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.
- Awards
- 2 wins
- Dick Mead
- (as Ronald Lee Ermey)
- Eli
- (as Khaz B.)
- Boy #1
- (as Josh McClerren)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis 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.
- GoofsIn 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.
But the man he is posing as must be prosecuted as a criminal... the imposter can continue the ruse and die for the crime, or confess his true identity, and undo his love, his work, his community. He must prove to the court that he is indeed Jack Sommersby, and must extract Fosters (his wife's) testimony, against her will, that he is Jack Sommersby, because as Jack, he will die. A few grand lines... when Foster must say that he is indeed her husband, that she never loved "Jack the way I loved you" and Gere, in his cell, asks her to be there at his hanging "I can do this thing if you are there."
I've enjoyed it each time I've seen it, and it brings grand tears each time.
- gberke
- Apr 17, 2001
- How long is Sommersby?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- A Stranger Within
- Filming locations
- Lexington, Virginia, USA(street scenes)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $50,081,992
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $8,104,624
- Feb 7, 1993
- Gross worldwide
- $140,081,992
- Runtime1 hour 54 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
Contribute to this page
![Jodie Foster and Richard Gere in Sommersby (1993)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BY2M1ZGJkMTItM2QwYS00Nzg0LWE2NjMtNWY1NTg1YzRkNWFlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjMwMjk0MTQ@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,0,90,133_.jpg)