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Richard Gere, Jodie Foster, Lanny Flaherty, James Earl Jones, Wendell Wellman ... see more see more... , Bill Pullman , William Windom , Maury Chaykin , Brett Kelley , Clarice Taylor , Frankie Faison , R. Lee Ermey , Richard Hamilton , Dean Whitworth , Stan Kelly , Richard Lineback , Paul Austin , Ray McKinnon , Doug Sloan , Frank Hoyt Taylor , Muse Watson , Mark Williams

This Americanized remake of the French classic The Return of Martin Guerre (1982) transports the story's setting from the 16th century Gallic countryside to 19th century Tennessee at the conclusion of... read more read more... the U.S. Civil War. Richard Gere stars as Jack Sommersby, a wealthy landowner who returns to his small cotton farming town of Vine Hill three years after the Civil War's end. The defeated Confederate soldier is ready to resume his past life with his young wife Laurel (Jodie Foster). Thinking her husband long dead, however, Laurel has become engaged to Orin Meecham (Bill Pullman), an arrangement she quickly calls off, enraging and embittering Orin. Soon it becomes evident that his experiences have changed Jack thoroughly. A callous and cruel man widely feared before the war, he is now charming and sensitive, offering financial opportunities to an ex-slave and caring for Laurel and his young son. Jack even persuades the town's citizenry that he can rescue their fortunes by pooling resources and switching Vine Hill's chief crop from cotton to tobacco. Jack's scheme works, but Orin becomes increasingly convinced that Jack is in fact an impostor masquerading as the wealthy Sommersby, a suspicion that the smitten and quickly pregnant Laurel secretly shares. When Jack is arrested and charged with a murder he drunkenly committed years before, the court trial leads to some startling revelations about the past. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

54% liked it

13,070 ratings

Critics

63% liked it

24 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Jon Amiel

Release Date: February 5, 1993

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DVD Release Date: September 21, 1999

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Stats: 382 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (382)

  • SirPant
    March 29, 2010
    SirPant
    Unfortunately the whole 'Is he/Isn't he' plot soon gets a little tiring but this is still quite a nice film with some good performances from Gere, Foster and R. Lee Ermey as the unfortunately named Dick Mead. I didn't realise it was a remake, so I'm quite intrigued to see The Ret... read moreurn of Martin Guerre.
  • ScoopOnline
    January 14, 2010
    ScoopOnline
    She knew his face. His touch. His voice. She knew everything about him... But the truth.
  • 76Majikat
    May 31, 2009
    76Majikat
    Based on the story "The Return of Martin Guerre" this is a beautifully and inticately woven tale that tests the strength of love and pride. A story with powerful emotions and a dilema which is a tragedy of it's time.

    Richard Gere who is often criticised as an Actor gave no re... read moreason for criticism here and another good performance from Jodie Foster.
  • thmtsang
    December 29, 2007
    thmtsang
    Great chemistry between Richard and Jodie. Still not sure if he was or was not her husband! Must watch it again!
  • jennifxu
    May 30, 2007
    jennifxu
    kind of tale of two cities-esque with good story and solid acting.
  • garyX
    January 7, 2007
    garyX
    Rather contrived romance saved from schmaltz soaked mediocrity by a winning performance by Gere and some nicely photographed period detail.
  • deano
    November 8, 2006
    deano
    Jodie Foster and Richard Gere are both superb in this fascinating period love story.
  • mvieaddict
    October 13, 2009
    mvieaddict
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic
    Sommersby was the story of a man named Jack Sommersby, played by Richard Gere, a changed man who returned to his hometown after 6 yea... read morers held prisoner in the Civil War.You will like and dislike his character, first like because he was nice to the slaves, good for his wife(Jody Foster) and dislike cause of who he was before. Now changed, you could understand why he lied, but it was hard to understand why he pretended to be someone he was not. In the end he made the right choice that allows the slaves to keep their land. This movie made you think about right & wrong.
  • InaHH
    August 19, 2008
    InaHH
    Ok, this is horribly cheesy, right? I shouldn't like it, I hate melodrama. But somehow this movie gets me EVERY single time - I cry my eyes out and even forget briefly that I wouldn't normally watch anything with Richard Gere in the leading role. It's a miracle. Somewhere in the ... read moreperformances and the story something must hit home with me, inexplicably. I feel ashamed now.
  • cacutshaw
    March 28, 2008
    cacutshaw
    And here's the kind of movie people suffer through when they're dating. I barely remember anything about this film but the boredom.

View All Sommersby Reviews

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Though there is a near vaccuum at the center of the film, Sommersby is never boring, largely because of Ms. Foster's beautifully self-possessed presence. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

From start to finish, it is a well-crafted film: part love story, part mystery, and all drama. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A square peg pounded into a round hole -- or, more exactly, a medieval European story that has been unsuccessfully updated to the period of the American Civil War. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

It's really an old-fashioned hankie-soaker with Gere and Foster ably jerking tears. An odd yet convincing couple, they won't replace Rhett and Scarlet, and frankly, my dears, who can? But belles wring... Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

If you're looking for a picturesque romance -- with a little intrigue on the side -- you could do worse than Sommersby. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
April 11, 2004
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Lacks whatever magical ingredient there is that makes a film a moving experience and instead settles for being an adequate but not a remarkable achievement. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
July 12, 2003
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

A winning and soul-stirring exploration of the spiritual meaning of one man's sacrificial death. Full Review

Robert Roten
March 23, 2003
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope

The story idea is an interesting one, but it doesn't quite pan out in the end. There are too many unanswered questions and unresolved conflicts. Full Review

Clint Morris
September 18, 2002
Clint Morris, Moviehole

A powerful piece of filmmaking. Gere and Foster are as immaculate as always.

Stephen Farber
January 9, 2002
Stephen Farber, Movieline

Hobbled with a meandering script, an erratic performance by Richard Gere, and an overbearing score by Danny Elfman. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Sommersby Trivia

  • Name the film featuring this line, "I know because I never loved him the way that I love you"  Answer »
  • what movie starred richard gere,jodie foster and ames earl jones?  Answer »
  • Jodie Foster and Richard Gere may or may not be married in this post-civil war drama.  Answer »
  • Jodie Foster and Richard Gere may or may not be married in this post-civil war drama.   Answer »
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