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Resting Place

Play trailer Poster for Resting Place TV-G 1986 1h 40m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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During the 1970s, racial tensions erupt in a small Georgia town when a black lieutenant who died a hero in Vietnam is refused burial in the cemetery. Maj. Kendall Laird (John Lithgow) travels to Georgia with the body. He attempts to comfort the soldier's grieving parents, Luther (Morgan Freeman) and Ada (CCH Pounder), and convince the white townspeople the deceased officer deserves their respect. However, Laird is disturbed when he learns the true story behind the officer's death.

Audience Reviews

View All (7) audience reviews
a.l.jude p The message this gives so powerful, yet sad how the south had been in 60s to 70s. Plot makes the message so intense in a slow burning pace, and it is the hallmark of this movie. Suffice to say a brilliant piece of work with brilliant portraits by the entire cast. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review kevin c Made for TV movie sees John Lithgow playing a military officer who is the liaison to a young soldier's family after being killed in action. Although issues come up with the burial of him in their small southern home town, causing him to look deeper into the incident causing his death. Morgan Freeman and CCH Pounder play the grieving parents. Well made flick. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review isla s I found this a very thought provoking and sobering watch. Its sad that there were clearly quite racist tendencies still around in America at the time its set in, the early 1970s, although I suppose it wouldn't really surprise people nowadays but I felt John Lithgow gave a great performance as the survivor assistance officer Major Kendall Laird, who has the hard job of trying to figure out what happened to the officer - what truths lie beneath, as it were. It may be a TV film and have had a small(ish) budget but I felt this was quite a memorable film, providing plenty of food for thought. If anything it felt frustrating as I was desperate to figure out what had happened - I suppose in a sense it did keep me on the edge of my seat, not so much in terms of fast paced action but in terms of the slowly developing story coming to light. This is a good film, well worth seeking out, in my opinion (if not least for John Lithgow's performance). Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Weak script is overcome with the strong premise, acting, & direction. Feels like a TV-movie-of-the-week, but don't let that fool you. This is a powerful drama - especially for those that may have lost friends or family to combat. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member This little made for TV film is absolutely average, but John Lithgow's performance was great. I do love me some good old-fashioned southern douchbag racism. If I was the black feller, having died "serving my country", I'd have asked to be buried in a different country. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Important issues re-examined through an army story, but not in a groundbreaking way. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Resting Place

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis During the 1970s, racial tensions erupt in a small Georgia town when a black lieutenant who died a hero in Vietnam is refused burial in the cemetery. Maj. Kendall Laird (John Lithgow) travels to Georgia with the body. He attempts to comfort the soldier's grieving parents, Luther (Morgan Freeman) and Ada (CCH Pounder), and convince the white townspeople the deceased officer deserves their respect. However, Laird is disturbed when he learns the true story behind the officer's death.
Director
John Korty
Producer
Robert Huddleston
Screenwriter
Walter Halsey Davis
Production Co
Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Marian Rees Associates
Rating
TV-G
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Apr 5, 2005
Runtime
1h 40m