MovieChat Forums > The Promise (1979) Discussion > Face: old/new

Face: old/new

posted 16 years ago by thbryn
12 replies | jump to latest

I know you are supposed to overlook the obvious, but I wonder if it had been done today, KQ's repaired look would have been different.

To look exactly the same and not be recognized was......difficult to believe.

[–] bws042257 16 years ago

i can't argue with that..it's the weak part of the movie...her voice is the same, too...

but sometimes you have to suspend belief, more or less, to make a movie work...this is such a case...

[–] thbryn 16 years ago

To get around it, I might have her go in the the Op room -post accident- as Gabrielle Anwar, and finally get well emerging from the bandages as Claire Forlani, if I was remaking it.

[–] jessie_08 15 years ago

Would someone who had their face horribly disfigured like Nancy in the movie, look so damn beautiful after having plastic surgery? Also, the credits say that Kathleen played the role of Nancy before and after the surgery. I guess they must have digitally fixed that.

[–] rob-949 16 years ago

Even Michael Hillyard says to "Marie" "I can't believe I didn't see it before" once he realizes. It could have been handled better, but the suggestion is that his grief over his loss kept him from seeing what was right before him. Not credible, but if we're going to start picking it apart what would be left? It's a silly, SILLY movie, and what holds it together is a great look, appealing actors, a great soundtrack and theme song, and our fascination with the idea that we can reinvent ourselves, as the Kathleen Quinlan character did. Plus she was very cool -- lived in San Francisco, had an arty life, worked in an old fire house, looked cool in clothes, had GREAT looking smoky eyes and a voice to match, and had a lot of grace about her. (So why they gave her an AMC Pacer of all things to drive, I'll never know.) :)

[–] thbryn 16 years ago

"AMC Pacer"
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Must have been a product buy: She should have had a Karmann-Ghia or something.

[–] rob-949 16 years ago

I think the idea was she should have something to carry around big prints of her work in, but in THIS ONE area they decide to introduce a bit of reality? Come on. That was a dog of a car for sure.

[–] rob-949 15 years ago

She doesn't look exactly the same. Pre-accident she has no makeup, a simple (dated) hairstyle (even then), and unconvincing fake teeth that give her one hell of an overbite.

The real giveaway should have been that fabulous smokey voice she has. It's one of the main things I really like about Kathleen Quinlan, though I do love how they made her up as post-accident Nancy/Marie.

[–] renata77 12 years ago

I agree. Those distractingly awful fake teeth, lack of makeup and different hairstyle do make her look quite a bit different. Add to that the fact that she acts like a wistful and naive girl pre-accident and takes on a mature and edgy personality post accident make it a little more believable that he wouldn't recognize her - for about five minutes, lol. But she's outright homely in the beginning, and beautiful after her "reconstruction."

[–] silvereagle2061 11 years ago

The teeth is what was more noticeable.

I don't know a lot about anything but I know a little about practically everything
Vincent Price

[–] LordManhammer 9 years ago

Was it the fake teeth that made her talk funny? Pre-accident, she barely moved her upper lip when she talked, which made her look a bit like a mummy.

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"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"--Pres. Merkin Muffley

[–] Iwishyouwell 11 years ago

I just finished this film. I don't think she looked the same post-surgery AT ALL. I put the film on without knowing who was in the cast. I didn't recognize Nancy as Kathleen Quinlan until after the surgery. I had ZERO idea who she was even though I know Quinlan's face well. My wife watched with me and said "wow, she looks amazing, totally different".

[–] 11 years ago

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