The Movie “Tomorrow”

This came to mind from a book I was reading, probably aided by Robert Duval’s somewhat recent death.  Duval is particularly known for his work in the Godfather series and Lonesome Dove, but he was an outstanding actor in many movies.  My favorite among his many works is a little known film called Tomorrow, made in 1972.  I strongly encourage you to watch it; I believe you will be as impressed as I was.  I am sure it is available on Prime or Netflix or other sources.

The basic plot, not to deliver too much of a spoiler, revolves around a jury in a murder trial in the rural South, with one juror, played by Duval, refusing to vote to acquit the defendant in a murder trial in which the victim was widely regarded as worthless and deserving of being murdered.  It turns out that Duva, took in the victim’s destitute pregnant mother, who later died when the boy was young, and Duval promised to raise him and was raising him happily.  The mother’s brothers, who were pretty worthless themselves, seized the boy and brought him up to be the scum he pretty much was.

The story always stuck with me because while there may be some people who are bad at birth, some genetic flaw that leads to psychopathology, most people’s character is a product of their upbringing, and in particular, how much love and nurturing did they get.  Duval’s character knew that that little boy could have been an upstanding and productive citizen if raised by Duval.   The film and Duval’s portrayal are simply heart-wrenching.  A classic that should get far more love than it does.