A Son's Promise

The true story of a young son who promises his dying mom to look after his younger brothers when she dies. The film follows his struggles as he tries to keep his family together through immense hardship.

A Son's Promise is a typical feel good true movie but don't let that put you off, this is one of the better ones. This is a tough role but the very likable Ricky Schroder excels as the young man showing maturity beyond his years as he works himself to the bone to provide for his brothers.

This is an inspirational story and is dealt with well here. It is always entertaining and thanks to Schroder you feel engaged with the lead character and his problems. It all builds to a satisfying ending.

As far as made for TV movies go this is one of the better ones I've seen.

This is definitely a true story! Terry was in my classes & Tommy was a couple years behind us. These boys were very quiet in school, until I got to know them. Unfortunately they never opened up & told me about their home life problems. Looking back, I sure wish I would've known more, bc my family would have helped. I remember that I saw Tommy a few years after the movie was released & he said that Terry was too afraid to let anyone know that their dad wasn't ever home. That's why there wasn't ever an investigation, bc once their mom died their legal guardian was automatically their father. I'm unsure why the movie says they went to Forsyth County schools, bc I'm positive that they actually went to Hall County schools in Gainesville Georgia.

Where's the Social Service? Also, when their mother died, all the authorities related got be reported, where's the funeral money to either bury or cremate their mother? Once the mother died, the hospital had to report to the authorities; even she died at home, the police had to come over to verify the death and the cause of the death. These procedures are the basic legal system that existed and being carried out faithfully and continuously, not even you promised to your dying mom that you, as the eldest and big brother in the family would be able to avoid these legal formalities. It's totally unrealistic and highly unlikely that would have happened in the American legal system. Without the logic reality, how could be possible it's a true story?

Georgia teenager Rick Schroder (as Terry) promises his dying mother he will look after his six little brothers after she dies. Mother wants the boys to remain together, and stay in school. When the seven sons' caring grandfather also dies, times get really tough for Mr. Schroder, who has to assume the paternal role. The boys' real father, interstate truck driver father David Andrews (as Wayne O'Kelley), is still alive - but he spends all his time on the road, in jail, or drinking alcohol...

As the responsible family member, Schroder must take teenage brother Stephen Dorff (as Charles) to the woodshed...

In a big symbolic moment, Schroeder whips young Dorff's buttocks with their grandfather's belt, for smoking in the chicken shack. Due to the camera angle, it's safe to say Dorff didn't pull down his pants or suffer any injury. Schroeder also has trouble with rebellious brother Andrew Lowery (as Tommy). Helping manage this large family are sympathetic lawyer Veronica Cartwright (as Dorothy Donaldson), slick community organizer Boyd Gains (as Dan Weston), and God.

**** A Son's Promise (3/5/90) John Korty ~ Rick Schroder, Stephen Dorff, Veronica Cartwright, David Andrews

This movie is a good one. Rick Schroder is very believable as Terry. A Boy who had to become a Man all too soon. I highly recommend this movie. This is a story of a promise that a seventeen year old boy made to his dying mother, the promise of keeping his brothers' together. This movie made me cry. This is one of Rick Schroder's best performances in my opinion. I hope people watch this movie, as it was very good. A Son's Promise is a movie that hopefully will be around for a while. And hopefully everyone who watches this agrees with me. I give this movie a ten. I'd stop typing but there has to be ten lines of text lol.