A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries Movie Review 1998

American novelist and WWII vet Bill Willis (Kristofferson) lives in 1960s Paris with his sexy, free-thinking and -drinking wife Marcella (Hershey), their adopted French son Billy (Gruen), and teenage daughter Channe, the center of the story. Her relationships with her brother and a rude (yet likable) classmate (Costanzo) provide much of the film's emotional punch. Bill develops heart problems and takes the family home to the States. Against the backdrop of social and political turmoil, Bill's core values help the family through their own challenges. Ivory and Merchant make an admirable leap into the 20th century. Unfortunately, the film's episodic jumps are too confusing to make it a complete success. Based on the 1990 book by Kaylie Jones, daughter of novelist James Jones.

Distribution

Universal Studios Home Video, 100 Universal City Plz., Universal City, CA 91608-9955, Phone: (818)777-1000, Fax: (818)866-1483, URL: http://www.universalstudios.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS
Running time 128 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Producers: Merchant Ivory, Dads, Coming of Age, France, Adoption & Orphans, Brothers & Sisters

Screenplay

James Ivory, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

Cast

Kris Kristofferson, Barbara Hershey, Leelee Sobieski, Jesse Bradford, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Dominique Blanc, Jane Birkin, Virginie Ledoyen, Isaach de Bankole, Samuel Gruen, Luisa Conlon

Cinematography

Jean-Marc Fabre

Director

James Ivory

Music

Richard Robbins

Producer

Ismail Merchant, Merchant-Ivory Productions, October Films