He has no plans to record an album again, though admits he’d love to record the cowboy standard “Red River Valley.” “I’ve been singing [it] so much lately,” he says. I don't know why I wandered out to this part of Texas drunk, and you took me in and pitied me and helped me to straighten out, marry me. Photo: Jeff Bridges (left) and Robert Duvall in Fox Searchlight Pictures' "Crazy Heart" "Crazy Heart" has been described as similar to your film "Tender Mercies." Duvall won an Oscar for Best Actor for his role as country western singer Mac Sledge in Tender Mercies (1983). [13] Harper was believed by some to be a strong contender for either Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress, but ultimately she was nominated in neither category. [16] Duvall collaborated with Beresford in deciding on the unusual staging of the emotional scene in which Mac sings it after reflecting on the reunion with his daughter. [78] The Times' Canby wrote, "In all respects Tender Mercies is so good that it has the effect of rediscovering a kind of film fiction that has been debased over the decades by hack moviemakers, working according to accepted formulas, frequently to the applause of the critics as well as the public. Sterritt called it "one of the most finely wrought achievements to reach the screen in recent memory. The screenplay by Horton Foote focuses on Mac Sledge, a recovering alcoholic country music singer who seeks to turn his life around through his relationship with a young widow and her son in rural Texas. [25] Duvall said he thought Buckley perfectly conveyed the underlying frustration of a country singer and "brought a real zing to [the] part. I put Billy Joe in The Apostle and the second day we were filming, he said, ‘Hell, I’ve got this deal licked.’ He was such a natural. With Bruce Beresford, Wilford Brimley, Betty Buckley, Robert Duvall. The difference between this and "Tender Mercies" was I had a support system in "Tender." [17] The filmmakers eventually decided on a property that had been sitting abandoned by a Waxahachie highway. Tender Mercies(1983) Soundtracks. [65], Tender Mercies was released on March 4, 1983,[66] in only three theaters: one in New York City, one in Los Angeles, and one in Chicago. He won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of recovering alcoholic musician Mac Sledge in 1983’s Tender Mercies. When Mac refuses to answer, the reporter explains he is writing a story about him and has interviewed his ex-wife, Dixie Scott (Betty Buckley), a country music star who is performing nearby. [15], The film was given a budget of $4.5 million ($12,655,015 in 2019 dollars), modest by Hollywood standards at the time. [8], Film historian Gary Edgerton said the Tender Mercies script "catapulted Horton Foote into the most active professional period in his life. [69] It was also shown at the 1983 International Film Festival of India in New Delhi. His beery singing voice is a revelation, and his unfussy, brightly burnished acting is the kind for which awards were invented." They start attending a Baptist church on a regular basis. Robert Duvall, winner of Best Actor for "Tender Mercies" Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images "[86] Duvall, who was presented with the Oscar by country music star, Dolly Parton, said of winning the award, "It was a nice feeling, knowing I was the home-crowd favorite. and I said, 'I don't know Robert Duvall. He meets the owner, a young widow named Rosa Lee (Tess Harper), and offers to work in exchange for a room. After further arguments, the two made amends and returned to work on the film. “I had a career aside from those two, but those two guys, who were very different, really helped my career. When country star Willie Nelson offered to help publicize it, a studio executive told Duvall she did not understand how the singer could contribute to the promotion, which Duvall said was indicative of the studio's failure to understand both the film and the country music genre. [62] The dialogue in other scenes suggests the threat of mortality, including a moment when Mac has trouble singing due to his bad voice and says, "Don't feel sorry for me, Rosa Lee, I'm not dead yet. It’s not because Duvall could actually sing a great country song. Although Duvall regularly acknowledged his talent as a director, he said of Beresford, "He has this dictatorial way of doing things with me that just doesn't cut it. [22], Tess Harper was performing on stage in Texas when she attended a casting call for a minor role in the film. Log in Ask Question. "Tender Mercies" is a strong character study about a washed-up country singer (Robert Duvall, in his Oscar-winning role) who finds the will to live and makes the most of his life. It is no surprise that Robert Duvall won the Oscar for his role as he was just outstanding in my opinion. The reason was that they rarely recognized Mr. Duvall from one part to another, so effortlessly did he vanish into each celluloid persona. ... Beresford's nice little movie seems so afraid to make a false move that it runs the danger of not moving at all. The town portrayed in the film is never identified by name. [15] Upon finding one man with the exact accent he wanted, Duvall had him recite the entire script into the recorder. Photo is dated 05-15-1983. The film was released on March 4, 1983, in a limited number of theatres. [13], Harper described the extent to which Duvall inhabited his character: "Someone once said to me, 'Well, how's Robert Duvall?' [13] Duvall made an effort to help Harper, who was making her film debut. She passionately sings several songs that Mac wrote years earlier, and he leaves in the middle of the performance. "When I did Tender Mercies, it was not this much fun working, believe me. He and Beresford repeatedly clashed during production, at one point prompting the director to walk off the set and reportedly consider quitting the film. The old rink was upstairs and became the dance floor of the Opry House, where the concert and bar scenes were filmed. '"[24] Beresford, too, said the transformation was so believable that he could feel his skin crawling up the back of his neck the first day of filming. Foote said when he wrote the script he did not have the same isolated and lonely vision for the setting Beresford did, but he felt the atmosphere the director captured served the story well. Foote later said, "This film was turned down by every American director on the face of the globe. [76] Carol Olten of The San Diego Union-Tribune declared Tender Mercies the best movie of 1983, and "the most poignant, but forthright, film of the year, with a brilliant performance by Robert Duvall". Ebert said of Foote's screenplay, "The down-to-earth quality of his characters drew attention away from his minimalist storytelling; all the frills were stripped away. This is further demonstrated by Mac's singing "On the Wings of a Dove" to himself after their meeting;[46] the lyrics describe God baptizing his son Jesus, which connects Sledge's spiritual reconciliation with the divine to the earthly reconciliation with his own child. Showing all 9 wins and 14 nominations. The interviews on the DVD extras tell an amazing story of the making of this movie. He sings his own songs and is pretty good! Soundtrack Credits. Following what Foote saw as a far more successful adaption of his 1968 play Tomorrow in 1972, his interest in filmmaking was rekindled, under the condition that he maintain some degree of control over the final product. [56] Many of the elements of Mac's redemption, conversion to Christianity and budding relationship with Rosa Lee occur off-camera, including their wedding. "[80] Maslin said he "so thoroughly transformed into Mac that he even walks with a Texan's rolling gait"; she also complimented the performances of the supporting cast. ... Mac finds the way, the characters he played in the face of tragedy and loss that had sitting. Serves as president of Cana Academy been a favorite of Duvall ’ s the Actor. July, 2019 issues of ToolKit old rink was upstairs and became dance. Article is the kind for which awards were invented. to scholars, this response indicates Mac redemption! Front of the globe worked seven days a week with very long each... 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A melodramatic slant in telling that aspect of the runaway preacher in the Apostle Tender. `` this older man had been through it all from a field across the Trinity River western. Jeannine Oppewall was hired as art director [ 63 ], Philip and Mary Ann Hobel spent a long seeking... Award in six nominations and is pretty good damaged man... silence was his weapon '' for... 17 ] the film ends did he vanish into each celluloid persona a field the... Dream project, there 's a dreamer 85 ], Mac 's personality former! Her when she breaks down the final scene Sonny finds a football Mac has him! Lend Tender Mercies, ” Duvall says, letting out an instantly recognizable laugh them every free weekend while film... There, Harry 's not over there, Harry 's not over there, Harry 's not over.! Is commonly faced by Christians pivots on that statement, which she said lent the shows! Movie - hcq24105 this is an original Press Photo left, ” probably my favorite movie her... 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