True Romance (1993)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1993
Running Times: 120m/121m (unrated director's cut)
Length:
Format: 35mm/Panavision
Colour Format: colour
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: Dolby SR

DIRECTION

Director: Tony Scott

CREW

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: August Entertainment / Davis-Films / Morgan Creek Productions
Executive Producers: Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, James G. Robinson
Producers: Bill Unger, Gary Barber, Samuel Hadida, Steve Perry
Co-Producers: Don Edmonds, James W. Skotchdopole
Unit Production Manager: S.H. Perry
Associate Producers: Gregory S. Manson, Lisa Cogswell, Spencer Franklin
Production Coordinator: Spencer Franklin
Assistant Production Coordinator: Lisa Marie Stetler
On-Set Coordinator: Maryellen Aviano

SCRIPT
Script: Quentin Tarantino

DIRECTION
1st Assistant Director: James W. Skotchdopole
2nd Assistant Director: Carey Dietrich
2nd 2nd Assistant Director: Craig Pinckes

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Jeffrey L. Kimball
Camera Operator: Michael A. Genne
Steadicam Operator: Gregory Lundsgaard
2nd Unit Camera Operators: Gregory Schmidt, Leo Napolitano, Ray De La Motte, Aaron Pazanti
1st Assistant Camera: Dan Gold, Kenny Nishino
2nd Unit 1st Assistant Camera: Clyde E. Bryan
2nd Assistant Camera: Dennis Seawright, Nick Shuster
Camera Loader: Frank D. Parrish
Gaffer: Dan Delgado
Assistant Chief Lighting Technician: Frank Mathews
Lighting Technicians: Bill Cueto, Mike Franz, Warren Burke Gerrard
Best Boy: Thomas M. Gibson
Key Grip: J. Michael Popovich
Grips: 'Slick' Rick Rader, Hilary Klym, Mark Meyers
Dolly Grip: Michael L. Schwake
Stills: Ron Phillips
Video Assist Operator: Richmond G. Cogswell
24 Frame Video Playback: Inter Video
Camera Intern: Olivia L. Patton
Colour Timers: Ray Morfino, Saul Escobedo
Cameras and Lenses: Panavision
Lab: FotoKem Laboratory, Burbank, California, USA
Film Stock: Eastman

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editors: Michael Tronick, Christian Wagner
Assistant Editors: Kenneth B. Blackwell, Tony S. Ciccone, Joe Mosca, Paul M. Wagner
Post-Production Supervisor: Jody Levin
Negative Cutters: Boyd Steer, Jay Wiechman

MUSIC
Music: Hans Zimmer
Additional Music: Mark Mancina; John Van Tongeren; Léo Delibes (Lakmé); Carl Orff (Schulwerk); Erik Satie (Trois pièces en forme)
Songs Performed By Charlie Sexton (Graceland); John Waite (In Dreams); Charles and Eddie (Wounded Bird); Billy Idol (White Wedding); The Skinny Boys (Skinny (They Can't Get Enough)); Val Kilmer (Heartbreak Hotel); Nymphomania (I Want Your Body); Soundgarden (Outshined); Shelby Lynne (I Need A Heart To Come Home To); Big Bopper (Chantilly Lace);
Aerosmith (The Other Side); Jerry DelMonico (Everybody Loves Somebody); The Shirelles (Will You Love Me Tomorrow); Clem Alford (Raga Yaman); Robert Palmer ((Love Is) A Tender Trap); Burl Ives (A Little Bitty Tear); Jerry DelMonico (All The Way); Jerry DelMonico (Learnin' The Blues); Chris Isaak (Two Hearts)
Music Supervisor: Maureen Crowe
Music Coordinators: Marie Snyder, Susan Abrams
Score Recordist: Jay Rifkin
Score Mixer: Jay Rifkin
Music Editor: Thomas Milano

SOUND
Production Sound Mixer: William B. Kaplan
Sound Recordist: Matt Patterson
Boom Operator: Earl F. Sampson
Re-Recording Mixers: Kevin O'Connell, Rick Kline
Supervising Sound Editor: Robert G. Henderson
Sound Editors: David M. Horton, Greg Dillon, Jayme S. Parker, Samuel C. Crutcher, Virginia Cook-McGowan
Assistant Sound Editors: Brooke Henderson Ward, Darrin Martin
ADR Recordist: Greg Steele
ADR Mixer: Charleen Richards
Supervising ADR Editor: James Simcik
ADR Editor: William C. Carruth
Assistant ADR Editor: Lisa Risen
Sound Effects Editor: Bub Asman
Foley Recordist: Dorothy Wright
Foley Mixer: Eric Gotthef
Foley Editors: Scot A. Tinsley, David L. Horton Jr
Foley Walkers: Robin Harllon, Sarah Monat
Cable Person: Jules Strasser III
Stage Loader: Bob Hile
Sound Re-Recorded At: Skywalker Sound

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Make Up: Ellen Wong
Hair: Ron Scott
Wigs: Mary Barnard
Costume Designer: Susan Becker
Costume Supervisor: Hugo Peña
Key Costumer: Dawn Y. Line
Costumer: Greg Hall

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Prosthetic Make Up Designer: Frank Carrisosa
Tattoo Designer: Mark Mahoney

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects Coordinator: Mike Meinardus
Special Effects: Larry Shorts, Robert Henderson

VISUAL EFFECTS
Title Designers: Nina Saxon Film Design
Titles and Opticals: Cinema Research Corporation
Process Compositing: Hansard

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Benjamín Fernández
Art Director: James J. Murakami
Assistant Art Directors: Lou Montejano, Nancy Garber
Set Decorator: Thomas L. Roysden
Set Dresser: Larry Boyd
Propmaker: Jason Muscarella
Property Master: Michael Blaze
Assistant Property Masters: Ernest H. Lauterio, Rick Chavez
Construction Coordinator: Michael A. Muscarella
General Foreman: Ciro Vuoso
Labour Foreman: Joseph Muscarella
Construction Painter: Anthony L. Paronelli
Stand-By Painter: John Dee Hinkle
Drapery Foreman: Joe F. Mendoza
Lead Man: Ronald C. Jacobs
Gang Bosses: Joseph Fama, Charles Sperber, Danny Wynands, Lloyd Hardy
Swing Gang: Tom J. Furginson

OTHER CREW
Script Supervisor: P.R. Tooke
Production Accountant: Gregory S. Manson
Assistant Production Accountant: Mady Burza
Accounting Assistant: Linda Azevedo
Production Associate: Debbie Pinckes
Production Assistants: Joanna Farrand, Susie Thompson
Assistant to Bill Unger: Jennifer Amerine
Assistant to Christian Slater: Lesley C. Grant
Assistant to Tony Scott: Jerry Heiss
Production Secretary: Edward E. Giddens
Catering: Tony's Food Service Inc
Craft Service: Frank B. Davis
Transportation Coordinator: Pete Johnson
Transportation Captain: Sparky Edmonston
Drivers: Bill Hogue, Doug Miller, Gene Johnson, Jerry Johnson, Jerry L. Gordon, Kenny Newland, Linda 'T.S.' Johnson, Paul John Youds, Dennis Sean Fahey, Frank Reinhard, Jeffery Duke Stevens, Jim Haag, Jim Kojaku, Jim Sullivan, John Kris Larsen, John L. Sullivan, Patrick L. Winton, Ralph Landolfi, Steve Bonner, Ted Reed
Motorcycle Officers: Don Stanley, Ed Eppersen, Tom Garner
Unit Publicist: David Linck
Animal Trainer: Paul Calabria
Armourer: Michael Papac
First Aid: Dr Todd J. Adelman
Completion Bond: The Completion Bond Company Inc

LOCATIONS
Locations: Ambassador Hotel, 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Rae's Restaurant, Santa Monica, California, USA; Safari Inn, 1911 W. Olive Ave., Burbank, California, USA; The Athenaeum, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
Location Manager: Janice Polley
Assistant Location Manager: Deborah J. Page
Location Scout: Stuart Raven Barter

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Charles Picerni
Stunts: Ken Bates, Paul Picerni, Ric Waugh, S.H. Perry, Todd Adelman, Big Daddy Wayne, Chuck Picerni Jr, Eric Mansker, Joni Avery, Keith Campbell, Nancy Young, Noon Orsatti, Robby Robinson, Steve Boyum, Steve Hulin, Steve Picerni, Tony Rich
Utility Stunts (Uncredited): Nick Brett

CASTING
Casting: Risa Bramon Garcia, Billy Hopkins
Voice Casting: Barbara Harris
Casting Associates: Mary Vernieu, Suzanne Smith

CAST

Christian Slater (Clarence Worley)
Patricia Arquette (Alabama Whitman)
Dennis Hopper (Clifford Worley)
Val Kilmer (mentor (Elvis))
Gary Oldman (Drexl Spivey)
Brad Pitt (Floyd)
Christopher Walken (Vincenzo Coccotti)
Bronson Pinchot (Elliot Blitzer)
Samuel L. Jackson (Big Don)
Michael Rapaport (Dick Ritchie)
Saul Rubinek (Lee Donowitz)
Conchata Ferrell (Mary Louise Ravencroft)
James Gandolfini (Virgil)
Anna Thomson (Lucy)
Victor Argo (Lenny)
Paul Bates (Marty)
Chris Penn (Nicky Dimes)
Tom Sizemore (Cody Nicholson)
Said Faraj (burger man)
Gregory Sporleder (burger stand customer)
Maria Pitillo (Kandi)
Frank Adonis (Frankie)
Kevin Corrigan (Marvin)
Paul Ben-Victor (Luca)
Michael Beach (Wurlitzer)
Joe D'Angerio (police radio operator)
John Bower (detective)
John Cenatiempo (squad cop 1)
Eric Allan Kramer (Boris)
Patrick John Hurley (Monty)
Dennis Garber (lobby cop 1)
Scott Evers (lobby cop 2)
Hilary Klym (running cop)
Steve Gonzales (IA officer)
Laurence Mason (Floyd 'D')

Stand-Ins: Cathy Perry Marshall, Richard E. Wacker

PLOT SUMMARY

Newlyweds Clarence and Alabama are unwittingly the targets of a group of gangsters determined to get back the drugs that the couple have unwittingly 'stolen' from them. But they have someone special on their side as the ghost of Elvis Presley offers Clarence advice and encouragement...

CAPSULE REVIEW

The unlikely combination of Quentin Tarantino and Tony Scott results in a powerful, compelling and frequently disturbing film that rewards repeated viewings with subtle nuances not immediately obvious the first time round. Many of these subtleties stem from the astonishing cast, not one of who give a bad performance – it's rare for such an ensemble cast to be so uniformly believable. Funny, shocking and moving, it's one of the best Hollywood films of the 90s and is by far and away Scott's best work.

AVAILABILITY

Argentina
Video Distributors: Gativideo

Australia
Theatrical Distributors: Roadshow Film Distributors
Video Distributors: Roadshow Entertainment video

France
Theatrical Distributors: Metropolitan Filmexport

Germany
DVD Distributors: Laser Paradies (40208)

Spain
Theatrical Distributors: TriPictures S.A.

UK
DVD Distributors: Warner Home Video (D013158)

USA
Theatrical Distributors: Warner Bros.
Video Distributors: Warner Home Video
Laserdisc Distributors: Warner Home Video (13158)
DVD Distributors: Warner Home Video (13158)

CENSORSHIP HISTORY

Argentina
Rating: 16

Australia
Rating: R

Canada
Rating: R

Finland
Rating: K-18

France
Rating: -16

Germany
Rating: 18

Ireland
Rating: 18

Italy
Rating: VM14

Netherlands
Rating: 16

Norway
Rating: 18

Singapore
Rating: R(A); NC-16 (with cuts)

South Korea
Rating: 18

Spain
Rating: 18

Sweden
Rating: 15

UK
Rating: 18
The UK theatrical and video prints were the same as the R rated US version, with its three missing minutes. However, the initial video releases were advertised with a lable proclaiming it to be the uncut version - and in a sense it was. It was the uncut theatrical version, but not Scott's original uncut 122 minute cut. The footage known to be missing from the UK version is as follows:

•  The violent climax to the drug deal in the hotel room has been curtailed, missing a few particularly brutal bullet hits. It also reduces Samuel Jackson's already meagre cameo to a blink-and-you'll-miss-him experience.
  
•  Much of Jackson's ripe dialogue ("I eat the pussy, I eat the butt, I eat every motherfucking thing") is ommitted.
  
•  The confrontation between Drexl and Clarence has been cut, including a shot of one of Clarence's bullet's hitting Drexl in the groin.
  
•  The most significant cuts have been inflicted upon the scene in which Virgil beats up Alabama. Around 47 seconds have been removed, including Virgil punching Alabama in the stomach, of Alabama lying on the floor looking at her battered body in a mirror and of her being thrown through a glass door. Alabama's revenge is also much more dramatic in the uncut version, with her shooting Virgil five times as opposed to the once seen in the UK versions.
  
•  Also heavily trimmed is the shootout at the Beverly Ambassador. Donowitz's remarks to Elliot when he realises that he has been sold out ("Take your fucking SA card and burn it, you little cocksucker!") is missing along with a number of John Woo style multiple bullet hits. Strangely, the follow up to Clarence's insistence that he and Alabama take a gun with them to the meeting is also missing - it isn't Clarence that gets to use it, but Alabama who shoots Dimes three times. It has been suggested that the MPAA couldn't stomach the idea of a woman killing a cop and getting away with it and insisted that the scene be removed.

Adding considerably to this confusion is the fact that the UK trailer not only shows a brief glimpse of one of the cut scenes (Alabama and Virgil in shadow during their fight) but also a number of scenes (Clarence and Alabama in the bath, a close up of Val Kilmer's face whereas in the film he was only ever seen in shadow, Coccotti discussing Virgil's disappearance et al) that never made it even to the uncut version.

All of this was made irrelevant when the missing footage was restored in the Director's Cut DVD.

USA
Rating: R; unrated (director's cut)
To avoid the ire of the MPAA, Scott was forced to remove 3 minutes of his film in order to secure a theatrical release with an R rating. The missing footage was subsequently made available on the laserdisc and restored in the Director's Cut DVD.

AWARDS

1994
MTV Movie Awards, USA
Best Kiss (Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette) – nominated

1995
Fantasporto, Portugal
International Fantasy Film Award Best Film (Tony Scott) - nominated

2003
DVD Exclusive Awards, USA
DVD Premiere Award Best Audio Commentary, Library Release (Quentin Tarantino) – nominated (for the Unrated Director's Cut)

TIMELINE

1993
September
10: USA – theatrical release

October
15: UK – theatrical release

November
3: France – theatrical release
12: Spain – theatrical release
18: Argentina – theatrical release

December
3: Sweden – theatrical release
31: South Korea – theatrical release

1994
January
5: USA - laserdisc release (Warner Home Video (13158))
27: Germany – theatrical release

February
10: Australia – theatrical release

June
10: Finland – theatrical release

1995
February
Day Unknown: Portugal – shown at the Fantasporto Film Festival

1996
June
6: Hungary – theatrical release

1997
September
Day Unknown: USA - DVD release (Warner Home Video (13158))

1998
Germany - DVD release (Laser Paradies (40208))

2000
April
3: UK - DVD release (Warner Home Video (D013158))

2002
April
18: Singapore – theatrical release

September
24: USA - DVD release (Warner Home Video (22796))

POSTER TAGS

Stealing, Cheating, Killing. Who said romance is dead?

Not since Bonnie and Clyde have two people been so good at being bad.

LINKS

INCLUDES FOOTAGE FROM
Freejack (1992)
Stay Tuned (1992)

REFERENCES

MAGAZINES

The Dark Side no.54 pp.56-57 (UK)
review

Empire November 1993 pp.30-31 (UK)
illustrated review (by Philip Thomas)

epd Film vol.11 no.2 (1 February 1994) p.37 (Germany)
review (by Frank Schnelle)

Première November 1993 p.20 (France)
review (by Jean-Paul Chaillet and Jean-Jacques Bernard)

Studio November 1993 p.8 (France)
review (by Christophe D'Yvoire)

Total Film no.141 (June 2008) p.37 (UK)
illustrated note (as part of the short article Shortlist  Drug Moments by Nikki Bayley)

TV Filmes October 1997 p.58 (Portugal)
review (by Manuel Pereira)

NEWSPAPERS

Svenska Dagbladet 3 December 1993 (Sweden)
review (Mera blod än rosor by Anna Ångström)

KEYWORDS

actors, amusement parks, cars, chases, comics, crack cocaine, drugs, elvis presley, gangsters, ghosts, hollywood, kung fu, the mafia, motels, pimps, police, prostitutes, roller coasters, tattoos

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009