The Promise of Love

Last updated
The Promise of Love
The promise of love print ad 1980.jpg
Print advertisement
GenreDrama
Romance
Written by Harry Longstreet
Renee Longstreet
Carol Saraceno
Directed by Don Taylor
Starring Valerie Bertinelli
Shelley Long
Craig T. Nelson
Music by Paul Chihara
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerPierre Cossette
ProducersJay Benson
Carol Saraceno (co-producer)
Production locationsMarine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California
CinematographyDonald H. Birnkrant
EditorAnthony DiMarco
Running time96 minutes
Production companyPierre Cossette Enterprises
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseNovember 11, 1980 (1980-11-11)

The Promise of Love is a 1980 American made-for-television romantic drama film directed by Don Taylor. The film was originally titled Personal Effects. [1]

Contents

Plot

Starting in 1967 Oceanside, Kathy Emilio is a high school senior who, soon after graduation, marries her sweetheart, a Marine named Chuck Wakeman. Their lives as newlyweds is short-lived, as he is ordered to serve in Vietnam. During his absence, she spends her time at the local recreation center and befriends her neighbor Lorraine Simpson, whose husband is also away to fight in the war. When Kathy is informed that her husband has been killed, she is devastated and loses all lust for life. Her parents notice that she is unable to deal with his death and she joins a war widow support program. Her parents want her to move back to their house, but she refuses to.

At the urging of her family and friends, Kathy tries to adjust to normal life again, but she has trouble hiding the fact that she still feels lost. She is ordered to leave the apartment she lived in with her late husband, because they are meant for Marine Corps families only. She reluctantly packs to leave the only place that reminds her of Chuck and seeks refuge at the local swimming pool. There, she is noticed by Sam Daniels, the owner of the recreation center who was just closing up. Knowing about her past, he assumes that she is trying to commit suicide, despite her claims that she wasn't. Sympathizing with her, he offers Kathy a job as a swimming instructor. Although it doesn't pay well, she accepts the job.

When she tells her parents, they react enthusiastically, until she reveals that she is moving in with Lorraine, thereby not returning home. At the pool, she impresses the staff and is promoted to being a life guard. She soon becomes happier and grows closer to Sam. One evening, they get drunk and kiss. This makes her feel guilty, thinking she is somehow cheating on Chuck, who has been dead for only four months. She contacts a psychologist, who helps her to move on with her life. Before spending the night with him, Kathy admits to Sam that she only feels happy when she is around him. The next morning, she realizes that she isn't ready for a relationship. and turns back to her parents. She apologizes to them for her behavior, but tells them that they can't feel sorry for her. In the end, she leaves town to attend college.

Cast

Related Research Articles

<i>The Happy Ending</i> 1969 film by Richard Brooks

The Happy Ending is a 1969 drama film written and directed by Richard Brooks, which tells the story of a repressed housewife who longs for liberation from her husband and daughter. It stars Jean Simmons, John Forsythe, Shirley Jones, Lloyd Bridges and Teresa Wright.

<i>Battle Cry</i> (film) 1955 film by Raoul Walsh

Battle Cry is a 1955 Warnercolor film, starring Van Heflin, Aldo Ray, James Whitmore, Tab Hunter, Nancy Olson, Anne Francis, Dorothy Malone, Raymond Massey, and Mona Freeman in CinemaScope. The film is based on the 1953 novel by former Marine Leon Uris, who also wrote the screenplay, and was produced and directed by Raoul Walsh. The film was shot at Camp Pendleton, California, and featured a large amount of cooperation from the United States Marine Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bree Van de Kamp</span> Fictional character on Desperate Housewives

Bree Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. She was played by actress Marcia Cross, who received multiple awards and nominations for her portrayal, including an Emmy Award nomination, three Golden Globe Award nominations, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Cross' portrayal of Bree was widely praised by critics and fans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denise Fox</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Denise Fox is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Diane Parish. She made her first appearance on 11 May 2006 and temporarily left EastEnders in early 2008 to give birth to her second child. Her leave-taking had coincided with the departures of Matt Di Angelo, Phil Daniels and Kellie Shirley. She returned to Walford on 6 June 2008. This is Parish's second role in EastEnders, as she previously played singer Lola Christie in 1998.

<i>In Search of Dr. Seuss</i> 1994 American television film

In Search of Dr. Seuss is a 1994 American television film chronicling the adventures of a news reporter, Kathy Lane, who enters the world of Dr. Seuss by opening a magical book. Also starring in the film were Matt Frewer, Christopher Lloyd, Andrea Martin, David Paymer, Patrick Stewart, Andraé Crouch, Robin Williams, and Eileen Brennan.

"The Telltale Moozadell" is the 35th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the ninth of the show's third season. It was written by Michael Imperioli and directed by Dan Attias, and originally aired on April 22, 2001.

<i>If There Be Thorns</i> 1981 novel by Virginia C. Andrews

If There Be Thorns is a novel by Virginia C. Andrews which was published in 1981. It is the third book in the Dollanganger series. The story takes place in the year 1982. A Lifetime movie of the same name premiered on April 5, 2015.

<i>There Goes the Neighborhood</i> (film) 1992 American film by Bill Phillips

There Goes the Neighborhood, released as Paydirt in most foreign countries, is a 1992 comedy film directed by Bill Phillips. The film tells a story of a dying prisoner who whispers the location of hidden loot to the facility's psychologist Willis Embry, and, separately, three prison escapees, who all head to New Jersey to find it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Humphrey</span> Fictional character

Daniel Randolph Humphrey is a fictional character from the Gossip Girl franchise.

<i>Moms Dead Upset</i> South Korean TV series or program

Mom's Dead Upset is a 2008 South Korean television series starring Kim Hye-ja, Lee Soon-jae, Baek Il-seob, Shin Eun-kyung, and Ryu Jin. It aired on KBS2 from February 2 to September 28, 2008 on Saturdays and Sundays at 19:55 for 66 episodes. The drama attracted record-breaking ratings, peaking at 42.7% on the September 21 episode.

<i>The Lucky One</i> (novel) Novel by Nicholas Sparks

The Lucky One is a 2008 romance novel by American writer Nicholas Sparks. U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his first deployment in the Iraq War. He carries the photo in his pocket and soon wins a streak of poker games, then survives a battle that kills two of his closest buddies. His best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph, his lucky charm.

<i>Away We Go</i> 2009 American film

Away We Go is a 2009 American romantic road comedy-drama film directed by Sam Mendes and written by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida. The film's two leads are John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph. It is Mendes's first film without Thomas Newman's collaboration.

<i>Here I Am a Stranger</i> 1939 film by Roy Del Ruth

Here I Am a Stranger is a 1939 American drama film directed by Roy Del Ruth and written by Sam Hellman and Milton Sperling. The film stars Richard Greene and Richard Dix as son and father. It was based on the short story of the same name by Gordon Malherbe Hillman. The film was released on September 28, 1939 by 20th Century-Fox.

"The Girl on the Bus" is the twelfth episode of the thirtieth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 651st episode overall. The episode was directed by Chris Clements and written by Joel H. Cohen. It aired in the United States on Fox on January 13, 2019.

References