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When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story

  • TV Movie
  • 2010
  • PG
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story (2010)
BiographyDrama

Based on the true story of the enduring but troubled love between Lois Wilson, co-founder of Al-Anon, and her alcoholic husband Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.Based on the true story of the enduring but troubled love between Lois Wilson, co-founder of Al-Anon, and her alcoholic husband Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.Based on the true story of the enduring but troubled love between Lois Wilson, co-founder of Al-Anon, and her alcoholic husband Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.

  • Director
    • John Kent Harrison
  • Writers
    • William Borchert
    • Camille Thomasson
  • Stars
    • Winona Ryder
    • Barry Pepper
    • John Bourgeois
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    1.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Kent Harrison
    • Writers
      • William Borchert
      • Camille Thomasson
    • Stars
      • Winona Ryder
      • Barry Pepper
      • John Bourgeois
    • 15User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 win & 9 nominations total

    Photos34

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    Top cast35

    Edit
    Winona Ryder
    Winona Ryder
    • Lois Wilson
    Barry Pepper
    Barry Pepper
    • Bill Wilson
    John Bourgeois
    John Bourgeois
    • Dr. Clark Burnham
    Rosemary Dunsmore
    Rosemary Dunsmore
    • Matilda Burnham
    Paul Popowich
    Paul Popowich
    • Rogers Burnham
    Adam Greydon Reid
    Adam Greydon Reid
    • Ebby Thatcher
    Ellen Dubin
    Ellen Dubin
    • Dora
    Sarah Manninen
    Sarah Manninen
    • Elise Shaw
    Sarah Dodd
    • Sue
    Lynne Griffin
    Lynne Griffin
    • Annie Smith
    Collette Micks
    Collette Micks
    • Irene
    Kristi Angus
    Kristi Angus
    • Anne Bingham
    Frank Moore
    Frank Moore
    • Dr. Bob
    Peter Windrem
    • Charlie
    James Downing
    • Wes
    Ann Turnbull
    • Betty
    Brad Borbridge
    • Physical Therapist
    Carin Moffat
    Carin Moffat
    • Jean Smith
    • Director
      • John Kent Harrison
    • Writers
      • William Borchert
      • Camille Thomasson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews15

    6.51.3K
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    Featured reviews

    5ASuiGeneris

    Only Room For One Love

    When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story (2010) Director: John Kent Harrison First Watched: 4/22/25 6/10 Stars

    AA origins, clunky, cliche Hallmark; but title's the truth- baby nor God can save you when alcohol's your true love.

    #Tanka #PoemReview

    The Tanka is tending poetry form with poems containing five lines. Each line has a set number of syllables, creating an overall syllabic pattern of 5-7-5-7-7. Tanka are divided into an upper phrase, containing the first three lines, and the lower phrase, which contains the last two lines. There are no meter or rhyming requirements attached to these poems.
    10famtherapy

    As relevant today as 13 yrs ago when it was filmed

    Congratulations to Hallmark for making an incredibly important movie for all the families of alcohol addicted loved ones. 95% of the movies on the Hallmark Channel always seem to be saccharine stories of couples in love, and they usually take place in some make believe perfect little town. This story is raw and real. It gives hope to those who may want to quit believing for the best in others, while illustrating what a devil of a disease alcohol addiction is.

    I wish Hallmark would make more true biographies. They were common in the movies 50 years ago, and serve to enlighten and educate viewers, young and old.
    9dgg321982

    Sweet Ryder as the perfect wife in a heart warming story

    Sure, the story of Mr and Mrs Wilson is a very true one, so true that we can hear around us now and then. Before watching it, I never know the alcoholism can be so devastating and make the victim so helpless. And the depression adds insult to the injury, making their lives even down to the bottom. I had to watch this part with great uneasiness. This lasted until the very end, where everything seemed to be OK again. What can I say, exactly such an up and down makes a warm story about devoting love and faith.

    I am impressed that Mr Wilson finally made it and, not only helped himself but also the others. But I am more impressed by his wife Lois, her devoting love and firm support to her husband, which, if I were in Mrs Wilson's shoes, would have divorced him at least three times over. Sure, this film is from her angle telling the story and understandably making her the closest entry point for the viewers. Nevertheless, her sweetness and forgiveness is never shadowed or shaded by this setting. One might wonder, who else can play Lois Wilson better than Ryder. I don't know how the real Lois looks like, but as long as the real story goes like the one in this film, the role will be tailored to Ryder. After all, I really can't think of another actress in Hollywood has a small share of Ryder's sweetness and shyness.
    10LarkW

    Yes Yes! YES

    While acknowledging that Bill Wilson was not perfect (um ... who is?), his contribution to alcoholic mankind was out of this world. I am speaking from someone who appreciates the history of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is quite fascinating.

    I've been to Dr. Bob and Anne's house in Akron, Ohio; A.A. World Services in New York several times; and Lois and Bill's Bedford Hills home - Stepping Stones. I enjoyed seeing the Bible where Bill wrote his pledges ~ at one of these places (been awhile; can't recall where.)

    The movie touched my heart. I appreciated the brilliance in its creation. Winona Ryder and Barry Pepper were outstanding as well. I highly recommend it to anyone.
    7ohiochett37

    Does the job

    I show this to my substance abuse group multiple times a year, and each time you can tell the effects of the alcoholism resonates with my group members. Story moves a little fast, some of the acting and dialogue is crunched-eyes inducing, but it's an effective story and movie.

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    Related interests

    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Before end credits: "Hearts understand in ways minds cannot." - Lois Wilson
    • Quotes

      Lois Wilson: Excuse me, erm do you know someone in the meeting?

      Anne Bingham: My husband.

      Lois Wilson: Oh mine's in there too, would you like to come in?

      Anne Bingham: [shakes her head] I wouldn't wanna inconveniece you.

      Lois Wilson: No it would be no trouble, really. Erm I could make some tea, I, I could actually use someone to talk to tonight.

      Anne Bingham: [she gets out of the car] We came all the way from Westchester County. I'm Anne Bingham.

      Lois Wilson: [they shake hands] Anne, I'm Lois Wilson.

      Anne Bingham: If I don't drive him here I can't guarantee that he'll make it so I make the drive.

      Lois Wilson: For years I used to hide the keys from my husband. I was afraid he'd kill himself or someone else.

      Anne Bingham: Exactly.

    • Crazy credits
      Epilogue:  "Lois and Bill Wilson lived out their lives at their home in Bedford Hills where Lois's devotion to Bill never ended.  Her unwavering love became the catalyst for one of the greatest movements in the 20th century...Al-Anon."
    • Connections
      Edited into Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 25, 2010 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hallmark Hall of Fame: When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story (#59.3)
    • Filming locations
      • Cinespace Film Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • CBS
      • Entertainment One
      • Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 32m(92 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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