that his own marriage is falling apart and must juggle his domestic conflicts with his clients' problems.

6.8

Heart of Steel

A steel factory that employs most of the town shuts down, leaving a man desperate to keep his family and friends together while alcohol consumes him in this depressing drama.

7.3

Ultimate Betrayal

Based on a true story about two sisters who sue their father for incest and child abuse. As the story unfolds, it is revealed that the father severely abused all six children, and committed incest with all four of his daughters.

6.0

Not in This Town

When local hate groups besiege the town of Billings, Montana, the people of the community turn their backs. Only one woman takes a risk and battles the cruel acts of hatred and racism.

6.0

Death Be Not Proud

Based on the book by famed author John Gunther about the life and early death of his teenage son Johnny, who died from a brain tumor.

5.0

Trail of Tears

Two single mothers, polar opposites in personality, join forces to track down their children that have been kidnapped by their ex-husbands.

5.6

Broken Promises: Taking Emily Back

Ever since Pam Cheney (Cheryl Ladd) lost her baby during labor, she has been struggling with depression. She is not only supported by her loving, but hard working husband Sean (Robert Desiderio), but also by her friends Ella (Polly Draper) and Terry Sabin (D. David Morin), who have also lost a baby at age three. One year after labor, Pam decides to finally take a proposal to adopt a toddler. Going through official agencies proves unsuccessful, partly due to Pam's age, partly due to the growing demand of adoption. She is advised to take care of an orphaned teenager instead, but Sean refuses this option.

6.5

The Man Who Could Talk to Kids

An emotionally disturbed young boy shuts out all of his family and friends. A counselor tries to help bring him and his family together again.