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Le Studio Canal+
Regency Enterprises
Not part of a collection.
She knew his face. His touch. His voice. She knew everything about him ... But the truth.
Set in the South just after the US Civil War, Laurel Sommersby is just managing to work the farm without her husband, believed killed in battle. By all accounts, Jack Sommersby was not a pleasant man, thus when he suddenly returns, Laurel has mixed emotions. It appears that Jack has changed a great deal, leading some people to believe that this is not actually Jack but an imposter. Laurel herself is unsure, but willing to take the man into her home, and perhaps later into her heart.
John Chard
Apr 14, 2019 · via TMDB
You and this child are in danger of spending eternity in everlasting damnation! Directed by Jon Amiel, Sommersby is adapted from the historical account of 16th Century French peasant Martin Guerre. It was previously filmed as The Return of Martin Guerre in 1982. It stars Richard Gere, Jodie Foster and Bill Pullman. Music is by Danny Elfman and cinematography by Philippe Rousselot. In simple terms the film is about a man (Jack Sommersby) who went off to war and was presumed dead by his wife (Laurel) and the village folk of the village where he lived. Some 9 years later he returns a changed man, back in the marital bed and a hero to the village. But then questions start to crop up and it becomes a possibility that this man may not after all be who he claims to be. Sounds bizarre for sure, yet it's a true story, and a fascinating one at that. For this American version we get top line production values across the board, with the film propelled with grace and skill by Gere and Foster in the lead roles of Jack and Laurel Sommersby. Director Amiel rightly uses the slow burn approach, a consideration to the art of story telling. This draws the viewer firmly into the post Civil War period and lets us get to know the principal players and their surroundings. The core narrative thrust is a moving romance, one consistently under pressure of a mystery to be proved or disproved. But there's also economic issues to hand, very much so, and the vile stench of racism still hangs in the air. There's a lot going on in Sommersby and it never sags because of it. Also refreshing that in spite of some critical grumblings in some quarters, the ending is potent and not very Hollywood at all. It's not flawless and although it's based on a true story, some suspension of disbelief is needed as regards physical appearance of Jack and his means and motives. Yet this is a lovely film, simple in story telling structure, beautifully photographed and performed, it very much feels and plays like a classic era period piece. 8/10
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Jodie Foster
Laurel Sommersby
Richard Gere
John Robert Sommersby / Horace Townsend
Bill Pullman
Orin Meecham
James Earl Jones
Judge Barry Conrad Issacs
Lanny Flaherty
Buck
William Windom
Reverend Powell
Clarice Taylor
Esther
Frankie Faison
Joseph
R. Lee Ermey
Dick Mead
Richard Hamilton
Doc Evans
Muse Watson
Drifter #1
Frank Hoyt Taylor
KKK #2
Ray McKinnon
Lawyer Webb
Maury Chaykin
Lawyer Dawson
Richard Lineback
Timothy Fry
Steve Saklad
Assistant Art Director
Anastas N. Michos
Camera Operator
Philippe Rousselot
Director of Photography
Anastas N. Michos
Steadicam Operator
Marilyn Vance
Costume Design
Peter Robb-King
Key Makeup Artist
Bob Minor
Stunts
Gregory J. Barnett
Stunts
Jon Amiel
Director
Josh McLaglen
First Assistant Director
Suzanne Smith Crowley
Casting
Richard Gere
Executive Producer
Brunson Green
Extras Casting
Arnon Milchan
Producer
Mary McLaglen
Unit Production Manager
Danny Elfman
Original Music Composer
Anthony Shaffer
Author
Nicholas Meyer
Author
Daniel Vigne
Original Film Writer
Jean-Claude Carrière
Original Film Writer
Sarah Kernochan
Screenplay
49 Days
The Vizconde Massacre: God, Help Us!
Herstory
Gladiator
Scarface
The Great Hero Yi Sun Shin
Anatomy of a Murder
Mildred Pierce
Walk the Line
Badlands
Breathe
DIVE
To My Unborn Son
A History of Violence
Vicky and Her Mystery
Lies of the Heart: The Story of Laurie Kellogg
Good Night, and Good Luck.
Pirates of Silicon Valley
Trial by Fire
August: Osage County
Two Sons of Francisco
Pistol: The Birth of a Legend
Radioactive
Cantinflas
Nobody Loves Kay
Unhinged
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
So Evil My Love
Sins of the Mother
And There Was Evening and There Was Morning
The Rendering
Devil's Knot
In the Name of the Law
White Rabbit
The Monuments Men
Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers
Butterfly Kisses
Feedback
Roe v. Wade
Life in Flight
As I Lay Dying
The Guardian Angel
Lähellä syntiä
The Passion of Ayn Rand
Human Zoo
Running on Empty
Flight 222
Baby Shark
Child of God
Valerie
Running Brave
Sand Serpents
Jingle
Ablaze
East Did Meet West
To Go to the Moon
The Desert Beyond
Rapido
El confidente
Untitled JJ Velazquez Project
Rear Window
Rebecca
A Streetcar Named Desire
Shadow of a Doubt
Days of Heaven
The Magnificent Ambersons
Bad Day at Black Rock
Safe Haven
The Postman Always Rings Twice
Labor Day
Insomnia
Reds
The Gift
Man in the Shadow
Eye of the Needle
Dragonwyck
Kept Woman
Pursued
Duel in the Sun
Agatha and the Truth of Murder
Ride with the Devil
Blue Sky
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
The Blind
Intrusion
The Cat's Meow
Feb 5, 1993
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Bicara Cinta
2020
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1965
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
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1978 · 13 wins
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2000 · 12 wins
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1981 · 11 wins
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