Wild at Heart (1990)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1990
Running Times: 124 mins
Length: 3409 metres
Format: colour      35mm      Panavision (anamorphic)
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: Dolby SR

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment / Propaganda Films
Executive Producer: Michael Kuhn
Producers: Steve Golin, Monty Montgomery, Sigurjon Sighvatsson
Production Manager: Kool Marder
Production Coordinator: Marjorie Webster
Assistant Production Coordinator: Cheryl A. Kurk

SCRIPT
Script: David Lynch
Novel: Barry Gifford

DIRECTION
Director: David Lynch
1st Assistant Director: Margaux Mackay Myers
2nd Assistant Directors: Deepak Nayar, Steven Hirsch, W. Thomas Snyder

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Frederick Elmes
Steadicam Operator: Dan Kneece
1st Assistant Camera: Rob Sweeney
2nd Assistant Camera: Katherine M. Butler
Gaffer: Patrick Reddish
Rigging Gaffers: David W. Dubois, R. Bruce McCleery
Electricians: John Vecchio, Jules Labarthe, Paul Hauser
Grip / Electric (New Orleans): Jim Trotter, Bill McCord, Nicholas Woodring
Best Boys: Irv Katz, John Carney
Key Grip: Michael Shore
Grips: Curtiss Bradford, Cobie Fair, Corwin A. Bibb, George A. Hock, Kurek Ashley, Malcolm Doran II, Randy Ratliff, Renton-Paul Medcalf
Dolly Grip: Stuart M. Abramson
Stills: Kimberly Wright
Special Photographer: Elliott Marks
Cameras and Lenses: Panavision
Lab: CFI, Hollywood, California, USA

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Duwayne Dunham
1st Assistant Editors: Brian Berdan, Mary Sweeney
2nd Assistant Editors: Debra Gavlak, Jennifer Hicks
Post-Production Coordinator: Danielle Liekefet
Negative Cutter: Vivian Hengsteler

MUSIC
Music: Angelo Badalamenti
Additional Music: David Lynch, Richard Strauss (Im Abendrot from Vier letzte Lieder)
Songs / Additional Music: Joel DuBay, Jeffrey Littke, Adrian Liberty (Slaughter House), Joe Garland (In The Mood), Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller (Love Me), Duke Ellington, Ray Brown (1st Movement), John Ewing, Charles Thomas, Charles Lane, Jesse Sailes, Russell Weathers, Herbert Permillion (Streamline), Ned Washington, H.E. Gifford (Smoke Rings), David Lynch, Angelo Badalamenti (Up In Flames), Billy Swan (Buried Alive), Shony Alex Braun (Avant Du Mourir), A. Maxwell, M. Williams (Far Away Chant), Elvis Presley, Vera Matson (Love Me Tender), Richard Strauss, Joseph Von Eichendorff (Im Abendrot), Joe Williams (Baby Please Don't Go), Les Baxter (Boomada), Gene Vincent, Tex Davis (Be-Bop-A-Lu-La), Krzysztof Penderecki (Kosmogonia), Chris Isaak (Wicked Game, Blue Spanish Sky, In The Heat Of The Jungle), Lafayette Leake (Wrinkles)
Songs / Additional Music Performed By: Powermad (Slaughter House), Glenn Miller (In The Mood), Nicolas Cage (Love Me, Love Me Tender), Duke Ellington, Ray Brown (1st Movement), Shony Alex Braun (Chrysanthemum, Avant Du Mourir), John Ewing and the Allstars (Streamline), Glen Grey and The Casa Loma Orchestra (Smoke Rings), Koko Taylor (Up In Flames), Billy Swan (Buried Alive), African Head Charge (Far Away Chant), Jessye Norman, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig (Im Abendrot), Them (Baby Please Don't Go), Les Baxter (Boomada), Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps (Be-Bop-A-Lu-La), Chorus and Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic, Warzaw (Kosmogonia), Chris Isaak (Wicked Game, Blue Spanish Sky, In The Heat Of The Jungle), The Big Three Trio (Wrinkles)
Songs / Additional Music Arranged By: Shony Alex Braun (Chrysanthemum)
Songs / Additional Music Conductor: Kurt Mazur (Im Abendrot)
Music Supervisor: Mark Roswell
Music Editor: David Slusser
Music Consultants: Peter Afterman, Sharal Churchill

SOUND
Sound Designer: Randy Thom
Sound Mixer: Jon Huck
Supervising Re-Recording Mixer: Randy Thom
Sound Re-Recording Mixer: David Parker
Supervising Sound Editor: Richard Hymns
Assistant Sound Editors: Jenny Oznowicz, Kim Cascone, Scott Guitteau, Susan Sanford
Dialogue Editors: Robert Fruchtman, John Verbeck, Michael Silvers, Sara Bolder
Assistant Dialogue Editor: Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
Sound Effects Recordist: John Wentworth
Sound Effects Editors: Ken Fischer, Luis Colina
Foley Artists: Gary Hecker, Catherine Rowe
Foley Recordist: Scott Chandler
Sound Services: Skywalker Sound North

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Michelle Buhler
Make Up Assistant: Denise Dellavalle
Hair: Frida Aradottir
Assistant Hair: Denise Dellavalle
Costume Designer: Amy Stofsky
Wardrobe: Cheri Reed

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Special Make Up Effects: David B. Miller, Louis Lazzara

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects / Pyrotechnics: David Domeyer
Special Effects: Don Power

VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects: Dreamstate Effects
Titles and Opticals: Pacific Title

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Patricia Norris
Set Decorating Assistant: Deborah Winship
Property Master: Frank Silva
Props Assistant: David A. Carpender
Construction Coordinator: Charles Armstrong
Carpenter: Paul Burge
Chief Scenic Artist: Gretchen Adele Armstrong

MISCELLANEOUS
Script Supervisor: Mary Sweeney
Production Accountant: Kimberly Edwards
Post-Production Accountant: Robin Ginsberg
Production Assistant: Christy Susskind
Office Production Assistant: Maurice 'Moe' Lospinoso
Set Production Assistant: Mara Lee
Assistant to David Lynch: Debby Trutnik
Choreographer: Kimberly Vashiell
First Aid: John Schluter
Craft Service: Eric L. Roberts
Craft Service (New Orleans): Wayne Softley
Transportation Coordinator: John 'J.D.' Yarbrough
Transportation Captains: Earl Hurst, Dan Brizendine
Transportation Captain (El Paso): David Milchen
Drivers: Russell Tolliver, Darwin Joston, Mike Clark, Shawn Solomon, Steven Mann, Thomas P. Donovan
Driver (New Orleans): Elvin Barrow
Fire Advisor: Mike Johnson
Head Animal Trainer: Brian McMillan
Set Medic: Bundy Chanock
Nurse (New Orleans): Millie Schluter
Unit Publicist: Mira S. Tweti

LOCATIONS
Location Manager: Julie Duvic
Locations: El Paso, Texas, USA, Los Angeles, California, USA, New Orleans, Orleans parish, Louisiana, USA, Palmdale, California, USA, Pasadena, California, USA

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Jeff Smolek
Stunt Double for Isabella Rossellini: Hannah Kozak
Stunt Double for Nicolas Cage: Joseph Michael Roth
Stunts: Orwin Harvey, Bernie Pock, Bob Terhune, Donna Evans, Eddie Wong, Gregg Dandridge, Hannah Kozak, Joseph Michael Roth, Loren Janes, Michael Adams, Mike Ceballos, Mike Johnson, Neil Summers, Ousaun Elam, Ralph Garrett, Roydon Clark, Steve Kelso, Wally Rose

CASTING
Casting: Johanna Ray
Casting Assistant: Eric DaRe
Extras Casting: Creative Casting

CAST
Nicolas Cage (Sailor Ripley)
Laura Dern (Lula Fortune)
Willem Dafoe (Bobby Peru)
J.E. Freeman (Marselles Santos)
Crispin Glover (Cousin Dell)
Diane Ladd (Marietta Pace Fortune)
Calvin Lockhart (Reggie)
Isabella Rossellini (Perdita Durango)
Harry Dean Stanton (Johnnie Farragut)
Grace Zabriskie (Juana)
Sherilyn Fenn (girl in accident)
Marvin Kaplan (Uncle Pooch)
W. Morgan Sheppard (Mr Reindeer)
David Patrick Kelly (Dropshadow)
Freddie Jones (George Kovich)
John Lurie (Sparky)
Jack Nance (00 Spool)
Pruitt Taylor Vince (Buddy)
Gregg Dandridge (Bob Ray Lemon)
Glenn Walker Harris Jr (Pace Ripley)
Frances Bay (madam)
Blair Bruce Bever (hotel custodian)
Sally Boyle (Aunt Rootie)
Peter Bromilow (hotel manager)
Lisa Ann Cabasa (reindeer dancer)
Frank Collison (Timmy Thompson)
Eddy Dixon (Rex)
Brent Fraser (idiot punk)
Cage S. Johnson (man at shell station)
Sheryl Lee (Glinda, the Good Witch)
Valli Leigh (Mr Reindeer's resident valet 2)
Nick Love (man in wheelchair)
Daniel Quinn (young cowboy)
Mia M. Ruiz (Mr Reindeer's resident valet 1)
Charlie Spradling (Irma)
Billy Swan (Billy Swan)
KoKo Taylor (singer at Zanzibar)
Ed Wright (desk clerk)
Darrell Zwerling (singer's manager)
Debra Lamb (fire eater at party - uncredited)
Neil Summers (cop - uncredited)
Frank A. Caruso (old bum - scenes deleted)
Zachery Berger (man in gents' room - scenes deleted)
Scott Coffey (Billy - scenes deleted)
Jack Jozefson (Chet - scenes deleted)
Tommy G. Kendrick (Red - scenes deleted)
Bellina Logan (Beany Thorn - scenes deleted)
Albert Popwell (barkeeper at Zanzibar - scenes deleted)
Shawne Rowe (waitress - scenes deleted)
Michele Seipp (girl at Zanzibar - scenes deleted)
Bob Terhune (Earl Kovich - scenes deleted)
Tracey Walter (Roach - scenes deleted)

PLOT SUMMARY

Young lovers Sailor and Lula decide to run away together, pursued by her psychotic mother,the detective she's hired and a hitman. Inevitably things go horribly wrong as they meet an increasingly odd assortment of characters, culminating in Sailor's encounter with Glinda, the Good Witch...

David Lynch's take on a love story is typically weird and off-the-wall. An impeccable cast are firing on all cylinders – Cage is hilarious as Sailor – and Lynch's script is more playful than usual, though no less enjoyable for that. As ever, it splits viewers into those who adore it and those who loathe it and Lynch is one of the few directors who can inspire such extreme reactions in his audiences.

Australia
Video Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Video

Italy
Video Distributor: Panarecord

Japan
DVD Distributor: Nippon Columbia (COBM-5010)

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Company
Video Distributor: Media Home Entertainment
Laserdisc Distributor: Image (ID 8084 ME)

Argentina
Rating: 16

Australia
Rating: R

Chile
Rating: 18

Finland
Rating: K-18

France
Rating: -12

Ireland
Rating: 18

Sweden
Rating: 15

UK
Rating: 18

USA
Rating: R

1990
Cannes Film Festival, France
Golden Palm (David Lynch) - winner

1991
Academy Awards, USA
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Diane Ladd) - nominated

BAFTA Awards
Best Sound (Randy Thom, Richard Hymns, Jon Huck, David Parker) - nominated

Fantasporto
International Fantasy Film Award Best Film (David Lynch) - nominated

Golden Globes, USA
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Diane Ladd) - nominated

Independent Spirit Awards, USA
Best Cinematography (Frederick Elmes) - winner
Best Supporting Male (Willem Dafoe) - nominated

1989
August
8: USA – filming begins

1990
January
30: USA – filming ends

August
17: USA – theatrical release

September
7: Finland – theatrical release
20: West Germany – theatrical release
27: Argentina – theatrical release

October
24: France – theatrical release

November
2: Sweden – theatrical release

1991
February
Day Unknown: Portugal – shown at the Fantasporto Film Festival

September
Day Unknown: USA - laserdisc release (Elite (ID 8084 ME))

1996
April
Day Unknown: USA - laserdisc release (Elite)

1998
April
21: Japan - DVD release (Nippon Columbia (COBM-5010))

Coração Selvagem – Brazilian title
Corazón salvaje – Spanish title
Cuore selvaggio – Italian title
David Lynch's Wild at Heart – advertising title
Divji v srcu – Slovenian title
Dzikosc serca – Polish title
Sailor et Lula – French title
Um Coração Selvagem – Portugese title
Veszett a világ – Hungarian title
Villi sydän – Finnish title
Wild at Heart - Die Geschichte von Sailor und Lula – German title

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
The Celluloid Closet (1995)
I Don't Know Jack (2002)
Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Broken Hearted (1990)
The Last Cigarette (1999)

SEE ALSO
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)

SEQUEL
Perdita Durango (1997)

MAGAZINES

FilmMagasinet June / July 1994 p.89 (Norway)
review (by Geir Kamsvaag)

Hollywood no.2 December 1995 p.72 (Croatia)
article (by Koraljka Diljic)

Première November 1990 p.14 (France)
review (by Laurent Bachet)

Studio Special Cannes 1990 p.37 (France)
review (by Michel Rebichon)

Studio November 1990 p.10 (France)
review (by Denis Parent)

KEYWORDS

arson, bank robberies, book into film, car accidents, child molestation, deserts, elvis presley, fire, highways, hitmen, mental illness, motels, new orleans, nightclubs, organized crime, parole, pregnancy, prisons, private detectives, prostitution, revenge, road movie, sex, surrealism, texas, vomiting

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008