What happened to the Real Jill?
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roses888 — 20 years ago(February 01, 2006 07:52 AM)
"Message to my Daughter" was a made for TV movie in 1973, there was also a book by the same title. It's about a girl who decides not to have an abortion. She tapes some voice recordings to her daughter for the future, because she knows she is going to die soon.
It has nothing to do with the "Sunshine" movies or book, this story & the characters are all different. The only thing that is the same is the using of tape recordings for future use. But I can see how you could get the two confused. Hope this helps. -
efgh — 20 years ago(March 01, 2006 11:09 AM)
You are right, roses888! I remember watching that movie "Message To My Daughter" starring Bonnie Bedelia and Martin Sheen. It was good, but NO match for "Sunshine". There is something about "Sunshine" that has stayed with me for all these yearsIf anyone knows anything about where 'they' are (Sam/ Jill), I'm curious, too! I'm always trying to find any photos, the album, etc., too!
Thanxbeaglegrrl3 -
steven_titchenell2006 — 14 years ago(April 29, 2011 12:20 PM)
According to a bandmate of the real Sam, "Jill" whose real name is Jennifer was raised by the real "Sam" whose real name was Tom, & his second wife whom "Nora" was based on. Tom died a year or two ago. Also of cancer
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zukerfuss — 19 years ago(March 30, 2007 06:33 PM)
I read Message to My Daughter. about a woman with terminal cancer who makes tape recordings for her daughter to listen to when the daughter is older. The daughter's name was Miranda. I remember one part where the mother is making a recording and the baby starts making "baby talk" in the background and the mother tries to get her to say "mama" into the microphone. The daughter is listening to this years later and thinking how weird it is to hear her mother talking to her that way and knowing it is her making those sounds.
Feel free to email me.. love to make new friends. -
Clusium — 19 years ago(August 01, 2006 08:44 PM)
So, you knew the girl who was the inspiration for "Jill" in Sunshine?
Perhaps you might be able to answer something I have been trying to find out for a few years now:
How was it that Universal Studios found about this story about the girl who left behind a tape-recorded diary for her baby daughter?
I've asked so many places on the internet, including here on imdb.com, & to date, have never received an answer to my question. -
Clusium — 19 years ago(August 03, 2006 07:20 PM)
I always understood that it was the other way around: Universal Studios made it into a tv movie, & then Norma Klein made it into a book.
And even if it had been Norma Klein who first put it in print, I'd be wondering how she got access to Jacqueline M. Helton's diary to have her story published. -
roses888 — 19 years ago(August 04, 2006 06:16 AM)
Neither the book or movie are Helton's actual biography. The book & movie are "based" on Helton's life, there is probally alot of fiction mixed in there, too. We know they call her "Kate" in the book & film & that's definately not her real name so that part is factual as well. Also, Jennifer was her daughter's real name not Jill as in the books, movie, and series. "Sunshine" was her daughter's nickname. I did a web search for Helton and very little personal information about her comes up other than the movie by Universal, screenplay written by Carol Sobieski & the book by Klein which we already know about. Jacquelyn recorded the poem "Sunshine on my Shoulder" (that's where the song comes from). Helton died in 1971 so it was a long time ago. I will keep searching to see what else I can find out for you. I would like to find some actual pictures & more information of her & her daughter. I have never seen a real photo of Jacquelyn. It seems her short life including her diaries were somewhat of a mystery which makes her all the more interesting. But it is known that in 1971 Jacquelyn's story was big news, in the papers and such. Interestingly, the cancer she had (osteosarcoma) could of maybe been stopped and she could of lived to see her daughter grow up if Jacquelyn would of agreed to have her leg amputated.
Hope this helps. -
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Clusium — 19 years ago(January 26, 2007 08:46 PM)
"Jacquelyn recorded the poem "Sunshine on my Shoulder" (that's where the song comes from)."
After reading that here, I did a google search, & it said that John Denver wrote the lyrics for "Sunshine on my Shoulder." I do remember reading in "Sunshine"(the book)that she wanted to compose a poem called "Beautiful Sunshine," for her daughter, though.
"Interestingly, the cancer she had(osteosarcoma)could of maybe been stopped and she could of lived to see her daughter grow up if Jacquelyn would of agreed to have her leg amputated."
Not necessarily. Terry Fox had the same type of cancer, & although he had his leg amputated, it still spread to his lungs, & he died. -
nataliec-748-94345 — 15 years ago(May 25, 2010 03:22 PM)
I did a google search after watching the movie on youtube for the second time. I found an obituary and there is a scan of a paper clipping and a couple of pics.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=22944291