Drama based on a true story, starring Diane Keaton, Mel Gibson and Matthew Modine. Pittsburgh, 1901: while providing prison inmates with religious comfort, the warden's pallid wife, Kate Soffel, becomes fascinated by Ed and Jack Biddle, two brothers awaiting execution for murder. As Kate slowly falls in love with Ed, she decides to help the brothers escape.
Based on the true story of a prison warden's wife who fell in love with an inmate and plotted his escape, this turn-of-the-century costume romance is too dour for its own good. Australia's Gillian Armstrong directs the potentially passionate content with a cool detachment that mirrors the wintry landscapes across which the lovers flee, while Diane Keaton's contemporary style is also at odds with the piece. But there's plenty of appeal in the young Mel Gibson, appropriately seductive as the convicted murderer, and Matthew Modine is nicely cast as his dimwit brother.
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Kate Soffel | Diane Keaton |
| Ed Biddle | Mel Gibson |
| Jack Biddle | Matthew Modine |
| Peter Soffel | Edward Herrmann |
| Irene Soffel | Trini Alvarado |
| Margaret Soffel | Jennie Dundas |
| Eddie Soffel | Danny Corkill |
| Clarence Soffel | Harley Cross |
| Buck McGovern | Terry O'Quinn |
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Director | Gillian Armstrong |
