November 2, 2010 (XXI:10) Bruce Beresford, TENDER MERCIES (1983, 100 min) Directed by Bruce Beresford Written by Horton Foote Produced by Philip Hobel Original Music by George Dreyfus Cinematography by Russell Boyd Film Editing by William M. Anderson Robert Duvall...Mac Sledge Tess Harper...Rosa Lee Betty Buckley...Dixie Wilford Brimley...Harry Ellen Barkin...Sue Anne Allan Hubbard...Sonny Lenny von Dohlen...Robert Paul Gleason...Reporter Michael Crabtree...Lewis Menefee Norman Bennett...Reverend Hotchkiss Andrew Scott Hollon...Larue Rick Murray...Jake - Slater Mill Boys Member Stephen Funchess...Bertie - Slater Mill Boys Member Glen Fleming...Steve - Slater Mill Boys Member James Aaron...Henry - Slater Mill Boys Member Jerry Abbot...Piano - Country Blues Band Member Bobby Hibbitts...Drums - Country Blues Band Member Bountiful” 1953. He won two screenwriting Oscars: Tender Buddie Hrabal...Steel Guitar - Country Blues Band Member Mercies and To Kill a Mockingbird 1962, which was Robert Jerry Matheny...Guitar - Country Blues Band Member Duvall’s first film role (as Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley). He also won a Wayne Milligan...Bass - Country Blues Band Member Pulitzer Prize (for his play, “The Young Man from Atlanta”, 1995) and an Emmy (for his adaptation of a Faulkner story as “Old Man”, BRUCE BERESFORD (16 August 1940, Sydney, New South Wales, 1997). Australia) has directed 34 films, among them Mao's Last Dancer 2009, Evelyn 2002, Bride of the Wind 2001, Double Jeopardy 1999, RUSSELL BOYD (21 April 1944, Victoria, Australia) was Paradise Road 1997, Last Dance 1996, Black Robe 1991, Driving cinematographer on 60 theatrical and TV films, some of which are Miss Daisy 1989, Her Alibi 1989, Crimes of the Heart 1986, King The Way Back 2010, What They Don't Know 2007, Master and David 1985, Tender Mercies 1983, The Club 1980, Breaker Morant Commander: The Far Side of the World 2003, Doctor Dolittle 1980, Money Movers 1978, The Getting of Wisdom 1978, Don's 1998, Liar Liar 1997, Forever Young 1992, White Men Can't Jump Party 1976, Side by Side 1975, Barry McKenzie Holds His Own 1992, Prisoners of the Sun 1990, In Country 1989, 'Crocodile' 1974, and The Adventures of Barry McKenzie 1972. Dundee II 1988, High Tide 1987, The Perfectionist 1987, 'Crocodile' Dundee 1986, Mrs. Soffel 1984, A Soldier's Story 1984, HORTON FOOTE (14 March 1916, Wharton, Texas – 4 March 2009, Phar Lap 1983, Tender Mercies 1983, The Year of Living Hartford, Connecticut) wrote screenplays for 33 films and TV Dangerously 1982, Starstruck 1982, "A Town Like Alice" 1981, dramas, among them Main Street 2010, Convicts 1991, The Trip to Gallipoli 1981, Dawn! 1979, Temperament Unsuited 1978, Black Bountiful 1985, 1918 1985, Tender Mercies 1983, “Barn Burning” Rain 1977, Break of Day 1976, Picnic at Hanging Rock 1975, 1980, Hurry Sundown 1967, The Chase 1966, Baby the Rain Must Between Wars 1974, and Matchless 1974. Fall 1965, To Kill a Mockingbird 1962, and “The Trip to Beresford—TENDER MERCIES —2 ROBERT DUVALL (5 January 1931, San Diego, California) was BETTY BUCKLEY (3 July 1947, Fort Worth, Texas) has appeared in nominated for six best actor or best supporting actor Oscars but won 42 films and shows, some of which are Five Time Champion 2010, his for his performance in this film. The other nominations were for "The Pacific" 2010, "Melrose Place" 2010, The Happening 2008, A Civil Action 1986, The Apostle 1997, The Great Santini 1979, "Oz" 2001-2003, New World Order 2002, Simply Irresistible 1999, Apocalypse Now 1979, and The Godfather 1972. Some of his other Wyatt Earp 1994, "L.A. Law" 1991, Another Woman 1988, Frantic 134 film and TV roles were in Crazy Heart 2009, Get Low 2009, 1988, Wild Thing 1987, Tender Mercies 1983, “The Ordeal of Bill The Road 2009, Thank You for Smoking 2005, Assassination Tango Carney” 1981, "Eight Is Enough" 1977-1981, "Ryan's Hope" 1977, 2002, “The Man Who Captured Eichmann” 1996, Sling Blade 1996, and Carrie 1976. She has recorded 13 solo albums and regularly The Scarlet Letter 1995, Geronimo: An American Legend 1993, performed in concert, and has appeared in major roles in many Falling Down 1993, “Stalin” 1992, Convicts 1991, The Handmaid's Broadway productions, including 1776, Cats and Promises, Tale 1990, "Lonesome Dove" 1989, Colors 1988, Let's Get Harry Promises. 1986, Belizaire the Cajun 1986, The Natural 1984, The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper 1981, True Confessions 1981, Invasion of the Body ELLEN BARKIN (16 April 1954, New York City, New York) has Snatchers 1978, The Betsy 1978, The Eagle Has Landed 1976, been in 53 theatrical and TV flms, among them Shit Year 2010, The Network 1976, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution 1976, The Killer Elite Chameleon 2010, Twelve 2010, Operation: Endgame 2010, Happy 1975, The Godfather: Part II 1974, The Conversation 1974, The Tears 2009, Ocean's Thirteen 2007, Palindromes 2004, Someone Outfit 1973, Badge 373 1973, Lady Ice 1973, Joe Kidd 1972, The Like You... 2001, Mercy 2000, Crime and Punishment in Suburbia Great Northfield Minnesota Raid 1972, The Godfather 1972, THX 2000, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas 1998, The Fan 1996, Wild 1138 1971, MASH 1970, "The F.B.I." 1965-1969, The Rain People Bill 1995, Bad Company 1995/I, This Boy's Life 1993, Mac 1992, 1969, True Grit 1969, The Detective 1968, "The Wild Wild West" Sea of Love 1989, Johnny Handsome 1989, The Big Easy 1986, 1967, "The Defenders" 1961-1965, "The Fugitive" 1963-1965, "The Down by Law 1986, Desert Bloom 1986, The Adventures of Outer Limits" 1964, Captain Newman, M.D. 1963, To Kill a Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension 1984, Harry & Son Mockingbird 1962, "Naked City" 1962, "Alfred Hitchcock 1984, Eddie and the Cruisers 1983, Tender Mercies 1983, Diner Presents" 1962, "Armstrong Circle Theatre" 1959-1960, and 1982, “Kent State” 1981, and Up in Smoke 1978. "Playhouse 90" 1960. He has also directe four films: Assassination Tango 202, The Apostle 1997, Angelo My Love 1983, and a Bruce Beresford, from World Film Directors, Vol. II. Ed. John documentary: We’re Not the Jet Set. Wakeman. The H. W. Wilson Co., NY 1988. Australian director TESS HARPER (15 August 1950, Mammoth Spring, Arkansas) has and scenarist, appeared in 85 films and TV series and films, among them A writes: “I was born Christmas Wish 2010, "Grey's Anatomy" 2010, "Cold Case" 2009, in Sydney, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" 2009, Fatal Secrets 2009, No Australia, and grew Country for Old Men 2007, Broken Bridges 2006, "Judging Amy" up in an outer 2005, Lonely Place 2004, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" 2001, suburb of The Jackal 1997, “Christy” 1994, The Man in the Moon 1991, My unrelieved Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys 1991, Her Alibi 1989, dreariness. Like “Unconquered” 1989, Criminal Law 1988, Far North 1988, “Little ever other film Girl Lost” 1988, Ishtar 1987, “Daddy” 1987, "Murder, She Wrote" director in the world 1987, Crimes of the Heart 1986, "The Twilight Zone" 1986, it seems I was Flashpoint 1984, Silkwood 1983, Tender Mercies 1983, “Starflight: obsessed by movies from kindergarten despite the indifference, The Plane That Couldn't Land” 1983, and “Kentucky Woman” bemusement and finally antipathy of my parents. 1983. “I never cared at all for Saturday afternoon serials or the invariably cheap Westerns which accompanied them, and berated WILFORD BRIMLEY (27 September 1934, Salt Lake City, Utah) is a my schoolfriends for being taken in by their phony sets, absurd former ranch hand, blacksmith and bodyguard (to Howard Hughes) plot-lines, and hammy acting. who got into film work—first as a stunt man, then as an actor—at “The films which convinced me I wanted to be a movie the urging of his friend, Robert Duvall. Duvall was also responsible director were (I’m fairly sure) The Adventures of Don Juan, They for Brimley’s getting a role in Tender Mercies. Brimley has Were Expendable, and My Darling Clementine, all shown in appeared in 72 films and TV series, some of which are Did You Australia between 1946 and 1949. Hear About the Morgans? 2009, The Road Home 2003, “I knew nothing of foreign (i.e. non-English language) Resurrection Mary 2002, Comanche 2000, All My Friends Are movies until I was fifteen. A school friend was similarly movie- Cowboys 1998, "Seinfeld" 1997, "Walker, Texas Ranger" 1995, struck and he took me to Sydney’s one “art house” (The Savoy, "Homicide: Life on the Street" 1994, Hard Target 1993, The Firm now sadly demolished) where I was stunned by the realism of The 1993, Cocoon: The Return 1988, Jackals 1986, Cocoon 1985, Wages of Fear and the magnificent characterizations and humanity Country 1984, The Natural 1984, The Stone Boy 1984, The Hotel of Umberto D. New Hampshire 1984, Harry & Son 1984, 10 to Midnight 1983, “Despite involvement in student movies which kept me Tender Mercies 1983, The Thing 1982, Death Valley 1982, Absence permanently near-destitute, I struggled through a BA course at of Malice 1981, Brubaker 1980, The Electric Horseman 1979, The Sydney University, majoring in philosophy. I sailed (a six-week China Syndrome 1979, "The Waltons" 1974-1977, "Kung Fu" 1975, journey) for England in 1962, on the day of my graduation. "Gunsmoke" 1973, and True Grit 1969. “Throughout the sixties I worked on a number of short films as either cameraman, editor, or director, or all three. In 1966 I Beresford—TENDER MERCIES —3 landed an interesting job with the Production Board of the British with delight, and it was the first Australian movie for many years to Film Institute and remained there until 1971. achieve any kind of international distribution. Beresford says, “it “I returned to Australia and directed my first feature film got such bad reviews in Australia that, while it made it easier for in 1972.