1 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
90 minutes exactly β the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#01
Testament
"They never had a chance to see their children grow up. To watch each other grow old. To fix up the house, to take that vacation. Because it only took an instant to shatter their dreams."
1983 1h 30m EN
π
6.4
MID
π₯
90%
CERTIFIED FRESH
π
71
METACRITIC
β
6.9
IMDB
β
6.4TMDB Β· 145π
90%Rotten Tomatoesβ71Metacriticβ
6.9IMDB Β· 7,406
DramaScience Fiction
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
It's just another day in the small town of Hamlin until something disastrous happens. Suddenly, news breaks that a series of nuclear warheads has been dropped along the Eastern Seaboard and, more locally, in California. As people begin coping with the devastating aftermath of the attacks β many suffer radiation poisoning β the Wetherly family tries to survive.
βThey never had a chance to see their children grow up. To watch each other grow old. To fix up the house, to take that vacation. Because it only took an instant to shatter their dreams.β
Cast
Jane Alexander
Carol Wetherly
William Devane
Tom Wetherly
Rossie Harris
Brad Wetherly
Roxana Zal
Mary Liz Wetherly
Lukas Haas
Scottie Wetherly
Philip Anglim
Hollis
Lilia Skala
Fania
Leon Ames
Henry Abhart
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Lynne Littman
- Writers
- Carol Amen, John Sacret Young
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts πΏ
2 / 8
MONEY
Did you know
Shot for just $1.5M β micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#02
3 / 8
ERA
Did you know
43 years old β old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Lynne Littman, shot by Steven Poster. Note their partnership β DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by James Horner. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Suzanne Pettit shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Jane Alexander and William Devane and Rossie Harris carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#07
8 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "They never had a chance to see their children grow up. To watch each other grow old. To fix up the house, to take that vacation. Because it only took an instant to shatter their dreams.".
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Lynne Littman directs. Steven Poster behind the camera. James Horner scores. Suzanne Pettit cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 190 minutes exactly β the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
- 2Shot for just $1.5M β micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
- 343 years old β old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 4Directed by Lynne Littman, shot by Steven Poster. Note their partnership β DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by James Horner. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Suzanne Pettit shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Jane Alexander and William Devane and Rossie Harris carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "They never had a chance to see their children grow up. To watch each other grow old. To fix up the house, to take that vacation. Because it only took an instant to shatter their dreams.".
- 9IMDB entry: tt0086429 β still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Steven Poster
- Original score
- James Horner
- Editing
- Suzanne Pettit
- Production design
- David Nichols
- Costume design
- Julie Weiss
- Makeup / hair
- Marilyn Poucher
- Stunt coordinator
- Jesse Wayne
- Runtime
- 90 min Β· 1h 30m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $1,500,000
- Box office
- $2,044,892
- Return
- 136% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- PG
- IMDB
- Testament (1983)
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 90% π Fresh
- Metacritic
- 71/100
- IMDB rating
- 6.9/10 Β· 7,406 votes
- MPAA
- PG
Awards
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 2 wins & 6 nominations total
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.
Also by
Lynne Littman
Stills Β· wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames β open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
American Playhouse
US
- EN
Entertainment Events
Paramount Pictures
US
Key crew
- Set DecorationWaldemar Kalinowski
- HairstylistMarilyn Poucher
- Associate ProducerAndrea Asimow
- Makeup ArtistTonya Wexler
- Second Assistant DirectorRichard Graves
- Additional PhotographyCharles Minsky
- First Assistant DirectorWilliam Hassell
- Stunt CoordinatorJesse Wayne
- Second Assistant DirectorRalph S. Singleton
- GafferRay Boyle
- First Assistant DirectorPeter Bogart
- CastingMargery Simkin
- ProducerLynne Littman
- EditorSuzanne Pettit
- ProducerJonathan Bernstein
- Production DesignDavid Nichols
- Special EffectsChuck E. Stewart
- Costume DesignJulie Weiss
- Art DirectionLinda Pearl
- Still PhotographerMelinda Sue Gordon
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- small town
- california
- nuclear war
- dystopia
- disaster
- based on short story
- woman director
Release history Β· US
When it landed
- Theatrical1983-11-04PG
Also known as
International titles
- Herança NuclearBR
- ν μ€ν°λ¨ΌνΈKR
- ν μ€νλ¨ΌνΈKR
- μ μΈKR
