THURSDAY THEATRE

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Have you seen this movie!?
What catches your spying-eye radar!?

‘Tender Mercies’ is a drama that debuted in theaters 03/04/1983 to mostly-positive reviews, was not considered successful at the box office, but was critically acclaimed, earning 5 Academy Award nominations, winning Oscars for Best Original Screenplay & Best Actor (Robert Duvall, his only win as of this year). Directed by Bruce Beresford, Horton Foote wrote the screenplay, focusing on Mac Sledge, a recovering alcoholic country music singer. With Duvall (who drove 680 miles around Texas to research the part) as Mac, the supporting cast includes Tess Harper (as Rosa Lee), Betty Buckley (originally from Fort Worth TX, near the Grapevine Opry where her concert scenes were filmed), Wilford Brimley (cast at the urging of Duvall), Ellen Barkin & Allan Hubbard (as Sonny). Most scenes were filmed in Waxahachie TX & Palmer TX, 2 towns in Ellis County, north central TX, with Victorian architecture & picturesque elements avoided to more closely resemble West TX. The movie has no original film score, with the soundtrack limited to performances of songs & guitar as part of the story. Duvall wrote 2 of Mac’s songs, “Fool’s Waltz” & “I’ve Decided To Leave Here Forever”. Betty Buckley also sang her own songs, including “Over You” (written by Austin Roberts & Bobby Hart), which was nominated for an Academy Award. But, it was Lane Brody’s version (featured HERE) that was chosen for radio release.