In 1854, there were living on the streets of New York City over 10,000 abandoned orphaned children. Out of this desperate situation was born the Orphan Train. This is a fictionalized account, based on actual events.
In the second half of the 19th century, some 100,000 abandoned or poverty-stricken New York children were relocated to midwestern families by the Children’s Aid Society. Made for television, Orphan Train is a fictionalized account of the early days of the Society in 1854. Top billing goes to Jill Eikenberry as a minister’s daughter and Kevin Dobson as a photojournalist. Eikenberry shepherds the first group of orphans from New York to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana, with Dobson along for the ride in hopes of getting the exclusive story. En route, the orphans encounter hostility from so-called “respectable” people and danger from a fire and a train crash. The supporting cast includes Glenn Close, five years away from her theatrical-movie debut.
Based on a novel by Dorothea G. Petrie.
Starring Jill Eikenberry, Kevin Dobson, Linda Manz, Graham Fletcher-Cook, Melissa Michaelsen.
Not rated.