Sommersby

1993
PG
1h 54m

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

24K

YOUR RATING

Jodie Foster and Richard Gere in Sommersby (1993)

Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video

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83 Photos

Drama Mystery Romance

A farmer returns home from the Civil War, but his wife begins to suspect that the man is an impostor.A farmer returns home from the Civil War, but his wife begins to suspect that the man is an impostor.A farmer returns home from the Civil War, but his wife begins to suspect that the man is an impostor.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

24K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins

Trivia
This movie is one of several fictional adaptations of a true, famous legal case of imposture from sixteenth century France. The case involved a man named Martin Guerre who, having disappeared from his Basque village in 1548, suddenly reappeared eight years later. Despite his slightly changed appearance, he convinced his family, wife, and fellow villagers that he was indeed Martin Guerre; he and his wife had two more children and he sued a paternal uncle for the claim to his father's estate. That uncle became suspicious that this returned Martin Guerre was actually an impostor named Arnaud du Tilh, and he contrived a way to have him tried for imposture. This suspicion was ultimately confirmed when the actual Martin Guerre arrived in court during du Tilh's trial. Arnaud du Tilh was convicted and hanged in September 1560.

Goofs
In 1867 the price for Burley Tobacco was $58 per hundredweight, yet in the movie it was sold for $12.

Quotes
Laurel Sommersby:You are not Jack Sommersby, so why do you keep going on pretending that you are?
John Robert 'Jack' Sommersby:How do you know I'm not?
Laurel Sommersby:I know because...
John Robert 'Jack' Sommersby:How do you know?
Laurel Sommersby:I know because...
John Robert 'Jack' Sommersby:How do you know?
Laurel Sommersby:I know because I never loved him the way that I love you.
John Robert 'Jack' Sommersby:Now Laurel tell me, from the bottom of your heart. Am I your husband?
Laurel Sommersby:Yes, you are.

Connections
Featured inSiskel & Ebert & the Movies: National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1/The Cemetery Club/Sommersby/The Vanishing/Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey(1993)

User reviews73

Review

Featured review

10/10

A Bitter Sweet Romance

This is another one of my favorite Richard Gere movies, this guy is one gifted actor.

This movie is mainly about character study and the love between the two leads Jack Sommersby(Richard Gere)and his wife Laurel(Jodie Foster).

Jack Sommersby comes back from the Civil War seeming to be a changed man(for the better). All the neighbors and especially Laurel want the change to be real, so they just believe it whether it's true or not. Lets face it most people have probably at one time or another done the same thing, I know I have.

Later Jack is arrested for murder and the real question is asked. Is he or is he not Jack Sommersby?

The love that Jack(Richard)and Laurel(Jodie)have for each other is very important because it comes into play during the trial and at the ending of the movie. The ending of this movie was the only proper way to end it for the characters involved.

Richard Gere is a master when it comes to showing tenderness, sensitivity and compassion on screen. It was good to see these two actors Jodie Foster and Richard Gere playing the lead rolls, they complemented each other.

This is a beautifully written love story and a real tear jerker. I rate this movie a 10.