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The Magic of Ordinary Days

The Magic of Ordinary Days is a 2005 Hallmark Hall of Fame television film set during World War II.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Magic of Ordinary Days is a 2005 Hallmark Hall of Fame television film set during World War II. It follows a pregnant Denver woman who is sent to rural Colorado for an arranged marriage to a farmer. The film is based on Ann Howard Creel’s novel of the same name.

Premise

The film centres on Livy Dunne, an unmarried pregnant woman from Denver who is sent to rural Colorado and marries a farmer, Ray Singleton, in an arrangement intended to provide a father for her child.

Production

The movie was directed by Brent Shields and adapted for television by Camille Thomasson from Ann Howard Creel’s novel. It was produced as part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame anthology.

Cast

The principal cast includes Keri Russell, Skeet Ulrich, and Mare Winningham.

Release and reception

The film premiered on CBS on January 30, 2005, and later received an encore broadcast on the same network five years later. It has also been distributed through streaming and home-video platforms.

Key facts

  • It is a Hallmark Hall of Fame production.
  • The film first aired on CBS on January 30, 2005.
  • It is based on Ann Howard Creel’s novel of the same name.
  • The story is set in 1944 during World War II.
  • Keri Russell plays Olivia “Livy” Dunne and Skeet Ulrich plays Ray Singleton.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Magic of Ordinary Days about?
It follows a pregnant young woman sent to rural Colorado for an arranged marriage to a farmer during World War II.
Is The Magic of Ordinary Days based on a book?
Yes. It is based on Ann Howard Creel’s novel of the same name.
Who directed The Magic of Ordinary Days?
Brent Shields directed the film.
Who stars in The Magic of Ordinary Days?
The film stars Keri Russell, Skeet Ulrich, and Mare Winningham.
When was The Magic of Ordinary Days released?
It first aired on CBS on January 30, 2005.
What genre is The Magic of Ordinary Days?
It is generally described as a drama and historical romance set during World War II.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magic_of_Ordinary_Days
    Supports: Release date, Hallmark Hall of Fame production, CBS broadcast, director, producer, cast, and plot overview.
  2. Google Play Movies — https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/The_Magic_of_Ordinary_Days?id=MavVr7Effhc&hl=pt
    Supports: Runtime, setting, plot summary, and Hallmark Hall of Fame description.
  3. YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABA6kzZuGbI
    Supports: Plot summary, director, writer, and cast information as presented in the video description.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406046/
    Supports: Director, writers, cast, genre summary, and plot premise.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/magic_of_ordinary_days
    Supports: Director, producer, screenwriter, runtime, genre, rating, and synopsis.
  6. Hallmark Channel — https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/the-magic-of-ordinary-days
    Supports: Hallmark-branded title page and principal cast listing.