Sommersby (1993)

A farmer returns home from the Civil War, but his wife begins to suspect that the man is an impostor.

Director:

Jon Amiel

Writers:

Daniel Vigne (film The Return of Martin Guerre), Jean-Claude Carrière (film The Return of Martin Guerre)

Stars:

Richard Gere, Jodie Foster, Lanny Flaherty

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Gere	...	Jack
Jodie Foster	...	Laurel
Lanny Flaherty	...	Buck
Wendell Wellman	...	Travis
Bill Pullman	...	Orin
Brett Kelley	...	Little Rob
William Windom	...	Reverend Powell
Clarice Taylor	...	Esther
Frankie Faison	...	Joseph
R. Lee Ermey	...	Dick Mead (as Ronald Lee Ermey)
Richard Hamilton	...	Doc Evans
Karen Kirschenbauer	...	Mrs. Evans
Carter McNeese	...	Storekeeper Wilson
Dean Whitworth	...	Tom Clemmons
Stan Kelly	...	John Green

Storyline

Set in the south of the United States just after the Civil War, Laurel Sommersby is just managing to work the farm without her husband Jack, believed killed in the Civil War. By all accounts, Jack Sommersby was not a pleasant man, thus when he returns, Laurel has mixed emotions. It appears that Jack has changed a great deal, leading some people to believe that this is not actually Jack but an impostor. Laurel herself is unsure, but willing to take the man into her home, and perhaps later into her heart...

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Plot Keywords:

impostor | husband wife relationship | assumed identity | death by hanging | civil war veteran | 

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Taglines:

She knew his face. His touch. His voice. She knew everything about him... But the truth.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sensuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sommersby is the first motion picture allowed to shoot in the George Washington National Forest. Not one hole could be dug by the construction crew without an accredited archaeologist being present to look for remains of habitation that might date back over 9,000 years.

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Goofs

African American men held important positions, such as the judge portrayed by James Earl Jones, during the Reconstruction period after the Civil War.

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Quotes

Doc Evans: [Laurel is pregnant] I told you to use the fertilizer in the fields, Jack.

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Connections

Referenced in Saved by the Bell: The College Years: Guess Who's Coming to College? (1993)

User Reviews

A fantastic movie! 2 Thumbs up!

I didn't expect much out of this movie when I first rented it but I was very surprised. Richard Gere gives one, if not his best performances EVER. An all star cast who all are outstanding. The ending has to go down in history as one of the most dramatic and most moving ever.

Details

Country:

France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 February 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Stranger Within

Filming Locations:

West Virginia, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,104,624, 7 February 1993

Gross USA:

$50,081,992

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$140,081,992

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, New Regency Productions, Alcor Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1