The Proposition (1998)

Father Michael McKinnon goes from the UK to Boston circa 1935. For unknown reasons, he avoids at all costs the most prominent parishioners, Arthur and Eleanor Barret. Meanwhile Eleanor and ... See full summary »

Director:

Lesli Linka Glatter

Writer:

Rick Ramage

Stars:

Robert Loggia, Kenneth Branagh, Madeleine Stowe

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Loggia	...	Hannibal Thurman
Bronia Wheeler	...	Sister Mary Frances
Kenneth Branagh	...	Father Michael McKinnon
Madeleine Stowe	...	Eleanor Barret
William Hurt	...	Arthur Barret
Ken Cheeseman	...	Wayne Fenton
Jim Chiros	...	Timothy
Dee Nelson	...	Susan Vicar
Pamela Hart	...	Skip Taylor
Wendy Feign	...	Maid
Blythe Danner	...	Syril Danning
Dossy Peabody	...	Hannibal's Secretary
Neil Patrick Harris	...	Roger Martin
Thomas Downey	...	Torrey Harrington (as Tom Downey)
Tom Kemp	...	Arthur's Chauffeur

Storyline

Father Michael McKinnon goes from the UK to Boston circa 1935. For unknown reasons, he avoids at all costs the most prominent parishioners, Arthur and Eleanor Barret. Meanwhile Eleanor and Arthur desperately want to have a child, but Arthur is sterile, so they hire Harvard law student Roger Martin to impregnate Eleanor, but unfortunately Roger falls in love with her.

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Plot Keywords:

last rites | dinner party | nun | infertility | uncle nephew relationship | 

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Taglines:

One man gave up everything he owned. The other, everything he believed in.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexual content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 March 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Shakespeare's Sister

Filming Locations:

Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$61,560 (USA) (27 March 1998)

Gross:

$121,875 (USA) (3 April 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Interscope Communications, Polygram Filmed Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Scott Wolf and Matt Damon were considered for the role of Roger Martin.

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Goofs

The action takes place before the World War II and the concelebration mass (the Eucharist celebrated by a number of priests) was revived in Roman Catholic Church by the Second Vatican Council after 1965.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Newton Boys/Meet the Deedles/A Price Above Rubies/No Looking Back (1998)

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Soundtracks

"The Girl With A Pink Rose"
Composed by Eric Swan
Courtesy of Zomba Music

User Reviews

Only if you REALLY love Harlequin Romances...

but it might be best to watch this stinker for laughs. After seeing the distinguished cast list, I was prepared for something much better. Five minutes into the "drama", I was wondering if this was actually a Christopher Guest satiric interpretation of a romantic movie. What a hoot!

No expense was apparently spared on the photography, costumes, locations and scenery - all are beautiful.

Hate to be cynical but I can only surmise that some Hollywood pay-off was involved here, along the lines of if you will direct/appear in/produce this for my girlfriend/boyfriend/niece/nephew/whatever, I will do the same for you.