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DramaMusicRomance

Tender Mercies

- His struggle for fame was over. His fight for respect was just beginning.

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.

Release Date : 1983-03-04

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Antron Media ProductionEMI FilmsAssociated Film DistributionUniversal Pictures

Production Country : United KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Robert Duvall

Character Name : Mac Sledge

Original Name : Robert Duvall

Gender : Male

Tess Harper

Character Name : Rosa Lee

Original Name : Tess Harper

Gender : Female

Betty Buckley

Character Name : Dixie

Original Name : Betty Buckley

Gender : Female

Wilford Brimley

Character Name : Harry

Original Name : Wilford Brimley

Gender : Male

Ellen Barkin

Character Name : Sue Anne

Original Name : Ellen Barkin

Gender : Female

Allan Hubbard

Character Name : Sonny

Original Name : Allan Hubbard

Gender : Male

Lenny Von Dohlen

Character Name : Robert

Original Name : Lenny Von Dohlen

Gender : Male

Paul Gleason

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Paul Gleason

Gender : Male

Michael Crabtree

Character Name : Lewis Menefee

Original Name : Michael Crabtree

Gender : Male

Norman Bennett

Character Name : Reverend Hotchkiss

Original Name : Norman Bennett

Gender : Male

Andrew Scott Hollon

Character Name : Larue

Original Name : Andrew Scott Hollon

Gender : Male

Helena Humann

Character Name : Woman in Store

Original Name : Helena Humann

Gender : Female

Rick Murray

Character Name : Jake - Slater Mill Boys Member

Original Name : Rick Murray

Gender : Male

Stephen Funchess

Character Name : Bertie - Slater Mill Boys Member

Original Name : Stephen Funchess

Gender : Male

Glen Fleming

Character Name : Steve - Slater Mill Boys Member

Original Name : Glen Fleming

Gender : Male

Jerry Biggs

Character Name : Man in Bar

Original Name : Jerry Biggs

Gender : Male

Sheila Bird

Character Name : Concessionaire

Original Name : Sheila Bird

Gender : Male

Robert E. Blackburn III

Character Name : Boy at Dance

Original Name : Robert E. Blackburn III

Gender : Male

Eli Cummins

Character Name : Doorman

Original Name : Eli Cummins

Gender : Male

Tony Frank

Character Name : Man at Motel

Original Name : Tony Frank

Gender : Male

Barkley H. Garrett

Character Name : Man at Dixie's House

Original Name : Barkley H. Garrett

Gender : Male

Suzanne Jacobs

Character Name : Nurse

Original Name : Suzanne Jacobs

Gender : Male

Barbara Jones

Character Name : Country Woman

Original Name : Barbara Jones

Gender : Female

Jerry Jones

Character Name : Country Man

Original Name : Jerry Jones

Gender : Male

Harlan Jordan

Character Name : Waiter

Original Name : Harlan Jordan

Gender : Male

Robert P. Kelley

Character Name : Choirmaster

Original Name : Robert P. Kelley

Gender : Male

Ray LePere

Character Name : Man in Bar / Restaurant

Original Name : Ray LePere

Gender : Male

Pat Minter

Character Name : Man at Dixie's House

Original Name : Pat Minter

Gender : Male

Terry Schoolcraft

Character Name : Ada - Dixie's Driver

Original Name : Terry Schoolcraft

Gender : Male

Oliver Seale

Character Name : Man at Dixie's House

Original Name : Oliver Seale

Gender : Male

Denise Simek

Character Name : Concessionaire

Original Name : Denise Simek

Gender : Male

Robert Stewart

Character Name : Concessionaire

Original Name : Robert Stewart

Gender : Male

Susan Aston

Character Name : Woman at Dance

Original Name : Susan Aston

Gender : Male

Vicki Neff

Character Name : Woman at Dance

Original Name : Vicki Neff

Gender : Male

Pamela Putnam

Character Name : Woman at Dance

Original Name : Pamela Putnam

Gender : Male

Jerry Abbot

Character Name : Piano - Country Blues Band Member

Original Name : Jerry Abbot

Gender : Male

Bobby Hibbitts

Character Name : Drums - Country Blues Band Member

Original Name : Bobby Hibbitts

Gender : Male

Buddie Hrabal

Character Name : Steel Guitar - Country Blues Band Member

Original Name : Buddie Hrabal

Gender : Male

Jerry Matheny

Character Name : Guitar - Country Blues Band Member

Original Name : Jerry Matheny

Gender : Male

Wyane Milligan

Character Name : Bass - Country Blues Band Member

Original Name : Wyane Milligan

Gender : Male

Joe Zadwick

Character Name : Front Row Concert Attendee (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Zadwick

Gender : Male

Reviews

W

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2024-07-22

**_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-