Kirk Douglas as a storekeeper whose fierce pride keeps him from revealing he suffers from dyslexia, even though his grandson (Jesse R. Tendler) shares the reading disability. Patrick Dunmore: Bruce Boxleitner. Thurgood Carver III: Brock Peters. Meredith Dunmore: Laura Harrington. Dr. Meyers: Anne Twomey. Mrs. Norell: Kathleen McNenny. Filmed in Nova Scotia.