Testament | |
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DVD cover
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Directed by | Lynne Littman |
Produced by | Jonathan Bernstein |
Screenplay by | John Sacret Young |
Based on |
The Last Testament by Carol Amen |
Starring | |
Music by | James Horner |
Cinematography | Steven Poster |
Edited by | Suzanne Pettit |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date
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November 4, 1983 |
Running time
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90 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Testament is a 1983 drama film based on a three page long story titled "The Last Testament" by Carol Amen (1934-1987), directed by Lynne Littman and written by John Sacret Young. The film tells the story of how one small suburban town near the San Francisco Bay Area slowly falls apart after a nuclear war destroys outside civilization.
Originally produced for the PBS series American Playhouse, it was given a theatrical release instead by Paramount Pictures (although PBS did subsequently air it a year later). The cast includes Jane Alexander, William Devane, Leon Ames, Lukas Haas, Roxana Zal and, in small roles shortly before a rise in their stardom, Kevin Costner and Rebecca De Mornay. Alexander was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.
The Wetherly family—husband Tom (William Devane), wife Carol (Jane Alexander), and children Brad (Ross Harris), Mary Liz (Roxana Zal), and Scottie (Lukas Haas)—live in the fictional suburb of Hamelin, California, within a 90-minute drive of San Francisco, where Tom works.