Hard Promises (film)

Hard Promises
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMartin Davidson
Written byJule Selbo
Produced byCynthia Chvatal
StarringSissy Spacek
William Petersen
Mare Winningham
Peter MacNicol
CinematographyAndrzej Bartkowiak
Edited byKimberly Domínguez
Bonnie Koehler
Music byGeorge S. Clinton
Production
companies
High Horse Films
Stone Group Pictures
Distributed byColumbia Pictures (United States)
Vision International (International)[1]
Release dates
  • 14 September 1991 (1991-09-14) (TIFF)
  • 31 January 1992 (1992-01-31) (U.S.)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$8 million[1]
Box office$306,319 (USA)

Hard Promises is a 1992 American romantic comedy film directed by Martin Davidson. It stars Sissy Spacek and William Petersen.[2]

Plot

A man who dislikes stable work environments has been away for too many years when he finds out that his wife had divorced him and is planning to remarry. He comes home to confront her, trying to persuade her not to get married, aided by their daughter, who loves him despite his wandering ways. The couple finds out they still have feelings for each other but must decide how best to handle the contradiction of their lifestyles.

Cast

Actor Role
Sissy Spacek Christine Ann Coalter
William Petersen Joey
Brian Kerwin Walt
Mare Winningham Dawn
Olivia Burnette Beth
Peter MacNicol Stuart
Jeff Perry Pinky
Ann Wedgeworth Chris' mom
Amy Wright Shelly
Lois Smith Mrs. Bell
Margaret Bowman Walt's Mom

Production

Admiring the directing and acting skill of Lee Grant, Spacek agreed to take the role "only to work with Grant", although Grant was later replaced as its director.[3]

Critical reception

Vincent Canby of The New York Times did not care for the film but did praise some of the actors:[2]

Hard Promises is a barren little comedy that means to be romantic... For Hard Promises to be half as much fun as it intends to be, Joey should be a thoroughly likable scamp. For reasons that may be due to Jule Selbo's screenplay, Martin Davidson's direction or something in Mr. Petersen's screen personality, Joey is not the dreamboat the movie requires. He's a bore... The movie offers a lot of running gags that walk very slowly, and small roles to a number of very good actors, including Mare Winningham, Peter MacNicol, Lois Smith, Ann Wedgeworth and Amy Wright.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film had an aggregate score in November 2022 of 40% based on 2 positive and 3 negative critic reviews.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Hard Promises (1992)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Review/Film; Sissy Spacek With a Lout For an Ex". The New York Times. 31 January 1992.
  3. ^ Jarboe, Jan. "Sissy Spacek's Long Walk Home", Texas Monthly, February 1991, p. 126.
  4. ^ "Hard Promises". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 13 November 2022.