Promise at Dawn
BiographyDrama
A Soviet silent-film actress (Melina Mercouri) raises her illegitimate son, who becomes the writer Romain Gary (Assaf Dayan).
Director
Jules Dassin
Writers
Jules Dassin, Romain Gary, Samuel A. Taylor
Stars
Melina Mercouri, Assi Dayan, Didier Haudepin
Release Date
November 25, 1970
Language
English
Country
France, United States
🎯 2
Nominations
💬 6
Reviews
🎭 Top Cast
Melina Mercouri
as Nina Kacewa
Assi Dayan
as Romain Kacew age 25
👤
Didier Haudepin
as Romain Kacew age 15
👤
François Raffoul
as Romain Kacew age 9
Despo Diamantidou
as Aniela
Jean Martin
as Igor Igorevitch
Fernand Gravey
as Jean-Michel Serusier
👤
Jacqueline Porel
as Madame Mailer
Elspeth March
as Fat Woman
Maria Machado
as Nathalie Lissenko
💰 Box Office
$433,740
Domestic Gross
🎬 Technical Specs
Sound
Mono
Color
Color
Production
Nathalie Productions
🏷️ Keywords
original author as characterwriterforeign language adaptationtravelsingle mother
🎯 Categories
BiographyDrama
⭐ Featured Review
Mercouri hams it up
"This movie should have been called An overbearing mother. Not very enjoyable as Melina Mercouri just kills every scene with her overacting. Filmed in different styles (sometimes like a silent movie) in which it tries to reproduce the Twenties setting. The music by the usual dependable Delerue is also a disappointment...."
💡 Did You Know?
Vittorio De Sica was originally signed to direct, and he planned for either Ingrid Bergman or Ava Gardner to star.
📖 Synopsis
A Soviet silent-film actress (Melina Mercouri) raises her illegitimate son, who becomes the writer Romain Gary (Assaf Dayan).