What happens when a longtime outrageous radio personality rises to reap much of what the world offers in the line of fame and fortune — then suddenly falls apart? What happens when he loses it all, including his health? Can there be a redemption? What kind?

Family Theater Productions and ODB Films answer these questions in the new documentary movie, Broken Mary: The Kevin Matthews Story. The film follows Matthews’ life, beginning with his fame, through his fall, and then finally his reclamation, as he unexpectedly encounters a broken statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary that was discarded and realizes: He must bring it home with him. 

This film recounts the story of his newfound purpose (also recalled in this Register coverage): This “broken” Mary is somehow about to bring a broken man to wholeness; then, with his newfound devotion to Mary, he is to bring hope to those who also are in some way “broken.”

Two of the film’s main producers, Holy Cross Father David Guffey and Megan Harrington, had a conversation with the Register about this true story that can surely touch and move viewers in surprising ways, from seeing their brokenness is not the end to realizing there is always hope.

Father Guffey, the executive producer of Broken Mary, serves as national director and head of production at Family Theater Productions in Hollywood, founded in 1947 by Venerable Father Patrick Peyton.

Harrington, producer and executive producer of this film and senior producer at Family Theater Productions, has produced, co-directed and co-written such films as the Emmy- and Christopher Award-winning Playing Like a Girl: The House That Rob Built and Gabriel and Christopher Award-winning PRAY: The Story of Patrick Peyton and The Dating Project.

The filmmaking duo emphasizes Our Lady’s role in individuals’ healing, including the subject of their new film.

 

What did you know about Kevin Matthews and his transformation story before you produced the movie?

Father Guffey: I grew up in Illinois, but far enough away that we didn’t get “The Loop,” but certainly knew of those characters — Steve and Gary, Danny Bonaduce, and Kevin Matthews. They were the wild ones of Chicago radio. So I knew them by reputation, but had lost track of them a long time ago, before we made the film.

Harrington: I didn’t know anything about Kevin or his story prior to talking with Katie Reidy with ODB [who is also a producer/executive producer of Broken Mary]. They bought the project and started on it from years back. I knew nothing about Kevin, but I read his book, Broken Mary, and was very inspired.

 

What particularly drew you to his story?

Harrington: I had been talking with Katie about it since she first got it because we’re also very good friends. Over the course of time, it really resonated with me — that theme of brokenness and that we will all experience some brokenness in our life. I had experienced that and was drawn to this idea of how beautiful the Blessed Mother is in taking that brokenness and making it whole — that whole idea of being mended stronger, if you’ll allow it. We will all be broken. But we can be made stronger.

Father Guffey: For me, it’s just a powerful story of how God hasn’t finished with us yet. I would have hoped I wouldn’t have judged Kevin in his wild days. because God obviously hadn’t finished with him yet, and that God will use whatever God can. And in this case, God used a powerful image of the Blessed Mother that helped Kevin have strength to go on that journey of transformation toward Our Lord, and I was really moved by that story.

And the other thing … Megan has such an ability to find a story, make it relatable, and show it visually that I thought, “This is something that will really open hearts to God.”

 

How will Broken Mary appeal to those who feel broken?

Father Guffey: When we’re broken, it feels like we’re abandoned. And that’s the hardest time to believe that God is with us. Mary assured Kevin that, in that time that he was really struggling the most, God was with him. That insight and that knowledge gave him strength to go to complete the conversion and the healing that he really needed in his life. I think there are a lot of people in that position. The hardest time to believe in resurrection is when ... you’re feeling completely broken. For people who are feeling that way, to whatever degree, I think this film will speak of hope.

Harrington: I piggyback on that idea of hope and redemption: There are so many people struggling that we don’t know about. Their brokenness stays hidden, and this might be an opportunity for them to feel seen.

But also, as a viewer, saying, “I know so-and-so went through ‘X,’ and maybe I'll reach out.” We’re a broken world. Humanity is broken. Individually, we all have pieces of brokenness — and can we see that in each other and extend a hand and let people know that they’re loved.

God loves them.

Our job is to entertain as well and inspire. And the Holy Spirit does his work, and, hopefully, he’ll be touching all those lives of the people who see it in whatever way they feel broken, or they know of someone who is broken, and that we can each fill the cracks of that brokenness with our love.

 

How do you think the story will appeal to people who do not feel broken, who believe everything’s going good for them at present?

Harrington: It’s a universal story, whether or not you felt that brokenness. That’s a theme. The beautiful part about film is there are so many themes — of redemption, or faith, or rediscovering your faith, or forgiving yourself, or forgiving others. Maybe that’s the theme that picks up for you. That’s the beautiful part about this film.

While brokenness might resonate with me, someone else might need to look at forgiveness, or someone else might need to know that God loves them. That’s what they leave with, and that’s all they needed to know. Or they may just know, “Wow, anybody’s life can be turned around through grace.” So I think, with this film, it would be in the eye of the beholder, of the viewer, of what really will resonate in their heart. There are a lot of beautiful themes that hopefully will touch people, and they leave saying, “You’ve got to see this film because it changed something in me” or “It made me feel something. And I was also entertained.”

Father Guffey: I think a great story is one that makes somebody not want to live the life of the character in the film but empowers them to live their own story. My hope is that people watch the story of Kevin Matthews and see the ways that God worked in that story … so that they can live their own story with God, and know that God is with them, and God pursues them, and God is relentless in trying to bring us close.

 

What can this movie teach us about humanity in general?

Harrington: The beauty of humanity … the beauty of one soul touching so many. When Father Peyton found his purpose in calling, he knew what it was. And Kevin’s purpose in calling changed throughout life. … We can all, at any point in our life, be called to something we didn’t think was possible, or we thought we were too old or too young or whatever it might be. … We all have that ability to do something for the good.

Father Guffey: I think the film is also a reminder of “Be careful not to judge,” because underneath the Kevin that was boisterous and did outrageous pranks and things was just a world of hurt that needed to be attended to, that no one saw. … You never know what brokenness is underneath somebody’s apparent outward behavior. So we have to pray for one another, that God’s grace breaks through the brokenness.

 

Has Broken Mary had any effect on your personal faith in any way?

Harrington: It certainly did. It’s that reminder of the Blessed Mother. Again, Father Peyton was like this, too. She’s so real. It was like making a reminder to myself: She is your mother. And he loves her so much that it’s a challenge to increase my love, as well, and to count on her.

Father Guffey: For me, it reaffirmed the idea that we’re called to perfection. We’re called to holiness; but most of us, all of us, except for a few saints, fall way short, but that we’re still loved in our brokenness — and that the love that we can feel from God, the love that we can feel mediated through the Blessed Mother, can be a powerful force to keep us on the road toward holiness and healing and forgiveness that we’re all called to.

 

Why did you decide to release Broken Mary on Oct. 7, the feast of Our Lady Rosary?

Father Guffey: It’s Mary’s day for the Rosary, and the Rosary was so important to Kevin. For us, it seemed like the perfect day to release the film.

Harrington: The same with Fathom [the theatrical distributor]: They thought that was a great day as well. Also, after the film, there’ll be an invitation in the “Bonus Content” for people when the credits are rolling. It says that we will be praying the Rosary with Kevin in theaters nationwide after the film. So that will be an invitation to stay and pray.

 

Was there any pre-release reaction about this film?

Father Guffey: I was coming out of the parish where I served last Sunday, and a woman came up to me and said, “I hear you’re doing the Kevin Matthews story. I grew up in Chicago. I was a ‘Kev Head.’ I’m so excited.” She had no idea of his conversion. She was just excited to see something about Kevin Matthews. When I explained a little bit, she was just overjoyed, and she was really excited about it. So a lot of his fans might be surprised, but I think a lot of them will also be really delighted at the ways Kevin has come alive in this new way.

 

What do you hope viewers will take away with them?

Father Guffey: I hope they’re reminded that, wherever they are in life, they’re loved by God.

Harrington: I don’t think you can top that. 

WATCH

Broken Mary: The Kevin Matthews Story will play exclusively in theaters nationwide for one night only, Tuesday, Oct. 7.