IMDb > Tender Mercies (1983)
Tender Mercies
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Tender Mercies (1983) More at IMDbPro »

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Tender Mercies (1983) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   3,423 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 21% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Bruce Beresford
Writer:
Horton Foote (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Tender Mercies on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 June 1983 (Australia) more
Genre:
Drama | Music more
Tagline:
Robert Duvall is Mac Sledge, down and out country singer. His struggle for fame was over. His fight for respect was just beginning more
Plot:
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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 10 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(10 articles)
Great New Poster for 'Crazy Heart' with Jeff Bridges
 (From Get The Big Picture. 14 November 2009, 11:59 AM, PST)
Austin Represents at Lone Star Film Festival
 (From Slackerwood. 10 November 2009, 6:24 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Magic more (45 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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
Jerry Biggs ... Man in Bar
Sheila Bird ... Concessionaire
Robert E. Blackburn III ... Boy at Dance
Eli Cummins ... Doorman
Tony Frank ... Man at Motel
Berkley Garrett ... Man at Dixie's House (as Berkley H. Garrett)
Helena Humann ... Woman with Groceries
Suzanne Jacobs ... Nurse
Barbara Jones ... Country Woman
Jerry Jones ... Country Man
Harlan Jordan ... Waiter
Robert P. Kelley ... Choirmaster
Ray LePere ... Man in Bar / Restaurant
Pat Minter ... Man at Dixie's Douse
Terry Schoolcraft ... Ada - Dixie's Driver
Oliver Seale ... Man at Dixie's House
Denise Simek ... Concessionaire
Robert Stewart ... Concessionaire

Susan Aston ... Woman at Dance
Vicki Neff ... Woman at Dance
Pamela Putnam ... Woman at Dance
Jerry Abbot ... Piano - Country Blues Band Member
Bobby Hibbitts ... Drums - Country Blues Band Member
Buddie Hrabal ... Steel Guitar - Country Blues Band Member
Jerry Matheny ... Guitar - Country Blues Band Member
Wayne Milligan ... Bass - Country Blues Band Member
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Don 'Tex' Clark ... Bar Patron (uncredited)
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Directed by
Bruce Beresford 
 
Writing credits
Horton Foote (written by)

Produced by
Robert Duvall .... co-producer
Horton Foote .... co-producer
Mary-Ann Hobel .... associate producer
Philip Hobel .... produced by (as Philip S. Hobel)
 
Original Music by
George Dreyfus (music by)
 
Cinematography by
Russell Boyd (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
William M. Anderson  (as William Anderson)
 
Art Direction by
Jeannine Claudia Oppewall  (as Jeannine Oppewall)
 
Set Decoration by
Daniel Loren May  (as Daniel L. May)
 
Makeup Department
Lynn Decker .... hairstylist
Paul Huntley .... wigs: Betty Buckley's
Michael J. Randall .... assistant hairstylist
Carla Rulien .... assistant make-up
Jimi White .... make-up artist
 
Production Management
Tom Joyner .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Luke Rothschild .... first assistant director
Kelly Wimberly .... second assistant director
 
Art Department
E.W. Bradford .... construction coordinator (as Bill Bradford)
James R. Cox .... swing man
Glenn Dunn .... lead man
Johnny Gutierrez .... construction assistant (as Johnny L. Guiterrez)
Mike Parsons .... property master
Roy W. Wahlstrom .... painter
William Vance White .... assistant props
 
Sound Department
Stan Bochner .... sound editor
Angelo Corrao .... assistant sound editor
Jay Dranch .... sound editor
Bruce Kitzmeyer .... assistant sound editor
Stuart Lieberman .... assistant sound editor
Dan Lieberstein .... sound editor
Dennis Maitland II .... boom man (as Dennis L. Maitland II)
Christopher Newman .... sound mixer (as Chris Newman)
Maurice Schell .... supervising sound editor
Magdaline Volaitis .... assistant sound editor
Dick Vorisek .... rerecording supervisor
Maurice Schell .... foley artist (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Randy Fife .... stunt double
Ben Loggins .... utility stunts (as Ben E. Loggins)
Russell Towery .... utility stunts
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Thomas Alcala .... electrician
Mike Apsey .... playback operator
Curtis Bingham .... grip (as Curt Bingham)
Don Broughton .... playback operator
Jerry G. Callaway .... camera operator
Murray K. Campbell .... gaffer
Michael P. Henning .... electrician (as Michael Henning)
John Knight .... best boy grip
Leo MacWilliam .... electrician
J. Michael McClary .... first assistant camera
Fred L. McLane .... second assistant camera (as Frederick L. McLane)
Ron Phillips .... still photographer
Tony Poston .... dolly grip
Kerry Rike .... key grip
Dave Roberts .... electrician
Johnny Smith .... grip
Darrel D. Tawney .... best boy (as Darrel Tawney)
Philip C. Pfeiffer .... second camera operator (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Robin Boehme .... extras casting
Shari Rhodes .... casting: Texas
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jane Greenwood .... costumes: Betty Buckley's
Elizabeth McBride .... costumer
Joan Thomas .... costume assistant
 
Editorial Department
Norman Buckley .... second assistant editor
Emily Paine .... first assistant editor
Charles Simmons .... location assistant editor (as Charles A. Simmons)
Mary Sweeney .... apprentice editor
 
Music Department
Charles Feldman .... country music advisor
Tommy Oliver .... arranger: country music
 
Other crew
Billy Barnes .... craft service (as Billy E. Barnes)
Linda Barnes .... craft service
Dominique Bruballa .... assistant accountant
Betty A. Buckley .... production coordinator
Kathleen Caton .... assistant to the producer
Stan Cohen .... caterer (as Stanley J. Cohen)
Dawn Easterling .... production assistant
Nick Felix .... dance instructor
Max Ferris .... security
Danette Goss Alberts .... location manager (as Danette Goss)
Karen Hall .... production secretary
Sandra K. Jantzen .... production assistant (as Sandy Jantzen)
Charles N. Johnson .... caterer
John Kane .... unit publicist
Janet Lucas Lawler .... first aid (as Janet L. Lawler)
Kathleen McGill .... production accountant (as Kathy McGill)
Don Miller .... production accountant
Anne Rapp .... script supervisor
Erica Rogalla .... production assistant
Earlane Simpson .... tutor
Diane Smith .... assistant to the producer
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
100 min | 92 min (TCM print)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Stereo
Certification:
Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG (PCA #26678) | UK:PG
Filming Locations:
Palmer, Texas, USA more
Company:
Antron Media Production more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The film was originally released on March 4, 1983 in only three movie theaters in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. This was due perhaps in part to poor test screenings - which had caused Universal executives to lose faith in the film - but also because Universal had released the far more expensive and anticipated Scarface (1983) the same year, and was spending most of its advertising budget to promote that film instead. Country music star Willie Nelson was nonetheless one of several country performers who were impressed by the authenticity of Robert Duvall's performance and offered to help promote it, however, studio executives told Duvall that they did not understand how someone like Nelson could help publicize it. Duvall later reflected that this was indicative of the studio's lack of understanding about both the genre and the film. more
Quotes:
Woman with Groceries: Hey, mister, were you really Mac Sledge?
Mac Sledge: Yes, ma'm, I guess I was.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Your Choice for the Film Awards (1984) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
I'm Drinkin' Canada Dry more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
29 out of 30 people found the following comment useful.
Magic, 6 March 1999
10/10
Author: JP-54

This movie demonstrates what happens when the rare, magical perfect combination clicks together. Duvall, Beresford and Foote blended their talents marvelously and managed to fool the critics by producing a film that is absolutely one of the best ever. Its draw at the box office and on video may have surprised the critics, but is understood by those who place a high value on well-written and well-acted drama. I have nearly worn out my VHS copy from multiple viewings but I have never worn out the experience. The film is uplifting because it is all about unhoped hope finding fulfillment.

The movie combines tragedy and pathos with love, warmth and redemption in a manner that rarely occurs in a Hollywood production. To top it off, it does it so that there is not a phoney or contrived moment in the picture. Excellent and somewhat surprising supporting performances came from newcomer Tess Harper (discovered for this film by Duvall and Beresford) Ellen Barkin and Betty Buckley. Brimley (impossible to dislike in any role) is perfect as Buckley's manager.

One of the best scenes in the movie occurs when the young band drops over to "just say howdy" to the ex-singer. Harper is guarded and protective at first, but the pure hearts and openly embarrassed intent of the young men quickly win her and the viewer over. It is a touching and beautiful scene. It reminds you that there is still decency and humility among American youth (maybe we should all visit east Texas once in a while, although you can easily find it in most parts of rural USA).

No action flik this. The best word I know to describe Tender Mercies is "heartwarming." If you have not yet watched it, by all means do yourself a favor: beg, borrow, rent or steal a copy without delay. You'll never think of Duvall or Texas or country music the same again.

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Message Boards

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Sonny Was Cute - How Come He Didn't Do Anything Else? lime99
I've decided to leave here forever WhiskeySkip
song at the end of the movie ralph57
I Was an Extra in This Movie rpd5124
Letterman appearance intofilm
I don't get it ... very dry ...but it did get an Oscar mloessel
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