A true story. A courageous story. A love story that will touch you forever.

Touched by Love was not only filmed in Canada, but had a leading character named Canada (it had to; the film is based on the reminisces of a real-life person). Deborah Raffin portrays Lena Canada, a therapist in charge of handicapped Diane Lane. A wheelchair-bound cerebral palsy victim, Lane also shows signs of autism. Determined to bring Lane back into the world, Ms. Canada suggests that the girl start a pen-pal relationship with her favorite celebrity--Elvis Presley. Based on the real Lena Canada's book "To Elvis With Love," the low-key but emotionally supercharged Touched By Love costars Michael Learned as Lena's superior, Dr. Bell; also in the cast are sixteen genuine "special" children from a school in Calgary, Alberta.


Touched by Love (also called To Elvis, with Love) is a 1980 drama film about a therapist who tries a novel approach with a girl afflicted with cerebral palsy; she has her charge become a pen pal with the girl's favorite singer, Elvis Presley. The film was based on the real-life reminiscences of Lena Canada.
Deborah Raffin was nominated for both a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama and a Razzie for Worst Actress for her performance. The film also received a second Razzie nomination - Hesper Anderson for the worst screenplay.


Release Date: October 31, 1980

Distrib: Columbia Pictures