Door to Door ⇒
Saw an amazing movie last night! But we almost didn't. Have you ever rented a movie and then discovered that you have already seen it? We grabbed "Ordinary Decent Criminal" and settled in for the evening. After about 10 seconds of watching it however, we realized that we had already seen it! D'oh! Thankfully the guy in the video store knows us and let us choose another. Whew!
Christine had heard about Door to Door and thought it sounded interested. First of all, it stars one of our favourite actors of all time and someone who we feel is one of the best character actors we have ever seen, William H. Macy. We haven't seen him in a bad movie yet. He is always playing an interesting character in an interesting story. Some time comedy, like in Mystery Men or as a weird character in Fargo.
This time he plays a saleman, Bill Porter, with Cerebral Palsy. In the beginning (1955) of course, no one would hire him. But he convinced the Sale Manager at Watkins to give him the worst route, the one with the most walking. He ends up having to walk 7-10 miles a day! Quite the effort for someone with his condition. He eventually wins over the people on his route and becomes Watkins' top salesman, with sales topping $42,000 a year! He was a salesman his entire life (and acually still is!). The thing that really stands out is his intelligence. Bill Porter is a really smart and funny man. He recognized is afflication and its effect on people. My favourite line in the movie was when his mother is in a care home and she says, "Oh stop, I am a burden to you" Bill says, "You're right, but now we're even!" Soooo funny!
Near the end of the movie (1997), Watkins has gotten rid of all of its door-to-door salesmen and replaced them with tele-sales. So Bill realizes he is not "with the times" anymore and he retires. Then a journalist, who used to live on Bill's route, wrote a story about him and he becomes a minor celebraty. The new manager, the one who got rid of all the door-to-door salemen, immediately asks Bill to comback and continue on his normal route. He has become apart of these peoples' lives by now and they continue to buy from him.
A very touching story, made more so by the fact that it is based on a true story! Check out his site to learn more about him. He is still selling!! Although not walking around as much. His story takes place in Portland, but if you look closely you may recognize some of the scenery. Pay particular attention to the busses he takes later in his life. They look very similar to other busses you may have seen!
I highly recommed this movie!