True Romance DVD

When a pair of unlikely newlyweds stumble across a cache of cocaine and try to sell it to a movie producer, the cops and the mob aren't far behind, in a darkly humorous caricature of the drug war. Billed as a "Bonnie and Clyde for the 1990s," the protagonists (Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette) are actually the most innocent characters in a film populated by thugs and hypocrites. Scripted by Quentin Tarantino, the film features a classic confrontation between veteran actors Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper.

When inexperienced call girl Alabama Whitman (Patricia Arquette) is paid to seduce comic-book-nerd and Elvis fanatic Clarence Worley (Christian Slater), she doesn't expect to fall for him. But these two lost souls seem to be made for each other and quickly pledge their love, marrying at Detroit's city hall. Clarence discovers some newfound bravado and attempts to retrieve Alabama's possessions from her pimp, Drexl (Gary Oldman), who isn't exactly eager to let Alabama go. Fleeing Drexl's apartment, Clarence not only leaves a trail of bodies, but also inadvertently mistakes a suitcase of uncut cocaine for one with his wife's clothing, and the chase is on. The unlikely newlyweds head for Los Angeles hoping to sell the cocaine and make enough money to leave the country. Unfortunately, they also have to contend with the mob, yuppie drug dealers and the police. Michael Rapaport is amusing as Clarence's best friend who lives with Floyd, a stoner played by Brad Pitt. A sedate Dennis Hopper appears as Clarence's father, who ultimately faces off with mob boss Vincenzo Coccotti (Christopher Walken). Director Tony Scott (CRIMSON TIDE, ENEMY OF THE STATE) does justice to the violence and quirkiness of Quentin Tarantino's second feature film script.

Theatrical release: September 10, 1993. Shot on location in California and Detroit, Michigan. Tony Scott is the brother of director Ridley Scott. Screenwriter Quentin Tarantino is a high-school dropout, self-taught filmmaker, and former video store clerk. This was his second script (the first being RESERVOIR DOGS) produced into a film. In Quentin Tarantino's original script, Clarence (Christian Slater) dies and Alabama (Patricia Arquette) returns to a life of crime with Mr. White (Harvey Keitel) from RESERVOIR DOGS. In fact, in a flashback scene in RESERVOIR DOGS, Mr. White is asked about "Alabama," whom he refers to as "a good little thief." However, Tony Scott reportedly wanted a happier finale, so the ending was rewritten. Both endings, though, were supposedly filmed to appease Tarantino. Val Kilmer, who plays the imaginary Elvis in TRUE ROMANCE, also portrayed Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's THE DOORS. "It's an incredible cast, a great director...and one of the best scripts I've ever read because it's insane. Right up the alley of what I love."--Christian Slater, talking about the film in Movieline, July, 1993

True Romance Quotes/Excerpts:

"If you gave me a million years to ponder, I would've never guessed that true romance and Detroit would ever go together."--Alabama (Patricia Arquette) in voice-over "Don't condescend me, man."--Floyd (Brad Pitt) "If there's one thing this last week has taught me, it's better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it."--Clarence (Christian Slater)

True Romance Reviews:

"...Tony Scott's slick style is visually arresting....[The] entire film is an elegantly packaged affair on all levels..." -- Leonard Klady, Variety

"...Cheerfully disreputable....TRUE ROMANCE has all the tawdry surface pleasures you want from a high-style getaway caper: fast sex, ballistic violence, a cast of flamboyant goons who talk as well as they shoot..."-- Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

"...This is the kind of movie that creates its own universe, and glories in it....The energy and style of the movie are exhilarating..." -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"...A vibrant, grisly, gleefully amoral road movie..."-- Janet Maslin, New York Times

"...One of the defining, and truly enjoyable, films of the '90s." -- 5 out of 5 Stars -- Dorian Lynskey, Total Film

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