Promise at Dawn (1970 film)

Promise at Dawn (French: La Promesse de l'aube) is a 1970 American drama film directed by Jules Dassin and starring Melina Mercouri, Dassin's wife. It is based on the 1960 novel Promise at Dawn (French: La Promesse de l'aube) by Romain Gary and the subsequent play by Samuel A. Taylor.

Promise at Dawn
Film poster
Directed byJules Dassin
Written byJules Dassin
Romain Gary (novel)
Andrew Sarris
Samuel A. Taylor (play)
Produced byJules Dassin
StarringMelina Mercouri
Assi Dayan
CinematographyJean Badal
Edited byRobert Lawrence
Music byGeorges Delerue
Production
company
Nathalie Productions
Distributed byAVCO Embassy Pictures
Release dates
  • November 25, 1970 (1970-11-25) (Paris)
  • December 16, 1970 (1970-12-16) (Los Angeles)
[1]
Running time
99 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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The film follows author Romain Gary as he recalls his growing up with his Lithuanian-born mother. The two leave Vilnius, Lithuania for France, where they settle in Paris. As twenty years pass, they encounter social change, age, different convictions, poverty and the slow approach of World War II.

Cast

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Production

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The film was shot in Nice, Paris and the USSR.[1] Dassin broke both his legs after falling over in October 1969 after three days of filming in Nice.[2]

Avco Embassy president Joseph E. Levine filmed a cameo for the film.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Promise at Dawn at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
  2. ^ a b "Dassin Breaks Both Legs In Freak Studio Accident". Variety. October 8, 1969. p. 2.
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