Promised Land (1987)

This gritty drama follows two high school acquaintances, Hancock, a basketball star, and Danny, a geek turned drifter, after they graduate. The first film commissioned by the Sundance Film ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Hoffman

Writer:

Michael Hoffman

Stars:

Jason Gedrick, Tracy Pollan, Kiefer Sutherland

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Gedrick	...	Davey Hancock
Tracy Pollan	...	Mary Daley
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Danny 'Senator' Rivers
Meg Ryan	...	Beverly 'Bev' Sykes
Googy Gress	...	Baines
Deborah Richter	...	Pammie
Oscar Rowland	...	Mr. Rivers
Sandra Seacat	...	Mrs. Rivers
Jay Underwood	...	Circle K Clerk
Herta Ware	...	Mrs. Higgins
Walt Logan Field	...	High School Coach
Kelly Ausland	...	Schroeder / Ashville Basketball Player #1
Todd Anderson	...	Pat Rivers
Dave Valenza	...	Glenn
Theron Read	...	Harting

Storyline

This gritty drama follows two high school acquaintances, Hancock, a basketball star, and Danny, a geek turned drifter, after they graduate. The first film commissioned by the Sundance Film Festival, it portrays the other half of the American dream, as Hancock and his cheerleader girlfriend Mary wander to a middle-class mediocrity out itself out of reach for Danny and his psychotic wife Bev.

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Plot Keywords:

basketball | tattoo | wedding | life | skinny dipping | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Young Hearts

Filming Locations:

Reno, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$316,199 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Great American Films Limited Partnership, The Oxford Film Company, Vestron Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[waking up the "morning after"]
Bev: Where's the cat?
Danny: What cat?
Bev: The cat that shit in my mouth.

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Crazy Credits

Best Dog ... Cheetah

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Connections

Referenced in Dreamcatcher (2003)

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Soundtracks

"O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM"
Performed by King's College Choir, Cambridge

User Reviews

so there truly is another side of the American way of life

I read the summary of the movie and I saw the line "the other side of the American way of life" and I was wondering what it was. I'm Dutch, so it was a relief to see that America wasn't as perfect as it seemed. the movie wasn't really what I expected from it. but not in a negative way. I simply loved the movie. the simplicity of it. I only knew Kiefer Sutherland and Meg Ryan (Kiefer was the reason I bought it). Kiefer was great as Danny, but I was stunned by Meg as the almost trashy Bev. I almost cried at the end, but I only want to say: Watch it, as fast as you can. and don't expect anything, because you won't get what you'll expect.