Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPrimetime EmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalFall TV GuideMost Anticipated This MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayTrending peopleCelebrity news
    IMDb LabsHelp centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Proposition

  • 1998
  • R
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
Kenneth Branagh and Madeleine Stowe in The Proposition (1998)
Longing to have a baby, a sterile 1930s Bostonian hires a man to impregnate his wife.
Play trailer1:43
1 Video
40 Photos
DramaRomance

Longing to have a baby, a sterile 1930s Bostonian hires a man to impregnate his wife.Longing to have a baby, a sterile 1930s Bostonian hires a man to impregnate his wife.Longing to have a baby, a sterile 1930s Bostonian hires a man to impregnate his wife.

  • Director
    • Lesli Linka Glatter
  • Writer
    • Rick Ramage
  • Stars
    • Kenneth Branagh
    • Madeleine Stowe
    • William Hurt
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    2.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lesli Linka Glatter
    • Writer
      • Rick Ramage
    • Stars
      • Kenneth Branagh
      • Madeleine Stowe
      • William Hurt
    • 43User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:43
    Trailer

    Photos40

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 34
    View Poster

    Top Cast27

    Kenneth Branagh
    Kenneth Branagh
    • Michael
    Madeleine Stowe
    Madeleine Stowe
    • Eleanor
    William Hurt
    William Hurt
    • Arthur
    Robert Loggia
    Robert Loggia
    • Hannibal
    Blythe Danner
    Blythe Danner
    • Syril
    Ken Cheeseman
    Ken Cheeseman
    • Wayne Fenton
    Jim Chiros
    • Timothy
    Dee Nelson
    Dee Nelson
    • Susan Vicar
    Pamela Hart
    Pamela Hart
    • Skip Taylor
    Wendy Feign
    Wendy Feign
    • Maid
    Bronia Wheeler
    • Mary Frances
    Dossy Peabody
    • Hannibal's secretary
    Neil Patrick Harris
    Neil Patrick Harris
    • Roger
    Thomas Downey
    Thomas Downey
    • Torrey Harrington
    • (as Tom Downey)
    Tom Kemp
    Tom Kemp
    • Arthur's Chauffeur
    Josef Sommer
    Josef Sommer
    • Dryer
    Frank Toste
    Frank Toste
    • Frank
    • (as Father Frank Toste CSC)
    David Byrd
    David Byrd
    • Dr. Jenkins
    • Director
      • Lesli Linka Glatter
    • Writer
      • Rick Ramage
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews43

    6.22.5K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Proposition' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
    Sign in to see this summary and all user reviews
    See opinions from fans, or write your own review.
    Sign in to IMDb
    This extra step helps us keep IMDb's reviews a space for genuine, human voices.

    More like this

    Playing by Heart
    6.9
    Playing by Heart
    China Moon
    6.3
    China Moon
    Company Business
    5.7
    Company Business
    Blink
    6.2
    Blink
    The Proposition
    4.8
    The Proposition
    Tropical Snow
    5.4
    Tropical Snow
    Mad Dog and Glory
    6.3
    Mad Dog and Glory
    Closet Land
    7.0
    Closet Land
    Saving Milly
    6.2
    Saving Milly
    Octane
    4.3
    Octane
    Wimbledon
    6.4
    Wimbledon
    Fools Rush In
    6.2
    Fools Rush In

    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      The screenwriter, Rick Ramage, said the song "Elenor Rigby" by The Beatles was a catalyst in developing the story.
    • Goofs
      The narration of this movie is supposed to be Father McKinnon telling the story to Hannibal Thurman, yet there are parts of the story that Hannibal is in which would certainly not have to be told to Hannibal by McKinnon. If that isn't bad enough, there is a part of the narration (right after Roger agrees to be the surrogate father) that McKinnon says "Hannibal knew that.........." even though it is Hannibal he is talking to.
    • Quotes
      • Father Michael McKinnon: You're probably the one person in the world Arthur Barret respects enough to fear, loves enough to kill for.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper: Wild Things/Niagara, Niagara/Mr. Nice Guy/Wide Awake/Fireworks (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Modern Woman
      Composed and Arranged by Sonny Kompanek

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    • Release date
      • March 27, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Shakespeare's Sister
    • Filming locations
      • Castle Hill, Crane Estate - 280 Argilla Road, Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA
    • Production companies
      • Interscope Communications
      • Polygram Filmed Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Gross US & Canada
      • $147,773
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $61,560
      • Mar 29, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $147,773
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 50m(110 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    You have no recently viewed pages
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2026 by IMDb.com, Inc.