A woman enters the afterlife briefly after a car crash that kills her husband. But she survives - and finds herself possessing strange powers.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations.
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Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Ellen Burstyn | ... |
Edna
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| Sam Shepard | ... |
Cal
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| Richard Farnsworth | ... |
Esco
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| Roberts Blossom | ... |
John Harper
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| Clifford David | ... |
George
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Pamela Payton-Wright | ... |
Margaret
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| Jeffrey DeMunn | ... |
Joe
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| Eva Le Gallienne | ... |
Grandma Pearl
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| Lois Smith | ... |
Kathy
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| Madeleine Sherwood | ... |
Ruth
(as Madeleine Thornton-Sherwood)
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| Richard Hamilton | ... |
Earl Carpenter
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| Carlin Glynn | ... |
Suzy Kroll
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| Lane Smith | ... |
Don
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| Penelope Allen | ... |
Ellie
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| Ebbe Roe Smith | ... |
Hank Peterson
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John Tillinger | ... |
Dr. Herron
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Trazana Beverley | ... |
Dr. Ellen Baxter
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| Ralph Roberts | ... |
Buck
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| George Sperdakos | ... |
Dr. Hankins
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| Bernard Behrens | ... |
Dr. Fisher
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James Blendick | ... |
1st Scientist
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| Vernon Weddle | ... |
2nd Scientist
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David Calkins | ... |
Man in Bar
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Harvey Christiansen | ... |
Ned
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Therese East | ... |
Ada Carpenter
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Lou Fant | ... |
Harvey
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| Jessie Lee Fulton | ... |
Becky
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David Haney | ... |
Jack Coldren
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Claudette Harrell | ... |
Woman in Dance Hall
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James N. Harrell | ... |
Doc Lurkin
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Jennifer McAllister | ... |
Joanie
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Don Michaelson | ... |
Doctor
(as Don Michaelson M.D.)
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A.G. Mills | ... |
Uncle Ely
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Zeke Mills | ... |
Uncle Ely
(as A.G. Mills)
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Edith Mills | ... |
Aunt Carrie
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Eva Mokry | ... |
Daisy Coldren
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Edward Pflaum | ... |
Gay Keener
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Elfrieda Russell | ... |
Zee
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| Shane Sinutko | ... |
Skateboard Boy
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Tommy Splittgerber | ... |
Man in Dance Hall
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Douglas G. Jacobson | ... |
Man in Dance Hall
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Joshua Dean Stewart | ... |
Bobby
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Ruth N. Straw | ... |
Avarilla
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| Tom Taylor | ... |
Clyde
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Brett Lamar Turner | ... |
Lester Coldren
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Sylvia Walden | ... |
Louise
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Carol Williard | ... |
Nurse
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| Tracy E. Wilson | ... |
Lizzie Coldren
(as Tracy Wilson)
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| William D. Wittliff | ... |
Man in Bar
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William Ellis Smith | ... |
Man in Truck
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Sally Bondi | ... |
Sarah - Woman at Healing (uncredited)
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Robert W. Johnson | ... |
Young Man in Dance Hall (uncredited)
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Greg Scholl | ... |
Boy with Harmonica (uncredited)
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| Dan'l Terry | ... |
Polio Survivor at Church (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Daniel Petrie | ||
Written by
| Lewis John Carlino | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Renée Missel | ... | producer |
| Howard Rosenman | ... | producer |
Music by
| Maurice Jarre | ||
Cinematography by
| Mario Tosi | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Rita Roland | ... | (edited by) |
Editorial Department
| Jimmy Giritlian | ... | assistant film editor |
| Virgil A. Tanner | ... | color timer |
Casting By
| William Batliner | ||
| Robert J. LaSanka | ||
| Scott Rudin | ||
Production Design by
| Paul Sylbert | ||
Art Direction by
| Edwin O'Donovan | ||
Set Decoration by
| Bruce Weintraub | ... | (set decorations) |
Makeup Department
| Barbara Ronci | ... | hair stylist |
| William Tuttle | ... | makeup artist |
| Thomas R. Burman | ... | special makeup effects artist (uncredited) |
| Jim Gillespie | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Frederic W. Brost | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Craig Huston | ... | first assistant director |
| Jerram A. Swartz | ... | second assistant director (as Jerram Swartz) |
| Daniel Attias | ... | trainee assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Donald B. Nunley | ... | property master |
| Ron Saks | ... | title design/visual effects |
| Nancy Mickelberry | ... | set designer (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Bob Cornett | ... | sound effects editor (as Robert Cornett) |
| John K. Kean | ... | sound (as John Kean) |
| Richard Portman | ... | sound rerecordist |
Special Effects by
| Nick Carey | ... | special effects |
| Joseph Michael Tenga | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Richard Greenberg | ... | special visual sequences |
| Robert M. Greenberg | ... | special visual sequences (as Robert Greenberg) |
| Tony Silver | ... | special visual sequences |
| Joel Hynek | ... | visual effects supervisor (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Patty Elder | ... | stunts |
| Sandra Lee Gimpel | ... | stunts (as Sandy Gimpel) |
| Leslie Hoffman | ... | stunts |
| Carey Loftin | ... | stunt coordinator / stunts |
| Bobby Porter | ... | stunts |
| Mic Rodgers | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Armando Contreras | ... | grip |
| Ralph Gerling | ... | camera operator |
| Jake Jarrell | ... | gaffer |
| Tommy Klines | ... | second assistant camera |
| Tom D. May | ... | key grip (as Tom May) |
| Ed Nielsen | ... | assistant cameraman (as Ed Nielson) |
| Michael Orefice | ... | best boy (uncredited) |
| Ron Saks | ... | additional photography (uncredited) |
| Ronald Vidor | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Liz Keigley | ... | location casting |
| Shari Rhodes | ... | location casting |
| Scott Rudin | ... | casting: New York |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Margo Baxley | ... | costume supervisor |
| Lorry Richter | ... | costume supervisor |
| Andrea E. Weaver | ... | key costumer: women (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Richard Bowden | ... | assistant: Mr. Jarre |
| Jeff Carson | ... | music editor: La Da Productions (as Jeff K. Carson) |
| Maurice Jarre | ... | conductor |
| Richard Bowden | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Ethmer Roten | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Tommy Tedesco | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Garry Ulmer | ... | music recording mixer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Joanie Blum | ... | script supervisor (as Joan Blum) |
Transportation Department
| Dan Anglin | ... | transportation captain |
Additional Crew
| Rosalyn Bruyere | ... | technical advisor (as Rev. Rosalyn Bruyere) |
| Phill Norman | ... | title designer |
| Ross Reynolds | ... | helicopter pilot (as Ross H. Reynolds) |
| Barry Weintraub | ... | medical advisor (as Barry Weintraub M.D.) |
| Sam Williamson | ... | animal trainer |
| Bundy Chanock | ... | set medic (uncredited) |
| Leslie Hoffman | ... | technical advisor (uncredited) |
| Ron Saks | ... | title art (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Universal Pictures (1980) (United States) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1981) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1980) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1981) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures (1982) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1983) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- MCA Home Video (1987) (United States) (VHS)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2010) (United States) (DVD) (Universal Vault Series)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2019) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Elephant Films (2019) (France) (video) (HD release)
- Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
- CIC Video (West Germany) (VHS)
- The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Digital Equipment (acknowledgement: computer equipment for university laboratory courtesy of)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- La Da Productions (music editor)
- Universal Title (titles & optical effects)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Edna Mae Macaulay experiences the afterlife for a brief time after a car accident that kills her husband. As she begins her long process of physical healing, she discovers that she has the ability to heal physical infirmities. While most people simply accept her gift, her lover (Sam Shepard) becomes mentally unbalanced and dangerous because she does not place the healings within a religious context.
Written by Michael Cieslak |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | It's not supposed to happen. So be there when it does. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $6,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $308,068, 28 Sep 1980 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Martin Scorsese was reportedly healed from asthma by the real-life healer who inspired this film. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Reflections of the Mind (1985). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Old Chisholm Trail (Come a Ti Yi Yippee Yippee Yay) See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Stills of different portions of the movie are shown during the credits. The final still is a part not previously seen and it shows the rock garden behind the gas station which is referenced earlier in the movie. See more » |
| Quotes |
Esco Brown:
Go carefully, with peace in your heart, with love in your eyes, and with laughter on your tongue. And if life don't hand you nothing but lemons, you just make you some lemonade. That's from Book Brown, Chapter One, Verse One. See more » |