The Pledge (1981): cast, story & where to watch
1981 · Film · ★ 5.5
Released in 1981, The Pledge is a drama film directed by Digby Rumsey, running about 21 minutes.
What it’s about. Three criminals pledge to free the soul of their friend from his gibbeted corpse in this short film based on 'The Highwayman' by Lord Dunsany.
Who’s in it. The Pledge stars Glenn Cunningham as Will, Ronald Forfar as The Tinker, Frank McDermott as The Highwayman and Peter Rutherford as Joe, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.5/10, The Pledge has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from BFI Player. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Pledge page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Pledge tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Pledge (1981)?
- In GB, The Pledge is available to rent or buy from BFI Player. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Pledge worth watching?
- The Pledge holds an audience score of 5.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Pledge?
- The Pledge stars Glenn Cunningham, Ronald Forfar, Frank McDermott, Peter Rutherford and Roger Watkins.
- When was The Pledge released?
- The Pledge was released in 1981, with a runtime of about 21 minutes.