Das Versprechen des Elmer Jackson

This portrayal of a depression era worker, left to bring up his children after his wife died is extremely moving. It is well acted, and you really feel for the extremely frustrating time the hero encounters while he tried to re-group his whole family who are unceremoniously removed "into care". The children endure horrific abuse, but, eventually Mark Harmon, whose acting is excellent in this movie, manages to bring all of his children home. UPDATE: September 2012 - for all those who want to acquire this movie - there are dvds available on ebay. Not sure why IMDb wants me to make this review longer - it was shorter before I added the update, and yet now apparently it isn't long enough. it's long enough to tell people how greatly moving this story is. One of my all time favourite movies

I hate that this movie is not available anywhere because I would definately add it to my movie collection. Every time I saw this movie it made me cry because instead of the family services helping the father in his time of need, they made his situation worse by taking his children away. This story is similar to what's going on today-DCFS is so quick to take children from their homes and place them with strangers instead of really showing compassion on the troubled parent. Mark Harmon really did a great performance, as I really wasn't aware of him prior to this movie.

When I first viewed the movie After the Promise over fifteen years ago I was a teenager and I have never forgotten the movie nor it's impact on my life, softening my heart enabling me to believe that there is a powerful unconditional love that exists in the uni verse. I saw it on video with my younger sister we both cried plenty throughout the movie. Later that year while visiting relatives in Adelaide for Christ mas we hired it out from a video rental shop to show a couple of cousins the movie, they too cried. I hope to be able to acquire a video or DVD of excellent quality some day to show others the movie. It is an amazing movie that is an amazing true story full of faith, love and hope. All the child actors and the leading role of Mark Harmon were brilliant. Mark Harmon has had an awesome career and I pray that the child actors have also had blessed and fulfilled lives. Laura H - Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia.

We are all victims of "circumstances," trying to cope as best we can with forces beyond our control that may determine the course our lives take, for better or worse. That is why virtually everyone will be touched by this heart-rending picture, a story of decent people trapped by conditions that turn them into victims. There is no happy ending - only a partially satisfying resolution of a struggle which demonstrates the courage and determination that people must sometimes look for within themselves, and hope to find.

Everything about this film is handled with the extreme sensitivity its theme deserves.

My name is Brittney Armstrong. I am the grand-daughter of Ellis Melvin Armstrong. My grandmother Sheila was once married to Ellis, She has told me the whole story of the Armstrong's and my grandfather. I believe this story with my heart. I never got to meet my grandfather, He was not around in my day, and i have seen this movie and loved it. My grandmother has pointed out some things that have changed in the movie but overall i believe it is true. If anyone see's this posting of the Armstrong's please contact me on facebook or other ways. My facebook name is Brittney Armstrong Picture of my fiancé and I. I live in Madras, Oregon. Please contact me i would love to meet some family.