Keeping the Promise

1997

Action / Drama

6
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 56%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 56% · 500 ratings
IMDb Rating 6.3/10 10 380 380

Plot summary

A colonial family seeks a better life in Maine's wilderness in this powerful adventure. When William Hallowell leaves behind 13-year-old son Matt to safeguard their claim, the boy relies on his new friendship with the Penobscot Indians for survival.

Director

Sheldon Larry Photo
Sheldon Larry

Top cast

Annette O'Toole Photo
Annette O'Toole as Anne Hallowell
Keith Carradine Photo
Keith Carradine as William (Will) Hallowell
Duke Redbird Photo
Duke Redbird as Medicine Man
David Cubitt Photo
David Cubitt as Boat Agent
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
838.95 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
29.97 fps
1 hr 30 min
Seeds 2
1.52 GB
1920*1080
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
29.97 fps
1 hr 30 min
Seeds 15

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by 7 / 10

An Enjoyable Family Movie

This was a fine family movie. The characters were full and compelling, the story was believable, and the film was uplifting and positive. The soundtrack was also excellent. While some have offered critical reviews citing authenticity issues (clothing not sufficiently soiled to be realistic, non-period word use, etc), I found these elements to be superficial in nature. Movies are forever offering "sanitized" views (i.e., actors hair is never mussed, facial bruising from fights is gone the next day--or never appears at all!), etc. I would hate to see people miss out on a thoroughly enjoyable movie for such extraneous concerns. I very much recommend this film for viewers of all ages.
Reviewed by 7 / 10

Good family movie!

Good family movie! This movie is a great movie for kids and also has a good storyline to go along with it... There is a good lesson to be learned along with the story.
Reviewed by 6 / 10

The micro-budget sequel to "Last of the Mohicans" (not really, but sort of)

Released in 1997, "The Sign of the Beaver" (aka "Keeping the Promise") stars Keith Carradine and Annette O'Toole as a couple who decide to move from Massachusetts to the wilderness of Maine about eight years after the French and Indian War in the 18th century. After building a small cabin in Maine, the father leaves his 13 year-old son (Brendan Fletcher) behind while he goes back to get the rest. As the family experiences hardships traveling to the cabin, the boy faces challenges with dubious frontiersmen and Natives alike. Gordon Tootoosis plays Sakniss and Maury Chaykin plays Loomis.The story takes place in the Northeast not long after the events of 1992's "The Last of the Mohicans," but it naturally lacks the spit and polish of that major production. The good news is that most of the principles offer great performances despite the limitations of the production. For instance, O'Toole, Carradine, Fletcher and Tootoosis do quality work here, especially the first two. The worst acting comes from Chaykin during the bear trap sequence. The score's great and the locations/sets/costumes are good, although the clothes sometimes look too new and colorful.To enjoy a movie like this you have to accept its low-budget limitations, like the bad acting noted above or the too-nice cabin interiors or some of the artificial-looking winter scenes at the end. If you can overlook these weaknesses and you appreciate frontier-oriented stories, this is a worthwhile movie. While touted as a "family" movie and G-rated, it's in some ways more hardcore and horrifying than most R-rated horror flicks because the struggles the people face really happened in that era. For instance, there's a death/grieving/venting scene that's potent. The screenplay was based on the children's historical novel by Elizabeth George Speare, but it contains adult-oriented elements. In other words, it's not just for kids. It's G-rated, but don't expect Disney.The film runs 95 minutes and was shot in Ontario.GRADE: B-
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