Promise

With a mantle of an unprecedented five Emmy awards, Promise should still be watched by modern audiences. Don't be put off by the year of release and dismiss it as part of the "disease of the week" tv movies of the 1980s. It's still just as relevant today, because mental illness has become more prevalent. James Woods plays James Garner's brother with a host of mental problems. In the film, he's labeled as schizophrenic, but modern audiences can pick out autism, agoraphobia, manic depression, and OCD in his performance. This role is an absolute tour-de-force for Woods. He has a constant intense energy, even when he's retreating within himself and watching infomercials. He has childlike sensitivity and bursts into tears when his feelings get hurt. When happy and excited, we can literally see him spiral out of control. When depressed, we see the light in his eyes shut off as he withdraws and indulges all the negative voices in his head. There are times when this movie will be very hard to watch, and times when all you'll want to do is reach into the television and give Woods a hug.

James Garner is also wonderful in this movie, and he also has a very realistic character. He loves his brother, but he doesn't want to permanently burden himself with caring for him. He's embarrassed, he loses his temper, but ultimately he's sorry for both of them. Garner starts off the movie with a successful real estate business, tons of friends in town, and a budding romance. When he inherits his brother after their mom dies, it's a lot to take in, especially when he's in the middle of grieving. Piper Laurie is an old flame with a heart of gold, but can she help soften his edges?

Keep your eyes open for a beautiful blonde with a sensational figure. Do you recognize her cute little smile? It's Barbara Niven in her debut (but she's billed as Barbara Lee Alexander), and how adorable that she got her start on Hallmark and is still with the network thirty years later! The rest of the movie really isn't adorable, but it is very touching and emotional. Make sure you're in the mood for something this heavy, and get ready for a very well-acted movie.

My wife and I were extras for a few scenes. I got to be behind the scenes and spend a lot of time watching two famous Hollywood Actors. I was pleased to see them posing for pictures and signing autographs to the people gathered watching the filming. They could have ran into their private trailers, but waited around all 14 hrs of each day. Garner had an obvious bad cold, but did not try to go indoors during delays. The only negative observation was that both Garner and Woods smoked non-stop during delays. I've seen them do it in numerous movies since then, actually in the movies...I had never thought about it prior to this. They both deserved the Emmy they each won. The movie was a very good movie, making you squirm in your seats, wondering what Woods character would do next. Thanks guys

Put three powerhouse actors together -- James Garner, James Woods and Piper Laurie -- with a decent script, and what do you get? A better-than-decent movie, even beyond the made-for-TV category. James Garner is the brother of an adult schizophrenic whose care he "inherits" via a promise to their now-deceased mother. He got away early and stayed away from the "shame" of his afflicted sibling, but has paid a price, we are given to understand, in being unable to form committed relationships with anyone throughout his adult life. Now thrust unwillingly back with his sick but alarmingly honest brother, plus the sweetheart he had to give up to escape, he manages to be thoroughly unlikeable and human at the same time. The character exhibits just enough growth to make the story feel worth having watched, yet not so much as to be implausible. This is a fine, rewarding drama.

There weren't enough awards to properly honor this great made for TV movie. Whoever cast this film did an amazing job. Garner was great, but Woods was over the top great. He was amazing in this film. And those two actors together created a moving thought provoking story. I came across it by accident on Turner Classic Movies. I was just surfing by and saw James Garner and stopped to see what he was up to in this film. And I was rewarded with this marvelous story. I'm not going to spell the story out as some reviewers do. Enough people have already done that. I just want to add my voice to the others that have endorsed this film. Since it was on TV it didn't have the weight or promotion that a theatrical film might get. Don't miss this film. You'll be well rewarded.

It beats me how this excellent film has never been made into a video/DVD. The acting by James Garner and James Woods is superb. It is far and away better than 'Rainman' and deserves a wider audience. Woods character is so three dimensional and believable, I am sure he must have studied long and hard to reproduce the handicapped brother so brilliantly. Garners character , who doesn't want to be saddled with a 'cripple' but gradually is taken over by his love for him, is also fine acting. So many films of no significance , with bad acting, bad scripts and nothing much to commend them, are available . Surely the film company must realise what a commercial success this would be. PLEASE let's have a DVD.