Martin's Day

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film |name=Martin's Day |image=Martin's Day.jpg |caption=Theatrical release poster |director=Alan Gibson |producer=Richard F. Dalton Roy Krost |writer=Chris Bryant Allan Scott |narrator= |starring=Richard Harris Justin Henry Lindsay Wagner Karen Black James Coburn |music=Wilfred Josephs |cinematography=Frank Watts |editing=David de Wilde |studio=United Artists World Film Services |distributor=MGM/UA Entertainment Company |released={{Film date|1985|02|22}} |runtime=98 minutes<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 30, 2025 |title=''Martin's Day'' (12) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/martins-day-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0ynje2ndg |access-date=December 31, 2025 |website=British Board of Film Classification |language=en}}</ref> |country= |language=English }} '''''Martin's Day''''' is a 1985 American drama film directed by Alan Gibson. It stars Richard Harris, Justin Henry, Lindsay Wagner, Karen Black and James Coburn.{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}

==Synopsis== The film follows an escaped convict named Martin who kidnaps a boy, also named Martin, while trying to flee via plane. While on the run the two Martins discover that they have many things in common other than just their name and begin to bond.

==Cast== * Richard Harris as Martin Steckert * Lindsay Wagner as Dr. Mennen * James Coburn as Lt. Lardner * Justin Henry as Martin * Karen Black as Karen * John Ireland as Brewer * Saul Rubinek as Hitchhiker * R.H. Thompson as Paul Mennen

==Production== Filming for ''Martin's Day'' took place in Ontario, Canada during the autumn of 1984,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Steimel |first=Martha |date=February 26, 1985 |title='Martin's Day' an effort to recapture the past |work=Wichita Falls Times (Newspapers.com) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/782054386/?terms=%22Martin%27s%20Day%22%20Gibson%20Richard%20Harris&match=1}}</ref> and began shortly after Richard Harris completed an eight-city tour of the musical ''Camelot''. The film's script was written by Chris Bryant and Allan Scott.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Taggart |first=Patrick |date=February 23, 1985 |title=Convict film traps Mann, Capital Plaza |work=Austin American-Statesman |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/363798926/?terms=%22Martin%27s%20Day%22%20Gibson%20Richard%20Harris&match=1}}</ref>

==Release== Initially intended to release in November 1984,<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=May 13, 1984 |title=A few words with... |work=Detroit Free Press (Newspapers.com) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/98901320/?terms=%22Martin%27s%20Day%22%20Gibson%20Richard%20Harris&match=1}}</ref> ''Martin's Day'' premiered in the United States on February 22, 1985.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 21, 1985 |title=Advert for the film premiere |work=The Salt Lake Tribune (Newspapers.com) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/613697901/?terms=%22Martin%27s%20Day%22%20Gibson%20Richard%20Harris&match=1}}</ref>

==Reception== Critical reception was mixed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Biondo |first=Anne Marie |date=February 25, 1985 |title='Martin's' stars have seen better days |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/638670936/?terms=%22Martin%27s%20Day%22%20Gibson%20Richard%20Harris&match=1}}</ref> ''The Kansas City Star''<nowiki/>'s Robert C. Trussell expressed disappointment in the film, criticizing the lack of acting chemistry between Henry and Harris.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Trussell |first=Robert C |date=March 17, 1985 |title=Film drama falls short of promise |work=The Kansas City Star (Newspapers.com) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/679509714/?terms=%22Martin%27s%20Day%22%20Gibson%20Richard%20Harris&match=1}}</ref> A reviewer for the ''Austin American-Statesman'' viewed it as a contender for the year's worst film and noted that the filming was done so quickly after Harris's ''Camelot'' tour that his hair still bore traces of the orange hair dye used for his performance as King Arthur.<ref name=":1" />

David Pickering of the ''Corpus Christi Times'' was more favorable, praising Harris's acting.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Pickering |first=David |date=February 27, 1985 |title='Martin's Day' is simple story and a fine movie |work=Corpus Christi Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/759856885/?terms=%22Martin%27s%20Day%22%20Gibson%20Richard%20Harris&match=1}}</ref> Martha Steimel of the ''Wichita Falls Times'' was similarly favorable citing Henry's acting as a highlight.<ref name=":2" />

==See also== *''A Perfect World'' (1993)

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.martinsday.com/ ''Martin's Day'' tribute/fan website] * {{IMDb title|0087685}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|martins_day}}

Category:1985 films Category:Films about child abduction in the United States Category:Films directed by Alan Gibson Category:Films about hostage takings Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Category:American drama road movies Category:1980s drama road movies Category:United Artists films Category:1985 drama films Category:1985 English-language films Category:1985 American films Category:Films scored by Wilfred Josephs Category:English-language crime drama films