Why was there never a follow up after Sunshine Christmas? What ever happened to the real "Jill" and "Sam". Does anyone know? It has been driving me crazy for years. Silly to get so wrapped up in a movie but I am curious.
shareI was actually looking into this movie because I knew "Jill". Jill isn't her real name, but she lives in California, and last I heard, is quite well.
shareNice to know. Thanks for the info.
shareWow! You knew her? Can you tell me a little more about her and her life after her mom died? Wasnt her name jennifer?
shareThere was a followup of some kind called "letters to Sunshine" Or something like that...I remember coming across it in a bookstore....I too loved this book and movie
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How very interesting. I've always wondered if she was, indeed, raised by "Sam" as her mother wished her to be.......
shareThere was a book called Message to My Daughter. Actually, I'm not certain it was a book; I do remember seeing the tv movie back in the 70's, however.
"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.
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 years...If 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!
Thanx...beaglegrrl3
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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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.
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.
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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.
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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Yes, I realize that these weren't Jacqueline Helton's actual biography. Like you, I tried to research the actual woman on the internet too, but, couldn't find anything.
Anyway, thank you & good luck.
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"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.
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
The real woman The story is written about her name is Jacquelyn. Aka Lyn. Her daughters name is Jennifer. Lyn was given a tape recorder to record messages to her daughter. One day while she was doing dishes a young boy came into her apartment and stole the tapes and tape recorder. A story was written in the newspaper in attempts to have someone return the tapes. This is where the story gained notoriety and how it ended up becoming a movie.
shareI just bought the DVD film Sunshine and Sunshine Christmas. I've been searching for this film for decades and finally found it on the internet. I never saw the original film Sunshine but only new Sunshine Christmas. This film has also stuck with me for decades. I finally saw the original film Sunshine. And ... like the many posts here I too am interested in how the real Jill is doing in life.
I hope she is fine. I wonder what ever happened to the real Sam too. What an inspirational film ... I don't think I've ever seen anything like this film before ... it has a mysterious quality that sticks with you for the rest of your life.
I hope the real Jill is doing fine and loves her mother. If anyone has any info on the Jacquelyn M Helton or the real Sam and real Jill and how they are doing in life that would be great news to those of us touched by this powerful story well done in these extroardinary films.
zoffreo,
Just wondering where did you find the films, i have been searching with no luck. And advice would help.
How did you know her? I new her mom and Tom. I lived in CA for 27 yrs. and never heard that she had moved there.
Jim Lowe
Her real name was Jennifer. Tom Helton was his real name and he remarried and raised her.
Jim Lowe
Jennifer lost a daughter of her own, ironically, in 2010. She had a baby girl named Emma Sunshine Marshall, born and died on the same day, April 2, 2010. Can't help but love the middle name chosen for this baby girl.
shareThe mother of the baby you reference was born in 1981 according to facebook
https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.marshall.391?fref=tl_fr_box
Much too young to be that Jennifer Helton.
Well, you've obviously got the wrong one then.
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