History Film / AmazingGraceAndChuck

The story reaches a climax with Amazing's plane being blown up by the conspiracy against them, at which point the movement takes on a somber tone. Starting with Chuck, children ''all around the world'' begin a protest of ''refusing to speak at all''. In the end, the President of the USA and Premier of the USSR (both lamenting that their people are on the verge of mass unrest over their children's silent protest) meet to hammer out terms that will immediately begin dismantling their nuclear arsenals. The protests end successfully, the athletes return to work and the children begin speaking again, but young Chuck's childhood has ended far too early.

Chuck Murdock is [[TheAllAmericanBoy a 12-year-old boy (and local star little league pitcher) from Montana]] (then real-life Little Leaguer Joshua Zuehlke) who goes on a field trip to a nuclear missile silo. While there, he becomes unnerved by the sight of the missile and the guide's description of the destructive power of the ICBM. After a nightmare about the missile launching, he stages a protest by walking out rather than pitching in his little league game, to the dismay of his teammates and his father, Russell (William L. Petersen), none of whom seem to understand why he's suddenly so upset about nuclear weapons.

This story is picked up as a human interest piece by several local papers and comes to the attention of fictional NBA player "Amazing Grace" Smith (played by real-life NBA player Alex English, who at the time played for the Denver Nuggets - Amazing plays for the Boston Celtics). The pro-athlete, fascinated by the boy's convictions and dedication, decides to go meet him. After listening to Chuck's explanation about "giving up what he does best" as a form of protest, Amazing decides to follow suit, publicly announcing that he is resigning from basketball (crediting Chuck as his inspiration) until there are no more nuclear weapons. He buys some land in Chuck's town and the two begin an unlikely friendship. They are soon joined in their strike by more and more pro-athletes, who make their movement's base of operations in a renovated barn on Amazing's land. Eventually the movement extends to athletes from other countries and even across the UsefulNotes/IronCurtain.

Stars Creator/JamieLeeCurtis as Lynn Taylor, Amazing Grace's manager and close friend, and Creator/GregoryPeck as the US President. Directed by Mike Newell (''Film/FourWeddingsAndAFuneral'', ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'').

The story reaches a climax with [[spoiler: Amazing's plane being blown up by the conspiracy against them]], at which point the movement takes on a somber tone. Starting with Chuck, children ''all around the world'' begin a protest of ''refusing to speak at all''. In the end, the President of the USA and Premier of the USSR (both lamenting that their people are on the verge of mass unrest over their children's silent protest) meet to hammer out terms that will immediately begin dismantling their nuclear arsenals. The protests end successfully, the athletes return to work and the children begin speaking again, but young Chuck's childhood has ended far too early.

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Jeffries. The president and the campaigners know he was responsible for the bomb that killed Amazing but there is no evidence that would stick in court. The president orders him to divest himself of all his companies, stocks and shares and withdraw completely from the world of business, but Jeffries has enough in the bank to put his feet up for life right now and enjoy retirement.]]

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Jeffries. The president and the campaigners know he was responsible for the bomb that killed Amazing but there is no evidence that would stick in court. The president orders him to divest himself of all his companies, stocks and shares and withdraw completely from the world of business, but Jeffries [[Unishment has enough in the bank to put his feet up for life right now and enjoy retirement]].]]

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Jeffries. The president and the campaigners know he was responsible for the bomb that killed Amazing but there is no evidence that would stick in court. The president orders him to divest himself of all his companies, stocks and shares, but he will probably transfer them into the names of members of his family and remain the person in real control. While the government agencies will watch him like a hawk for any missteps, after this president leaves office future administrations may be more lenient.]]

But some of the forces that be are not happy about these developments which threaten the status quo, and thus their personal power and influence. A shady businessman named Jeffries, working behind the scenes, resolves to break the growing movement. Chuck and Amazing face enormous pressure from all sides (including economic and physical threats to themselves and there loved ones) as they struggle to spread their message for peace and take a stand for what they believe in.

** Alternate pitcher Jerome gets a moment of this from Chuck's Little League teammates. They ''forfeit the match'' rather than allow him to pitch, which is unnecessarily mean to Jerome; if they did lose with him pitching, they would be no worse off in the league standings than they are from forfeiting.

** Alternate pitcher Jerome gets a moment of this from Chuck's Little League teammates. They ''forfeit the match'' rather than allow him to pitch.

* BittersweetEnding: The protest was successful prompting a disarmament agreement between the USA and the USSR. But [[spoiler: Amazing Grace is dead and his killer, while exposed, will never face trial]], Chuck's innocent childhood is over.

Stars JamieLeeCurtis as Lynn Taylor, Amazing Grace's manager and close friend, and Creator/GregoryPeck as the US President. Directed by Mike Newell (''Film/FourWeddingsAndAFuneral'', ''Film/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'').

* TheVoiceless: Chuck (and the other children) during the film's third act.

Not to be confused with the 2006 film, Film/AmazingGrace.

* GenreSavvy: As soon as Amazing announces why he's leaving basketball, Jeffries warns one of his business partners that this could be a threat, people are sentimental and might actually ''listen'' to this kind of message.

* DirectToVideo: In the UK, as ''[[MarketBasedTitle Silent Voice]]''.

Chuck Murdock is [[TheAllAmericanBoy a 12-year-old boy (and local star little league pitcher) from Montana]] who goes on a field trip to a nuclear missile silo. While there, he becomes unnerved by the sight of the missile and the guide's description of the destructive power of the ICBM. After a nightmare about the missile launching, he stages a protest by walking out rather than pitching in his little league game, to the dismay of his teammates and his father, Russell, none of whom seem to understand why he's suddenly so upset about nuclear weapons.

This story is picked up as a human interest piece by several local papers and comes to the attention of fictional NBA player "Amazing Grace" Smith. The pro-athlete, fascinated by the boy's convictions and dedication, decides to go meet him. After listening to Chuck's explanation about "giving up what he does best" as a form of protest, Amazing decides to follow suit, publicly announcing that he is resigning from basketball (crediting Chuck as his inspiration) until there are no more nuclear weapons. He buys some land in Chuck's town and the two begin an unlikely friendship. They are soon joined in their strike by more and more pro-athletes, who make their movement's base of operations in a renovated barn on Amazing's land. Eventually the movement extends to athletes from other countries and even across the UsefulNotes/IronCurtain.

Stars JamieLeeCurtis as Lynn Taylor, Amazing Grace's manager and close friend.

* AmazingFreakingGrace: One of the titular characters is nicknamed after the song. His friends just call him "Amazing"

* {{Deuteragonist}}: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Amazing Grace and Chuck]]

* PlatonicLifePartners: Amazing and Lynn. There's a hint of UnresolvedSexualTension in their chemistry, but ultimately they simply care for and love each other as best friends.

Chuck Murdock is an all-american 12-year-old boy (and local star little league pitcher) from Montana who goes on a field trip to a nuclear missile silo. While there, he becomes unnerved by the sight of the missile and the guide's description of the destructive power of the ICBM. After a nightmare about the missile launching, he stages a protest by walking out rather than pitching in his little league game, to the dismay of his teammates and his father, Russell, none of whom seem to understand why he's suddenly so upset about nuclear weapons.

Chuck Murdock is an all-american-boy 12-year-old (and local star little league pitcher) from Montana who goes on a field trip to a nuclear missile silo. While there, he becomes unnerved by the sight of the missile and the guide's description of the destructive power of the ICBM. After a nightmare about the missile launching, he stages a protest by walking out rather than pitching in his little league game, to the dismay of his teammates and his father, Russell, none of whom seem to understand why he's suddenly so upset about nuclear weapons.

* ParentalSubstitute: Inverted, with Chuck as a stand-in for Amazing's daughter, who died in a car crash five years earlier along with his wife. If she hadn't, she would be just about the same age as Chuck. Both Lynn and Russell allude to Amazing seeing Chuck this way. Lynn even tells Chuck that part of why Amazing joined him in protest was that he thinks his daughter would have asked him to if she were alive.

* YoungAndInCharge: As much as Chuck looks up to Amazing, the whole group really follows ''his'' lead on any major decisions. In the end, its always up to Chuck when/if/whether the protests will go on or give up.

* YouthAndInCharge: As much as Chuck looks up to Amazing, the whole group really follows ''his'' lead on any major decisions. In the end, its always up to Chuck when/if/whether the protests will go on or give up.

This story is picked up as a human interest piece by several local papers and comes to the attention of fictional NBA player "Amazing Grace" Smith. The pro-athlete, fascinated by the boy's convictions and dedication, decides to go meet him. After listening to Chuck's explanation about "giving up what he does best" as a form of protest, Amazing decides to follow suit, publicly announcing that he is resigning from basketball (crediting Chuck as his inspiration) until there are no more nuclear weapons. He buys some land in Chuck's town and the two begin an unlikely friendship. They are soon joined in their strike by numerous other pro-athletes, who make their movement's base of operations in a renovated barn on Amazing's land. Eventually the movement extends to athletes from other countries and even across the UsefulNotes/IronCurtain.

* ShapedLikeItself: The explanation of what a linebacker is, which one of the athletes gives to Chuck's little sister, is simply to point to the [[ScaryBlackMan Mad Dog]], [[TheBigGuy "THAT is a linebacker"]]

** Referenced again later during the height of the children's silent protest, when the President's aide reports that anti-nuclear sentiment is reaching the point that they are unsure the ''soldiers'' in the control room would obey the order to launch if it were given (and that they might even draw their weapons on each other if it came down to it). At least the Russians are in the same boat according to their intelligence.