Where to watch Sommersby online

Storyline

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.

Released

1993-02-05
Revenue

$140,081,992
Budget

$30,000,000
Runtime

1hr 49m
Genre

Drama, Thriller, Mystery, Romance
Status

Released
Language

English
6.3
Production

Regency Enterprises, Alcor Films, Le Studio Canal+, Warner Bros. Pictures

Crew

Jon Amiel

Director

Sarah Kernochan

Screenplay

Arnon Milchan

Producer

Keywords:

husband wife relationship court case war veteran ku klux klan southern usa village life return peasant suspicion of murder gallows violent husband death sentence agriculture racial segregation based on true story look-alike impostor hanging post civil war soldier's wife reconstruction era

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Cast

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

Wendell Wellman

Travis

Brett Kelley

Little Rob

Clarice Taylor

Esther

Frankie Faison

Joseph

R. Lee Ermey

Dick Mead

Richard Hamilton

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Karen Kirschenbauer

Mrs. Evans

Carter McNeese

Storekeeper Wilson

Dean Whitworth

Tom Clemmons

Stephanie Weaver

Mrs. Bundy

Muse Watson

Drifter #1

Paul Austin

KKK #1 / Folsom

Frank Hoyt Taylor

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Ray McKinnon

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Maury Chaykin

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Richard Lineback

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Videos and Photos

Movie Reviews

Reviews for Sommersby

A Review by John Chard 8

Written by John Chard on 2019-04-14

You and this child are in danger of spending eternity in everlasting damnation! Directed by Jon Amiel, Sommersby is adapted from the hi... read more

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

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)

A Review by John Chard

A Review by John Chard 8

Written by John Chard on 2019-04-14

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 Guerr...