Sommersby (1993)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Jon Amiel

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

5 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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...

Plot Keywords:

Impersonation | Remake | One Word Title | Courtroom | Historical

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Richard Gere	...	John Robert 'Jack' Sommersby
Jodie Foster	...	Laurel Sommersby
Bill Pullman	...	Orin Meecham
James Earl Jones	...	Judge Barry Conrad Issacs
Lanny Flaherty	...	Buck
William Windom	...	Reverend Powell
Wendell Wellman	...	Travis
Brett Kelley	...	Little Rob
Clarice Taylor	...	Esther
Frankie Faison	...	Joseph
R. Lee Ermey	...	Dick Mead
Richard Hamilton	...	Doc Evans
Karen Kirschenbauer	...	Mrs. Evans
Carter McNeese	...	Storekeeper Wilson
Dean Whitworth	...	Tom Clemmons

Also Known As:

Sommersby (France)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sensuality.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | France:Unrated | Germany:12 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Norway:10 (1993) | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Appomattox, Virginia, USA

Company:

Alcor Films

Trivia:

Original writer Nicholas Meyer walked off the production when Warner Brothers wouldn't let him direct his screenplay. Sarah Kernochan was drafted in to rewrite the script and was somewhat bemused to see that it was an Americanized version of Le retour de Martin Guerre (1982). Warners denied this in a rather obvious attempt not to have to buy the remake rights, but Kernochan insisted that they do before continuing as they weren't fooling anyone. Warners eventually relented, and also gave Meyer story credit.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At the meeting when Sommersby suggests growing tobacco, he asks someone how many years he had been sharecropping. Sharecropping only began in America after the Civil War when landowners had no slaves and no money to pay workers.

Quotes:

Laurel Sommersby: You are not my husband!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Will & Grace: Object of My Rejection (#1.22)" (1999)

A Bitter Sweet Romance

This is another one of my favorite Richard Gere movies, this guy is one gifted actor.

This movie is mainly about character study and the love between the two leads Jack Sommersby(Richard Gere)and his wife Laurel(Jodie Foster).

Jack Sommersby comes back from the Civil War seeming to be a changed man(for the better). All the neighbors and especially Laurel want the change to be real, so they just believe it whether it's true or not. Lets face it most people have probably at one time or another done the same thing, I know I have.

Later Jack is arrested for murder and the real question is asked. Is he or is he not Jack Sommersby?

The love that Jack(Richard)and Laurel(Jodie)have for each other is very important because it comes into play during the trial and at the ending of the movie. The ending of this movie was the only proper way to end it for the characters involved.

Richard Gere is a master when it comes to showing tenderness, sensitivity and compassion on screen. It was good to see these two actors Jodie Foster and Richard Gere playing the lead rolls, they complemented each other.

This is a beautifully written love story and a real tear jerker. I rate this movie a 10.