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poster of Tender Mercies
Rating: 6.7/10 by 132 users

Tender Mercies (1983)

Alchoholic former country singer Mac Sledge makes friends with a young widow and her son. The friendship enables him to find inspiration to resume his career.

Directing:
  • Bruce Beresford
Writing:
  • Horton Foote
Stars:
Release Date: Fri, Mar 04, 1983

Rating: 6.7/10 by 132 users

Alternative Title:
Comeback der Liebe - DE
På nåd och onåd - SE
温柔的怜悯 - CN

Country:
United Kingdom
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 32 minutes
Budget: $4,500,000
Revenue: $8,400,000

Plot Keyword: country music, guitar, texas, alcoholism, southern baptist

Michael Crabtree
Lewis Menefee
Norman Bennett
Reverend Hotchkiss
Helena Humann
Woman in Store
Rick Murray
Jake - Slater Mill Boys Member
Stephen Funchess
Bertie - Slater Mill Boys Member
Glen Fleming
Steve - Slater Mill Boys Member
Jerry Biggs
Man in Bar
Sheila Bird
Concessionaire
Tony Frank
Man at Motel
Barkley H. Garrett
Man at Dixie's House
Barbara Jones
Country Woman
Jerry Jones
Country Man
Ray LePere
Man in Bar / Restaurant
Pat Minter
Man at Dixie's House
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
Wyane Milligan
Bass - Country Blues Band Member
Don "Tex" Clark
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Joe Zadwick
Front Row Concert Attendee (uncredited)

Wuchak

**_A broken-down Country musician seeks a new life in Texas_** A single mother (Tess Harper) runs a motel & gas station in the lonely plains between Dallas and Austin. She hires an alcoholic man who couldn’t pay what he owed (Robert Duvall) and discovers that he’s an ex-Country star. “Tender Mercies” (1983) is a lowkey drama set in rural Texas, reminiscent of "Resurrection" (1980) mixed with “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and the later “The Apostle.” While it’s better than “Resurrection,” it’s not quite as good as the other two. However, if you like subdued storytelling, like “Places in the Heart,” you might prefer it. The film was reimagined as “Crazy Heart” 26 years later with Jeff Bridges, which also features Duvall. On the female front, Tess is winsome in a humble way while Betty Buckley is great as the ex-wife and country entertainer, Dixie. Whenever she performs, the movie perks up. Lastly, Ellen Barkin is notable as the beautiful 18 years-old daughter. She was 28 during shooting, but easily fit the role. By contrast, both Tess and Robert were slightly long-in-the-tooth for the ages of their characters (if you do the math), but that’s a minor cavil. There’s a welcome spirituality to the proceedings and the movie doesn’t skimp out on addressing tough theological questions in its understated way. The flick runs 1 hour, 32 minutes, and was shot in Palmer, Texas, which is a half hour drive south of Dallas. GRADE: B/B-


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