A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (1998)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

James Ivory

Writers (WGA):

Kaylie Jones (novel)
James Ivory (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

18 September 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The city of lights. A famous American author and the decade that changed a generation...forever.

Plot:

This fictionalized story, based on the family life of writer James Jones, is an emotionless slice-of-life story...

Plot Keywords:

Adopted Son | Author | Paris France | Heart Disease | Paris

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Kris Kristofferson	...	Bill Willis
Barbara Hershey	...	Marcella Willis
Leelee Sobieski	...	Charlotte Anne 'Channe' Willis, Age 14
Jane Birkin	...	Mrs. Fortescue
Dominique Blanc	...	Candida
Jesse Bradford	...	Billy Willis, Age 14
Harley Cross	...	Keith Carter
Isaach De Bankolé	...	Mamadou (as Isaac De Bankole)
Macha Méril	...	Madame Beauvier (as Macha Meril)
Nathalie Richard	...	Mademoiselle Fournier
Anthony Roth Costanzo	...	Francis Fortescue
Bob Swaim	...	Bob Smith
Virginie Ledoyen	...	Billy's Mother
Luisa Conlon	...	Young Charlotte Anne 'Channe' Willis, Age 7
Samuel Gruen	...	Benoit / Young Billy Willis, Age 7
Frédéric Da	...	Stephane (as Frederic Da)
Michelle Fairley	...	Miss O'Shaunessy
Sarah Haxaire	...	Mademoiselle Devereux
Marie Henriau	...	Social Worker
Pierre-Michel Sivadier	...	Mr. Flowers
Scott Miles	...	First Jock (as Scott Thomas)
Catriona MacColl	...	Mrs. Smith
Dominic Gould	...	Poker Player, Paris
Susan Gutfreund	...	Poker Player, Paris
Stéphanie Levin	...	Poker Player, Paris
Louis Niedleman	...	Poker Player, Paris
Anna Niedleman	...	Poker Player, Paris
Louis Saint Calbre	...	Poker Player, Paris (as Louis St. Calbre)
Freddy Stracham	...	Dancer
Véronique Bellegarde	...	Test Monitor
Miranda Raimondi	...	Melissa
Anne-Cécile Crapie	...	Mademoiselle Picot (as Anne-Cecile Crapie)
Eric Nacacche	...	Lawyer
Elizabeth Villeminot	...	Cassandra Smith
Catherine Villeminot	...	Mary-Ellen Smith
Florence Villeminot	...	Gillis Smith
Emma Scaife	...	Bethany
Anthony Decadi	...	Schoolyard Tease
Valérie Tolédano	...	Mademoiselle Fauchon (as Valerie Toledano)
Daniel Tepfer	...	Kevin
Alycia Fashae	...	Salomé, Soprano
Marcos Pujol	...	Herod, Baritone
Catherine Alcover	...	Hérodias, Mezzo-Soprano
Tammy Arnold	...	Real Estate Agent
Loretta Anawalt	...	Poker Player, Wilmington
Bruce Anawalt	...	Poker Player, Wilmington
Tammy Helm	...	Poker Player, Wilmington
Don Baker	...	Poker Player, Wilmington
Mitch Eakins	...	Second Jock
Christopher Berry	...	Steve Bates
Antoine Chain	...	Pierre Anloite (Billy's Father)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Woody Allen	...	Himself (interviewee on TV) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hélène Arié	...	The Queen (uncredited)
Fanny Crawford	...	(uncredited)
Jean-Claude Drouot	...	Thierry la Fronde in Program on TV (archive footage) (uncredited)
Pauline Kael	...	Herself (with Woody Allen) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Philippe Pelletier	...	Opera spectator (uncredited)
Kawan Rojanatavorn	...	WWII Soldier (uncredited)
David Walen	...	New Years Band Singer (uncredited)

Directed by
James Ivory

Writing credits (WGA)
Kaylie Jones		(novel)
James Ivory		(screenplay) &
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jane Barclay	....	co-executive producer
Paul Bradley	....	co-producer
Nayeem Hafizka	....	executive producer
Sharon Harel	....	co-executive producer
Richard Hawley	....	executive producer
Ismail Merchant	....	producer

Original Music by
Richard Robbins

Cinematography by
Jean-Marc Fabre

Film Editing by
Noëlle Boisson		(as Noelle Boisson)

Casting by
Tricia Tomey

Costume Design by
Carol Ramsey

Makeup Department
Janet Carey	....	additional makeup artist
David Halsey	....	assistant hair stylist: USA
David Halsey	....	assistant makeup artist: USA
Tina Harrelson	....	assistant hair stylist: USA
Tina Harrelson	....	assistant makeup artist: USA
Martina Kohl	....	associate hair designer: France
Martina Kohl	....	associate makeup designer: France
Joël Lavau	....	hair assistant: France (as Loel Lavau)
Joël Lavau	....	makeup assistant: France (as Loel Lavau)
Thomas Nellen	....	key hair designer: France
Thomas Nellen	....	key makeup designer: France
Tony Rocchetti	....	hair assistant: France
Tony Rocchetti	....	makeup assistant: France

Production Management
Rahila Bootwala	....	unit production manager: France
Philippe Groff	....	unit production manager
Richard Hawley	....	unit production manager: USA
Michel Imbert	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Maud Baignères	....	third assistant director: France
Gaëtan de Laugardière	....	third assistant director: France
George Every	....	second assistant director: France
Christopher Granier-Deferre	....	first assistant director: France
Richard Hawley	....	first assistant director: USA
Stephanie P. O'Brien	....	second assistant director: USA (as Stephanie O'Brien)
Vincent G. Gonzales	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jane Beck	....	assistant props: USA
Gerard Bouguet	....	head carpenter: France
Jacques Bufnoir	....	production designer: France
Adam Cameron	....	set dresser: USA
Jean-Michel Chantrel	....	curtain constructor: France
Jean-Michel Chantrel	....	upholstery constructor: France
James Paul Dallas	....	art department assistant: USA
Thurston Edwards	....	assistant prop buyer: USA
James Edward Ferrell Jr.	....	set decorator: USA (as James Ferrell)
John France	....	set dresser: USA
Pat Garner	....	production designer: USA
Marie-Noëlle Giraud	....	set dresser: France (as Marie-Noelle Giraud)
Vernon Harrell	....	property master: USA
Wil David Johnson	....	greensman: USA
Cynthia La Jeunesse	....	assistant set decorator: USA (as Cindy La Jeunesse)
Andrew Litvack	....	artistic associate
Bruno Madesclaire	....	property buyer: France
Jean-Pierre Masson	....	construction grip: France
Joe McGuire	....	set dresser: USA
Henri Moisan	....	property master: France
Stephen C. Peterman	....	leadman: USA (as Stephen Peterman)
Victor Piazza	....	head painter: France
Jean Poinot	....	construction manager: France
Per-Olof Renard	....	art director: France
Greg Sasser	....	greensman: USA
Pierre Sicre	....	stand-by props: France
Linwood Taylor	....	art director: USA
Kenneth Tregembo	....	head painter: USA

Sound Department
Tim Cavagin	....	sound re-recordist: Twickenham Film Studios
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer
Michel Filippi	....	adr: France
Annie Gould	....	assistant sound editor: UK
Ludovic Hénault	....	sound (as Ludovic Henault)
Dean Humphreys	....	sound re-recordist: Twickenham Film Studios
Craig Irving	....	sound re-recordist: Twickenham Film Studios
Jean-Luc Laborde	....	boom operator: France
Jacques Leroide	....	foley editor: UK
Nick Lowe	....	dialogue editor: UK
Colin Miller	....	supervising sound editor: UK
Michael Piotrowski	....	boom operator: U.S. (as Mike Piotrowski)
Alastair Sirkett	....	assistant sound editor: UK
Nick Watson	....	sound consultant: Dolby

Special Effects by
Grégoire Delage	....	rain effects: France (as Gregoire Delage)
William Purcell	....	special effects: USA

Stunts
Dean Mumford	....	stunt coordinator: USA
Roland Neunreuther	....	stunt coordinator: France

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric Bartsch	....	key grip: USA
Guy-Auguste Boléat	....	key grip: France (as Guy-Auguste Boleat)
Glen Ade Brown	....	assistant camera
Glen Brown	....	assistant camera: USA (as Glen Brown)
Scott Canfield	....	electrician: USA
Simon Carey	....	additional electrician
Dan Cornwall	....	best boy electric: USA
Kelly Curry	....	best boy grip: USA
Lynn Dodson	....	gaffer: USA
Laurent Duquesnoy	....	grip: France
Jason Harris	....	camera loader: USA
Laurel Hughes	....	second assistant camera: USA
Eric Jennings	....	electrician: USA
Elin Kirschfink	....	second assistant camera: France (as Elin Kirscheink)
Philippe Lu	....	gaffer: France
Mark C. McManus	....	playback operator: USA (as Mark McManus)
Mark C. McManus	....	video assistant: USA (as Mark McManus)
Frédéric Menut	....	best boy electric: France (as Frederic Menut)
Marc Monnaye	....	electrician: France
Pascal Payet	....	grip: France
Seth Rubin	....	still photographer: France
Marie Spencer	....	assistant camera: France
Carole Tizon	....	third assistant camera: France
Dick Van Newkirk	....	dolly grip: USA
Jeffery J. Tufano	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Tracy Kilpatrick	....	casting: Wilmington
Marion Tenet	....	extras casting: France
Annette Trumel	....	casting: France

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eve-Marie Arnault	....	associate costume designer: France
Jeanie Baker	....	set costumer: USA
Azmin Jaffer	....	costumer: France
Dennisse Kane	....	set costumer: USA (as Denisse Kane)
Anjali Lenglet	....	costumer: France
Leigh Leverett	....	assistant costume designer: USA
Rosalida Medina	....	set costumer: USA
Anne Micolod	....	costumer: France
Mary Sheldon	....	cutter/fitter: USA
Verena O'Connor	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Chris Bannister	....	color timer
Jason Costelloe	....	assistant picture editor: UK (as Jason Costello)
Brian Day	....	second assistant editor: USA (as Bryan Day)
Gillean Dickie	....	post-production administrator: UK
Gladys Joujou	....	first assistant editor: UK
Jonathan Kaye	....	second assistant editor: USA
Marla Shelton	....	post-production coordinator: New York

Music Department
Geoff Alexander	....	orchestrator
John Bell	....	music arranger: jazz arrangements
Matt Dunkley	....	music preparation
Harry Rabinowitz	....	conductor
Kirsty Whalley	....	score recording engineer
Kirsty Whalley	....	score mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Chuck Flynn	....	period vehicles: USA
Chuck Flynn	....	transportation coordinator: USA
Scott Glen	....	transportation captain: USA
Christophe Martin	....	period vehicles: France
Scott Siler	....	transportation captain (uncredited)

Other crew
Alberto Abraham Amar	....	production coordinator
Karin Bootwala	....	tutor: France
Davis Canady	....	dance instructor: USA
Catherine Cary	....	production office assistant: France
Caroline Charlety	....	production office assistant: France
Nadine Chaussonnière	....	unit location manager: France (as Nadine Chaussoniere)
Melissa Chung	....	production coordinator: France
Patrick Crawford	....	production trainee: USA
Deborah Devgan	....	production office assistant: USA (as Deborah Deygan)
Louis F. DiFelice	....	unit location manager: USA (as Louis Di Felice)
Pierre Dreyfus	....	assistant location manager: France
Brigitte Galea	....	assistant production accountant: France
Philippe Gallichet	....	chef
Vincent Garenq	....	location assistant
Pierre Geismar	....	production trainee: France
Heidi Gilbert	....	set production assistant: USA
Vincent G. Gonzales	....	key set production assistant: USA (as Vincent Gonzales)
Laetitia Gre	....	location trainee: France
Michel Imbert	....	production trainee: France
Dione Kirby	....	craft service: USA
Sunil Kirparam	....	production accountant: France
Johanna Klingenberger	....	assistant accountant: USA
Jean-Luc Lucas	....	assistant location manager: France
Mike Marcucci	....	researcher
Dara McQuillan	....	post production coordinator
Abel Monem	....	assistant location manager: France
Eric Plassing	....	tutor: France
Kathy Rayle	....	production office assistant: USA (as Kathy Parthemos)
Shannon Rippy	....	production coordinator: USA
Ryan Schaetzle	....	assistant location manager: USA
Kelley Sims	....	office assistant
Samantha Timmerman	....	script supervisor: France
Dmitri Vigneswaren	....	production office coordinator: UK
Adam Yager	....	set production assistant: USA
Amy Zaltzman	....	assistant production coordinator: USA

Thanks
Hannah Block	....	acknowledgment: "The Jim Burns Show"
Jim Burns	....	acknowledgment: "The Jim Burns Show"
Paul Jenkins	....	thanks: loan of paintings by Paul Jenkins
Suzanne Jenkins	....	thanks: loan of paintings by Paul Jenkins
James Jones	....	thanks (as the Estate of James Jones)
Andrew Litvack	....	thanks: coaching and directing French language section of "Billy"
Robert Palm	....	thanks: his support
Mark L. Stricklin	....	thanks: L'Ecole Active Bilingue

Production Companies

• Capitol Films (presents)
• Merchant Ivory Productions
• British Screen Productions (in association with) (as British Screen)

Distributors

• October Films (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Advanced (Germany) (theatrical)
• Líder Films (Argentina) (theatrical)
• TriPictures (Spain) (theatrical)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• Vitória Filmes (Portugal) (theatrical)
• City Screen
• Gativideo (Argentina) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Nikkatsu (Japan)
• Universal Pictures (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Abbey Road Studios  score recording
• Castle Hill Productions  "Stagecoach" courtesy of
• Cinefood  catering
• Cinema Catering  catering: USA
• Dick Clark Productions  "The New Year's Rockin' Eve" courtesy of
• EMI Records  soundtrack published by
• Fauna & Films  animal handlers
• Film Bank  "Joe's Stomach" courtesy of
• Fly Productions  title design
• MacNeil-Lehrer Productions  "The Robert Macneil Report" courtesy of
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)  "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot" courtesy of
• Opéra National de Paris  thanks
• Peerless Camera Company  opticals and titles photography
• Peggy Farrell Costumes  additional costumes
• Productions Orlando  "Ciao Amore Ciao" from "Le Grand Voyage" courtesy of
• TSF  grip and lighting equipment
• The Dinah Shore Living Trust  "Dinah's Place" courtesy of
• The Estate of James Jones  thanks for use of an excerpt from "Whistle"
• Titra Film Paris  subtitles
• Twickenham Film Studios  sound re-recording
• Téléfrance  "Thierry la Fronde" courtesy of
• Wilmington Regional Film Commission  thanks (as Wilmington, N.C. Regional Film Commission)

Also Known As:

La fille d'un soldat ne pleure jamais (France)
Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (Australia) (TV title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

France | UK | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:AL | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | UK:15 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | USA:R | Germany:6 (f)

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Capitol Films

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The family is watching Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) on TV, which was not even released to theatres until 1974, but we later see a date on a gravestone of 1973 (which means the TV scene was probably set in 1972, since there was an intervening New Year's Eve scene).

Movie Connections:

Features Stagecoach (1939)

Soundtrack:

Rubber Bullets

True-to life...

So true to life it made me cry. Exactly how I grew up, "expatriate" and all. The acting and direction and locations were perfect in every way, and this film takes a number of viewings to "see it all." Excellent recommendations all around.