Tender Mercies (1983)

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.

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writer:

Horton Foote

Stars:

Robert Duvall, Tess Harper, Betty Buckley

Won 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Duvall	...	Mac Sledge
Tess Harper	...	Rosa Lee
Betty Buckley	...	Dixie
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 Member
Stephen Funchess	...	Bertie - Slater Mill Boys Member
Glen Fleming	...	Steve - Slater Mill Boys Member
James Aaron	...	Henry - Slater Mill Boys Member

Storyline

Alchoholic former country singer Mac Sledge makes friends with a young widow and her son. The friendship enables him to find inspiration to resume his career.

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Plot Keywords:

hixploitation | singer | widow | mother son relationship | mother daughter relationship | 

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Taglines:

From Bruce Beresford, the acclaimed director of "Breaker Morant." Written by Horton Foote, screenwriter of "To Kill A Mockingbird."

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mary-Ann Hobel said of hiring Bruce Beresford in publicity for the picture upon its first release: "After we saw Breaker Morant (1980), we had our hearts set on Bruce. Like the work of so many of the new Australian directors, his films have a sensitivity to rural life, and a feeling of authenticity. We felt those qualities would be essential to a film dealing with life in a small Texan town."

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Goofs

In the final scenes, Sonny is shown with empty farmland behind him, then after a cut to a wider shot, suddenly the gas station and motel are behind him.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Referenced in The Americans: The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue of Liberty Disappears (2016)

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Soundtracks

You Are What Love Means to Me
(uncredited)
Written and Sung by Craig Bickhardt

User Reviews

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.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 June 1983 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Tender Mercies

Filming Locations:

Arlington, Texas, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$46,977, 6 March 1983

Gross USA:

$8,443,124

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,443,124

Company Credits

Production Co:

Antron Media Production, EMI Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1