Grace of My Heart

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Grace of My Heart

R

1996

1h 56m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Philadelphia teenager Edna Buxton wins a talent contest during the early rock 'n' roll era, changes her name to Denise Waverly and moves to New York City to make it big. Though she flops as a recording artist, fast-talking record producer Joel Miller recognizes her songwriting talent and teams her with struggling songsmith Howard Cassatt. The ups and downs of Denise's career parallel the tumult of the 1960s pop scene.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Feb 26, 2018

This is not the smoothest trip: the transitions are bumpy, the lip-synching's imperfect...But rough edges are more than offset by contagious vitality...It may not be precision-tooled, but it's triumphantly alive.

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Adam Mars-Jones

Independent (UK)

Nov 15, 2017

Edna Buxton... really wants to do is sing her own material, but there's no market for that in 1959. If her character were a song, you'd want her key changes to be less abrupt -- there's not much modulation.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

2.5/4

It's a big role and [Douglas is] equal to it -- but is the movie? I would have preferred a more limited story that went deeper, instead of a docudrama that covers so much ground, so relentlessly, that we grow weary.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Mar 11, 2026

5/5

a deft, intelligent movie that sets out a unique stall and offers a genuine, unfiltered independent view of women in the entertainment business…a love letter to creativity and a withering put-down of masculine control in the music industry….

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Sep 1, 2022

B

Anders explores things hardly any other director does.

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Sheila Reid

Women in the Life

May 16, 2022

Set in the late 50's and turbulent 60's, this is a rich reflection of the period in which a small town female singer/songwriter tries to make it big in show business.

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dave e

@caseyeisenman Oct 10, 2024

This was a great movie about music in general. Loosely based around Brian Wilson, I loved this film and have seen it many times.

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Steve D

@RT35616104 Feb 15, 2023

For me it just dragged.

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Feb 18, 2022

I absolutely love this movie and so does my family. It has a great storyline depicting the change in music in the late 50's early 60's their writers and producers. It deals with social issues in the US at the time how money and success then rarely equalled wealth. The music tracks are fabulous.

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jon c

Sep 14, 2021

The story of the teenage musician of the rock n' roll era directed by Alison Anders Illeana Douglas plays Edna Buxton alongside Matt Dillon, John Tuturro, Eric Stoltz, Bridget Fonda, and Bruce Davison After she wins a talent contest she changes her name to Denise Waverly Then she moved to New York City to make it big as both a musician and a songwriter Joel Milner sees the potential inside her teaming her with songsmith Howard Cazatt This biopic shows her ups and downs of her music career parallel the tumult of the 1960s pop scene She goes through several romances, kids, and trying to stay trendy as time goes by She wants the public to know her music comes from her This movie is tad too long, some of the scene transitions are not-so-smooth but Douglas' performance shines as a woman finding her voice in a charming tale A very nice soundtrack helps it move along

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Jun 17, 2020

Beautifully done ,the music ,the actors made this film engrossing and entertaining .

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Feb 21, 2016

A film everyone should see because anyone in the music industry knows what an uphill battle it is to become recognized in this day and age. While it is a fictitional story, it comes so close to the reality of wanting to get into the music business. I know from what I speak (or write) because I was one of those people. While I did scucceed, I saw so many of my friends go down the drain even thought they were talented musicians and song writers.

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Allison Anders

Director

Illeana Douglas

Denise Waverly

Matt Dillon

Jay Phillips

Eric Stoltz

Howard Cazsatt

Bruce Davison

John Murray

Patsy Kensit-Healy

Cheryl Steed

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Synopsis

Philadelphia teenager Edna Buxton wins a talent contest during the early rock 'n' roll era, changes her name to Denise Waverly and moves to New York City to make it big. Though she flops as a recording artist, fast-talking record producer Joel Miller recognizes her songwriting talent and teams her with struggling songsmith Howard Cassatt. The ups and downs of Denise's career parallel the tumult of the 1960s pop scene.

Director: Allison Anders
Producer: Daniel Hassid, Ruth Charny
Screenwriter: Allison Anders
Distributor: MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Gramercy Pictures
Production Co: Cappa Productions, Universal Pictures, Gramercy Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 13, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 27, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $646.9K
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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