Walking Across Egypt (1999)

By Anne Waisanen

             The title comes from the old-fashioned expression, "I could no more do [something impossible] than I could walk across Egypt." The film, set in the Southern United States, is a character driven drama. It tells the story of Mattie Rigsbee (Ellen Burstyn), an old lady with deep-rooted Christian values, whose grown children--a stodgy son (Judge Reinhold) and cold daughter (Gail O'Grady)--have left her lacking for companionship. That need is filled when she makes the acquaintance of the town's seedy dogcatcher, Lamar (Mark Hamill) when he comes to her home to collect a stray dog. Through him she makes the acquaintance of his orphaned nephew Wesley (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), a foul-mouthed delinquent doing time for car theft. In the unloved teen, Mattie sees the chance to practice her Christian ideals of helping "the lesser of these thy brethren."

            Wesley's parents up and left their bastard child after he was born so he grew up in an orphanage. Shortly after, he turned to a life of crime and ended up in the correctional facility where he now lives. The warden has said Wesley could leave if only someone would agree to take care of him. Unfortunately, nobody is willing to take on the responsibility.

            Mattie sees beyond Wesley's outward bad guy image, finding some good buried deep in the boy, opening her life to a boy in need of some affection. From Wesley's perspective, he is desperate to get out of the correctional facility and sees Mattie as a soft target. After escaping from confinement, Mattie lets him stay in her home, under the impression he has been given leave for good behavior. However, as the authorities close in, Wesley's time grows short as he discovers the first person in his life to ever genuinely love him.

            Walking Across Egypt was directed by four-time Emmy winner Arthur Allan Seidelman. The film is an adaptation of a Clyde Edgerton novel by screenwriter Paul Tamasy.

            The cast includes Ellen Burstyn (as Mattie) who won the Academy Award for Alice Doesn't Live here Anymore; Jonathan Taylor Thomas (as Wesley) who starred eight seasons on Home Improvement; Mark Hamill (as Lamar) who starred in Star Wars; Kevin Pollak (as Robert) who was seen in Grumpier Old Men, and Unusual Suspects; Gail O'Grady (as Elaine) known for her Emmy nominated role in NYPD Blue; Gwen Verdon (as Alora) who starred in Damn Yankees and Marvin's Room; Harv Presnell (as Finner) whose latest film was Saving Private Ryan; Barbara Rush (as Pearl) who has starred in numerous films; and Patrick David (as Johnny) who portrayed Greg Louganis in a made-for-TV movie. Several local actors were used in the filming including Tim Powell

            The rural, moss-draped locations were all found in and around the city of Orlando, including Clermont, St Cloud and Windermere.