Tender Mercies is a 1983 American drama film. Robert Duvall (pictured) plays Mac Sledge, a recovering alcoholic country music singer who seeks to turn his life around through his relationship with a young widow and her son in rural Texas. Duvall, who sang his own songs in the film, drove more than 600 miles (966 km) throughout the state, tape recording local accents and playing in country music bands to prepare for the role. He and director Bruce Beresford repeatedly clashed during production, at one point prompting Beresford to walk off the set and reportedly consider quitting. Themes include the importance of love and family, the possibility of spiritual resurrection amid death, and the concept of redemption through Mac Sledge's conversion to Christianity. Following poor test screening results, distributor Universal Pictures made little effort to publicize Tender Mercies, which Duvall attributed to the studio's lack of understanding of country music. Although unsuccessful at the box office, it was critically acclaimed and earned five Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Picture. Tender Mercies won Oscars for Best Original Screenplay for Horton Foote and Best Actor for Duvall.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tender_Mercies

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1808:

Charles IV of Spain abdicated in favour of his son, Ferdinand VII. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_IV_of_Spain

1915:

Pluto was photographed for the first time, 15 years before it was officially discovered by Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto

1962:

Highly influential American musician Bob Dylan released his eponymous debut album. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan

1978:

In response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the United Nations called on Israel to immediately withdraw its forces from Lebanon, and established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_425

2011:

Libyan civil war: The French Air Force launched Opération Harmattan, beginning foreign military intervention in Libya. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Op%C3%A9ration_Harmattan

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

vaguery: 1. (uncountable) Vagueness, the condition of being vague. 2. (countable) A vagueness, a thing which is vague, an example of vagueness. 3. (countable, in the plural) An eggcorn for vagaries. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vaguery

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The humblest citizen in all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause, is stronger than all the hosts of error. --William Jennings Bryan https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_Jennings_Bryan