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Cast

Robert Duvall
as Mac Sledge

Tess Harper
as Rosa Lee Wadsworth

Betty Buckley
as Dixie Scott

Ellen Barkin
as Sue Anne

Wilford Brimley
as Harry

Allan Hubbard
as Sonny

Lenny Von Dohlen
as Robert Dennis

Paul Gleason
as Reporter

Michael Crabtree
as Lewis Menefee

James Aaron
as Henry

Norman Bennett
as Rev. Hotchkiss

Andrew Scott Hollon
as LaRue

Ricky Murray
as Jake

Rick Murray
as Jake

Stephen Funchess
as Bertie

Glen Fleming
as Steve

Suzanne Jacobs
as Nurse

Jerry Biggs
as Man at Bar

Sheila Bird
as Concessionaire

Robert E. Blackburn III
as Boy at Dance

Eli Cummins
as Doorman

Tony Frank
as Man at Motel

Pat Minter
as Man at Dixie's House

Oliver Seal
as Man at Dixie's House

Berkley H. Garrett
as Man at Dixie's House

Helena Humann
as Woman with Groceries

Barbara Jones
as Country Woman

Robert Stewart
as Concessionaire

Jerry Jones
as Country Man

Harlan Jordan
as Waiter

Robert P. Kelley
as Choirmaster

Ray LePere
as Man in Bar

Terry Schoolcraft
as Ada

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Critic Reviews for Tender Mercies

Audience Reviews for Tender Mercies

• Apr 28, 2014

  This Duvall piece influenced a lot of similar films in the future. A lot has been mined out of the "cowboy has difficulty in the modern world" storyline but they all reasonate universally.
  

  John B Super Reviewer
• Jun 03, 2012

  "Tender Mercies" is a very minimalist effort from director Bruce Beresford, who moves the film along at a calm and unhurried pace. As well, Robert Duvall gives an endearing and honest performance that resonates with every word that he says. Overall, the impact that "Tender Mercies" has on the viewer is not lasting, but watching it is a pleasant experience.
  Stephen E Super Reviewer
• Jan 30, 2010

  Robert Duvall delivers a great, oscar-winning performance in a film that is actually worthy of it (as opposed to "The Great Santini"). Hell, even the kid (Allen Hubbard) does a good job. Duvall plays an alcholic country singer who, after waking up in a desolate country farmhouse/gas station/motel, decides to stay on and help out the owner (who is a single mother) when he can't afford to pay off his bill. Obviously, the two fall in love and get married (their relationship is formed so quickly they're already married before the movie is ten minutes in), and she helps him sober up and straighten out his life. It's interesting to see how subdued or distant the wife (Tess Harper) is. One of the closing scenes, where Duvall's character has a breakdown, any other movie wife would run to him and hug and comfort him, but this woman (who appears in the corner of the screen), merely turns and walks away. For such a loving wife, it's rather strange behavior (in fact, it leads one to question whether she really loves him, or married him just because he provided a role model for her son). His ex-wife stands in stark contrast, she's driven purely by her music career and doesn't seem to care about anything else. She's a woman who seemingly has it all, but really has nothing, whereas he is someone who appears to have nothing but really has everything he could ever want. He doesn't covet his ex wife's success. Their daughter (Ellen Barkin) is kept from him until at 18, she decides to look him up for herself. It's such a slow-moving, simple tale and yet it feels realistic, like it could've been made-for-television by Robert Altman. Duvall is convincing as a country music singer, and does a good job performing the songs in the movie. Tender Mercies would make a nice contrasting companion piece for Altman's "Nashville", if someone were in the mood for country & western, slice-of-life.
  Devon B Super Reviewer
• Oct 14, 2009

  Pretty good.It was funny that after a couple days of watching this, Some guy was on "Pawn Stars" pawning 1 of the guitars Robert Duvall played in the movie
  Brody M Super Reviewer

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