Promise (1986 Film)

''Promise'' is a 1986 American drama television film directed by Glenn Jordan and written by Richard Friedenberg, from a story by Kenneth Blackwell, Tennyson Flowers and Friedenberg. James Garner stars as a care-free man who returns to his hometown after his mother's death, and has to assume responsibility for his mentally ill younger brother (James Woods). The film aired on CBS on December 14, 1986, as a ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'' presentation. One of the most honored films in television history, ''Promise'' received the Peabody Award, Humanitas Prize, Christopher Award, and Golden Globe Award. Its record of five Primetime Emmy Awards was not matched until 2010, by the film ''Temple Grandin''.

Plot

When his mother dies, estranged son Bob inherits her estate, and, surprisingly, custody of his younger brother D.J., who suffers from schizophrenia. Bob is initially reluctant at his new responsibility, but remembers that he had promised his mother to look after his brother.

Cast

The cast and credits of ''Promise'' are recorded at WorldCat.
* James Garner as Bob Beuhler
* James Woods as D.J.
* Piper Laurie as Annie Gilbert
* Peter Michael Goetz as Gibb
* Alan Rosenberg as Dr. Pressman
* Mary Marsh as Mrs. Post
* Barbara Niven as Joan   (credited as Barbara Lee Alexander)
* Steven M. Gagnon as Michael
* Raissa Fleming as Lonnie
* Art Burke as Dr. Wexler
* Bob Griggs as Minister
* Janet Baumhover as Mrs. Green
* Charles W. Bernard as Mr. Allison
* Claretta Mariana as Beth
* Virginia Settle as Mrs. Burden
* Diana Van Arnam as Netta

Production

''Promise'' was first broadcast December 14, 1986, as part of the ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'' television anthology series. Directed by Glenn Jordan from a screenplay by Richard Friedenberg, Garner, James, and Jon Winokur. ''The Garner Files: A Memoir''. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2011. the film was shot September–October 1986 on location in Oregon, in Corvallis, Salem and Dallas, and at Triangle Lake.

"It was an easy decision for me and my producing partner, Peter Duchow, to join forces with Hallmark," James Garner wrote in his 2011 autobiography, ''The Garner Files''. He felt he would not have been able to play the role of Bob Beuhler five years earlier, since he felt it was unsympathetic. "Not that Bob is a villain, he just never grew up," Garner wrote. James Woods was cast as his younger brother, D.J.; Garner remembered him from the first episode of ''The Rockford Files''.

Woods has said, "People ask me, 'What's the favorite thing you've ever done in your life?' and I always say ''Promise'' because it was a perfect part for me and a perfect experience with Jim." He researched his role at a halfway house in Santa Monica, California, where he met a young man whose eloquent description of living with schizophrenia was put into the script:

It's like, all the electric wires in the house are plugged into my brain. And every one has a different noise, so I can't think. Some of the wires have voices in them and they tell me things like what to do and that people are watching me. I know there really aren't any voices, but I feel that there are, and that I should listen to them or something will happen. … I can remember what I was like before. I was a class officer, I had friends. I was going to be an aeronautical engineer. Do you remember, Bobby? I've never had a job. I've never owned a car. I've never lived alone. I've never made love to a woman. And I never will. That's what it's like. You should know. That's why I'm a Hindu. Because maybe it's true: Maybe people are born again. And if there is a God, maybe he'll give me another chance. I believe that, because this can't be all I get.

"Accepting the Emmy for Best Teleplay, Richard Friedenberg said he hoped the film would help schizophrenics by calling attention to their plight," Garner wrote. "I'm sorry to say that 25 years later, schizophrenia is the worst mental health problem facing the nation."

Awards and nominations

Home media

* 2009: Hallmark Hall of Fame, Gold Crown Collector's Edition (DVD), 2009. Special features include a featurette on the making of the film, interviews, cast biographies and credits. Close captioned.
* 2012: Warner Archive (DVD-R, created on demand), August 28, 2012.

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Promise (Film)
1986 television films
1986 films
1986 drama films
1980s American films
1980s English-language films
American drama television films
Best Miniseries or Television Movie Golden Globe winners
CBS films
Films about brothers
Films about schizophrenia
Films directed by Glenn Jordan
Films scored by David Shire
Films shot in Oregon
Hallmark Hall of Fame episodes
Peabody Award–winning broadcasts
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie winners