TOM HANKS STARS AS A TENDER, LOVING MAN-CHILD IN THE OSCAR-WINNING FILM, "FORREST GUMP," AIRING AS THE"ABC SATURDAY MOVIE OF THE WEEK," FEB. 26

Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Sally Field, Mykelti Williamson Also Star

Forty years of American triumphs and disasters, exaltations and exclamations are recalled through a unique vision -- the vision of a tender, loving man-child (Tom Hanks), in the Academy Award-winning 1994 film, "Forrest Gump," which will air in HDTV with 5.1-channel surround sound as the "ABC Saturday Movie of the Week," FEBRUARY 26 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast: OAD: 5/4/97)

"Forrest Gump" was acclaimed Best Movie of the Year, Tom Hanks was hailed as Best Actor and Robert Zemeckis won as Best Director in the Academy Awards voting. The phenomenal success, which earned three more Oscars and was nominated for a total of 13, also won Golden Globes as Best Film Drama and for Mr. Hanks, leading lady Robin Wright, supporting star Gary Sinise and director Robert Zemeckis, and for its screenplay and music. Mr. Zemeckis was also honored by his peers with the Director's Guild Award.

His IQ is subnormal but his heart is superior: Forrest Gump is an innocent in a corrupt world -- defying the odds by becoming a hero. In high school and college he is a football star; in Vietnam he is decorated for bravery; after the war he becomes an international celebrity as a masterful Ping-Pong player.

His successes are not without pain. His best friend in the Army, Bubba Blue (Mykelti Williamson), with whom he shares a dream, dies in his arms. Lieutenant Dan Taylor (Gary Sinise), who has led him in battle, loses both his legs. Gump's mother (Sally Field), whose devotion has never flagged, dies, leaving him to face life alone.

Nothing comes easy for Forrest Gump, but sometimes things can actually seem perfect, as when the girl he has loved since boyhood -- Jenny Curran (Robin Wright) -- becomes his wife. But soon Jenny's tormented past makes it impossible for her to live within his love, and she disappears.

Following the dream he shared with Bubba -- and with the help of Lt. Dan -- Forrest becomes rich. But, after Jenny leaves him, he is almost unbearably unhappy. So he runs. And runs and runs and runs, picking up a cult of followers who are sure there is cosmic wisdom in his run to no special place for no obvious reason. And then he just stops. His run has been completed.

"FORREST GUMP" IN HDTV:
The ABC Television Network's HDTV broadcast of "Forrest Gump" will air in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound.

This film carries a TV-PG,L,S,V parental guideline.