A retiring police detective pledges to catch the killer of a young child.A retiring police detective pledges to catch the killer of a young child.A retiring police detective pledges to catch the killer of a young child.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
56K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writers
- Friedrich Dürrenmatt(book)
- Jerzy Kromolowski(screenplay)
- Mary Olson-Kromolowski(screenplay)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Friedrich Dürrenmatt(book)
- Jerzy Kromolowski(screenplay)
- Mary Olson-Kromolowski(screenplay)
- Stars
- Awards
- 1 win & 6 nominations
Videos1
Wendy Donaldson
- Resort Owneras Resort Owner
- (as Wendy Morrow Donaldson)
Adrien Dorval
- Sheriffas Sheriff
- (as P. Adrien Dorval)
Gardiner Millar
- Deputy #3as Deputy #3
- (as Gardinar Millar)
- Director
- Writers
- Friedrich Dürrenmatt(book)
- Jerzy Kromolowski(screenplay)
- Mary Olson-Kromolowski(screenplay)
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
On the night he retires as a Reno, Nevada detective, Jerry Black (Jack Nicholson) pledges to the mother of a murdered girl that he will find the killer. Jerry doesn't believe the Police arrested the right man. He discovers that this is the third incident in the area in the recent past with victims young, blonde, pretty, and small for their ages. So he buys an old gas station in the mountains near the crimes in order to search for a tall man who drives a black station wagon, gives toy porcupines as gifts, and calls himself "the wizard", all clues from a drawing by the dead girl. Jerry's solitary life gives way to friendship with a woman and her small, blonde daughter. Has Jerry neglected something that may prove to be fatal? —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
- Taglines
- He may have retired, but he's still catching the killer
- Genres
- Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated R for strong violence and language
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaThe picture was a passion project for Producer and Director Sean Penn and Jack Nicholson. Unfortunately, the screenplay was turned down by every major studio in Hollywood. Producer Elie Samaha, and his studio Franchise Pictures, who specialized in picking up screenplays in turnaround, quickly pounced on the material and signed up Penn and Nicholson for a reduced fee. The pair agreed, as long as Penn could have complete creative and casting control.
- GoofsThis was filmed in British Columbia, which is considerably wetter than the Sierra Nevada, and it shows. The shot of downtown Reno seems to be the only real scene from that region.
- Quotes
Duane Larsen: I want to see my daughter.
Jerry Black: I don't think that would be a good idea.
Duane Larsen: WHY WOULDN'T THAT BE A GOOD IDEA?
Jerry Black: Because we hardly dared to look ourselves.
- ConnectionsFeatured in At the Movies: The Pledge/The Amati Girls/Snatch/Panic (2001)
- SoundtracksNwalhulwana
Written by Humberto Carlos Benefica
Performed by Orchestra Marrabenta Star de Moçambique
Courtesy of Piranha Records
By Arrangement with Piranha Musik Produktion & Verlag AG
Top review
Unexpected
Having seen "The Pledge" without knowing much about it, I got something other than what I bargained for. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.
If you're looking for a good whodunit, avoid this movie. If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller, avoid this movie. But if you're into seeing an intense character study bolstered by impressive acting and clever directing (kudos, Sean Penn), you've come to the right place.
I read one IMDB review calling this film Nicholson's worst ever. This is not true -- that reviewer obviously never saw "Man Trouble" -- but I can see why some folks really don't like this movie. It doesn't deliver what you'd expect, and what it does deliver is neither conventional nor uplifting. In fact, it's pretty depressing. But if you ponder the story afterward, you realize there's a certain dark justice at work here. Like, blacklight dark.
So then, "The Pledge" is not a light and frothy piece, but if you're the type who thinks watching some poor b**tard's descent into madness is entertainment, have at it.
If you're looking for a good whodunit, avoid this movie. If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller, avoid this movie. But if you're into seeing an intense character study bolstered by impressive acting and clever directing (kudos, Sean Penn), you've come to the right place.
I read one IMDB review calling this film Nicholson's worst ever. This is not true -- that reviewer obviously never saw "Man Trouble" -- but I can see why some folks really don't like this movie. It doesn't deliver what you'd expect, and what it does deliver is neither conventional nor uplifting. In fact, it's pretty depressing. But if you ponder the story afterward, you realize there's a certain dark justice at work here. Like, blacklight dark.
So then, "The Pledge" is not a light and frothy piece, but if you're the type who thinks watching some poor b**tard's descent into madness is entertainment, have at it.
helpful•13023
- FunnyMann
- Sep 23, 2001
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Código de honor
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $35,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $19,733,089
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,765,347
- Jan 21, 2001
- Gross worldwide
- $29,419,291
- Runtime
- 2h 4min
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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