Tender Mercies (1983)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writer:

Horton Foote (written by)

Release Date:

10 June 1983 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Robert Duvall is Mac Sledge, down and out country singer. His struggle for fame was over. His fight for respect was just beginning

Plot:

A broken-down, middle-aged country singer gets a new wife, reaches out to his long-lost daughter, and tries to put his troubled life back together.

Plot Keywords:

Widow | Songwriter | Car Accident | Baptism | Musician

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Robert Duvall	...	Mac Sledge
Tess Harper	...	Rosa Lee
Betty Buckley	...	Dixie Scott
Wilford Brimley	...	Harry
Ellen Barkin	...	Sue Anne
Allan Hubbard	...	Sonny
Lenny von Dohlen	...	Robert (as Lenny Von Dohlen)
Paul Gleason	...	Reporter
Michael Crabtree	...	Lewis Menefee
Norman Bennett	...	Reverend Hotchkiss
Andrew Scott Hollon	...	Larue
Rick Murray	...	Jake (Slater Mill Boys)
Stephen Funchess	...	Bertie (Slater Mill Boys)
Glen Fleming	...	Steve (Slater Mill Boys)
James Aaron	...	Henry (Slater Mill Boys)

Runtime:

100 min | 92 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Palmer, Texas, USA

Company:

Antron Media Production

Trivia:

When Mac was talking with the band about possibly joining them to record some songs, they stopped in front of a shop named "T.M. Harper Hardware". Tess Harper played Rosa Lee, Mac's new wife.

Quotes:

Woman with Groceries: Hey, mister, were you really Mac Sledge?
Mac Sledge: Yes, ma'm, I guess I was.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Howard Stern on Demand: Robert Duvall" (2006)

Soundtrack:

I'm Drinkin' Canada Dry

Duvall at his Finest !!

This moving and thought-provoking film is a timeless classic of redemption and perseverance.Robert Duvall totally captures the pain, heartache, despair and ultimate survival of a once beloved entertainer.The film is an emotional tour-de-force for all the main characters, as they deal with forgiveness, doubt, loss of faith and memories of what might have been .......

The direction, screenplay, music and cinematography are all top-notch and add to the realistic feel of the film.

In a career that has seen a number of great performances, this quiet, unassuming Duvall film will leave you inspired as well as thoughtful. In this film , we see our own lives reflected in this small town saga. Maybe that is why I found the movie so deeply entertaining. It appeals to the lost dreams and missed opportunities in our own lives.