In Detroit, Clarence Worley goes to the movie theater alone on the day of his birthday to watch some movies. The gorgeous Alabama Whitman accidentally drops her popcorn on Clarence and they watch the movie together. Then they eat pieces of pie and they have one night stand, so Clarence eats more pie of another kind. In the morning, Alabama confesses that she is a call-girl hired to spend the night with him, but she has fallen in love with him. In the morning they get married and Clarence goes to the club where she worked to bring her some clothes. However, her pimp Drexl Spivey and his partner beat up Clarence and he reacts by killing them both. Clarence asks for Alabama's suitcase with her clothes and the other girls mistakenly give another one with cocaine. When Clarence discovers the mistake, he decides to travel with Alabama to the house of his friend, the aspiring actor Dick Ritchie, to sell the drug and travel to Mexico. He visits his father Clifford Worley and gives his address... Written by

Plot Synopsis:
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Comic book store clerk and film buff Clarence Worley (Christian Slater) watches a Sonny Chiba triple feature at a Detroit movie theater for his birthday. Here he meets Alabama Whitman (Patricia Arquette), an attractive young woman. After having sex, she tearfully confesses that she is a call girl hired by Clarence's boss as a birthday present. She has fallen in love with Clarence and he with her.

The next day, they marry. Alabama's volatile pimp, Drexl Spivey (Gary Oldman), makes Clarence uneasy. An apparition of his idol, Elvis Presley (Val Kilmer), tells him that killing Drexl will make the world a better place. Clarence stands up to the intimidating Drexl and tells him to leave Alabama alone. Drexl assaults and subdues Clarence and takes his wallet. Clarence draws a gun and kills Drexl and a henchman. He grabs a bag that he assumes belongs to Alabama. When he tells Alabama he killed Drexl, she sobs and finds this "so romantic."

Opening the suitcase, the two find it is full of stolen cocaine. Clarence and Alabama decide to leave for California immediately. First they pay a visit to Clarence's father, Clifford Worley (Dennis Hopper), a security guard and ex-cop. Clarence wants to find out if he is in the clear regarding Drexl's murder. Clifford tells him that the police assume it to be a drug-related killing.

In Los Angeles, the young couple plans to meet Clarence's old friend Dick Ritchie (Michael Rapaport), an aspiring actor. Clifford is ambushed in his home by gangster Vincenzo Coccotti (Christopher Walken) and his men, who tracked him by using Clarence's wallet. They want the drugs taken from Drexl, their underling. Clifford refuses to reveal where his son has gone. Accepting that he is going to die anyway, he insults Coccotti [1], who angrily shoots Clifford dead before finding a note on the fridge giving Clarence's whereabouts in L.A.

Clarence plans to use Dick's contacts with an actor named Elliot (Bronson Pinchot) to sell the drugs to a film producer, Lee Donowitz (Saul Rubinek). Elliot, who has some of Clarence's cocaine is stopped while speeding and is arrested for drug possession. Believing Clarence's story of getting the drugs from a dirty cop, he informs on Donowitz's drug deal to escape prison time.

Alabama is found alone in their hotel room and interrogated by one of Coccotti's henchmen, Virgil (James Gandolfini), who viciously beats her. Alabama fights back and miraculously manages to kill him. She and Clarence talk of moving to Cancún with the money from the drug deal.

Knowing that Elliot's cocaine was uncut, and with Elliot "confessing" in order to avoid prison, L.A. detectives Nicholson (Tom Sizemore) and Dimes (Chris Penn) conclude that a sizable drug deal is about to go down. Promising him that he can avoid prison in return for cooperation, the two detectives have Elliot wear a wire to the deal. Coccotti's men learn where the deal is going down from Dick's drugged-out roommate Floyd (Brad Pitt) and they all converge on Lee Donowitz's hotel.

As a fan of his film work, Clarence makes a good impression on Lee. They are then ambushed by both the cops and gangsters who, coincidentally, break in almost at the same time. In the middle of a Mexican standoff, Lee realizes that Elliot is an informant and berates him, throwing a hot pot of coffee on him, causing a massive shootout. Dick abandons the drugs and flees. Clarence is shot in the eye when he exits the bathroom, devastating Alabama. While Dimes kills one of Donowitz's men, Alabama (thinking Clarence is dead) then shoots and kills Dimes ending the battle. Lee, Elliot, the police, gangsters and bodyguards are all killed.

Clarence, however, survives, partially blinded. He and Alabama escape as more police swarm the hotel. They are shown as a happy family on a beach in Cancún, with a son they have named Elvis.

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Chet Andrus from HiNella, NJ
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With at least 12 `starring actors' in character and supporting rolls, half of them legends or mega stars; this Tarantino tale defies a short review. The different levels on which this movie works are impressive. As a love story we begin to believe that the quirky `loser' couple is unconditionally bound together. As a pseudo `film noir' we begin to care about the fate of the central characters. In the suspense/thriller/crime drama mode there are plenty twists and turns to push us to the edge and pull us back just in time. The action scenes are deliciously violent and unlike most other films, this one gives us pinches of humor sprinkled in amidst the mayhem. Even `the King' alter ego is woven in credibly enough to improve our understanding of the Clarence Worley character.

The plot, albeit original, fresh and mesmerizing, seems somehow secondary to the characters and the characterizations. Any of several rolls could have been performed over the top by what seemed to be an ensemble cast. But director Scott lets the talent go just far enough. Even the remainder of the supporting cast is wonderful; Saul Rubinek in particular does a terrific job as the puffed-up/ego-feeding movie producer. Hollywood missed giving this movie and its cast proper recognition.

With enough memorable scenes and talented stars to fuel a half a dozen blockbusters, True Romance gives us the `best bang for our buck' in years. The Walken/Hopper scene alone is worth the `price of admission' not to mention the Gandolfini/Arquette and Slater/Oldman match ups. This can only be described as a `wonderfully wicked movie' for its tantalizing content, smart dialog and toothsome violence.

Put the kiddies to bed, be prepared for rough language, adult themes and graphic violence and enjoy a `not for the faint of heart' masterpiece.



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underfire35 from Chicago, USA
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True Romance is a celebration of film. It wallows in every possible seedy contrivance of American crime/action cinema. It is absolutely shameless in its exploitation of excessive violence, over-acting, melodrama, lurid sex, and rampant drug use...I love it. Quentin Tarantino, as I'm sure everyone knows, wrote the story, but it is the in execution that this film pays off. The cast, oh the cast: The lynchpins are Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette. They both give solid performances, which prevents the film from flying off the tracks; they serve as the pilot light. The supporting roles are the gas. The Walken/Hopper show down has been oft sighted as the film's best aspect, and this is, arguably, true. Just watch this scene and then watch it again. Sparks actually shoot out of the screen and burn people about the head and shoulders. OK, you've got Val Kilmer as the ghost of Elvis, Brad Pitt as a disgruntled pot-smoking loser, Tom Sizemore & Chris Penn as cops, James Gandolfini (pre-Sopranos) as a reflective hitman, and you've even got Bronson Pinchot (from TV's PERFECT STRANGERS) for God's sake. Did I forget Gary Oldman? Do yourself a favor and rent every single Gary Oldman related project (they're not all good films, but...). Why is Gary Oldman not in every film ever made? Why? I ask you why? He has got to be the best actor working today, hands down. As Drexel Spivey, Oldman chews the scenery, digests it, and then expels it from every orifice. Keep in mind that he is an English actor with a normal speaking voice at home in the Royal Shakespeare Company. His performance here is second only to his turn in LEON in blatant over-the-top insanity. Tony Scott, who along with his brother Ridley, has been known to over-direct a film or two, here chooses wisely to basically set up the camera and run. The score by Hans Zimmer adds a bouncy xylophone driven theme to the film and finds the right balance. This a well made, balls-to-the-wall, popcorn throwing, cult classic. In a market dominated with stereotypical characters, this movie avoids that trap by letting the stereotypes flourish with all the grotesque absurdity it can muster. 9/10

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Samuel Hurst from kansas city
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"True Romance" is one of those few movies that has it all: Action, romance, drama and brilliant acting. Not to mention TR has an all-star cast, but many contribute their finest work in this film. Oldman, Arquette and Slater arguably give their best performances. Christopher Walken's scene is nothing short of pure brilliance. I loved him in "The Dead Zone" and "The Deer Hunter" as well as his brief appearance in "Pulp". I was happy with the ending, and I'm glad it ended the way it did. We've come to not expect that type of ending anymore. This along with numerous other reasons too long to explain here is why I truly believe "True Romance" is one of the greatest films ever made. Period.

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gs-web from Paradise, California
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True Romance is my favorite movie of all time. The reason I love it so much is that you might think you know what is going to happen, but you are wrong! You don't know what is going to happen next. You're watching this movie and you're in a groove, when suddenly the movie takes a left hand turn and you are heading in the completely opposite direction.

The acting and directing is fantastic. This is a violent, violent movie, but the violence works. Patricia Arquette is wonderful as Alabama. I am a woman and I don't really want to see another woman's cleavage, but in this movie, the cleavage works. In other words, the sex and violence in this movie don't feel gratuitous, but rather a part of a great plot.

Christian Slater is such a great actor. This is a star-studded cast, including Christopher Walken, Brad Pitt, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman and more. Most people watch this movie and don't even recognize Gary Oldman.

I've seen this movie about 20 times now and, although I'm no longer surprised by the plot twists, I am still fascinated by the cast, the music, the direction. I like this movie quite a bit more than Pulp Fiction. This film was written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott and came out a few years before Pulp Fiction. If you are really interested in this film be sure and get the DVD with all of the comments from the cast, producers, director, writer, etc.

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(roryhill@jerseymail.co.uk) from Jersey, C.I.
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I've seen Reservoir Dogs, I've seen Pulp Fiction & I've seen Jackie Brown, but for me this is Tarantino's best crime caper. Completely engrossing from start to finish, the story of the two lovers who are on the run is not entirely believable, but seriously enjoyable. You get your fill of guns, sex, style and pop-culture, and the usual array of celebrity cameos in a film that seems a whole lot more 'close'. Whereas Pulp Fiction felt like one long trailer, with every line razor-sharp and a load of hip music that made the film go so quickly, True Romance offers you the chance to savour every moment, as the film moves at a (slightly) slower pace. Enjoy the blazing finale, and just wonder how it might have turned out if Tarantino had got his hands on the camera...

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MisterWhiplash from United States
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True Romance is the work of two men, known for making movies (as TBS would say) for guys who like movies, and have one of the pick of the litter in the genre from the early to mid nineties. Quentin Tarantino sold his script to fund Reservoir Dogs, and Tony Scott (Top Gun) got picked up to direct. Some have complained that Tarantino should've directed this film, that it's so much his (which I agree with considering the story of the film was taken from his 1987 experimental film My Best Friend's Birthday, which refers to Clarence in this film going to the Sonny Chiba movies) that his own style as a director would've complimented it. It's a nice thought, though that's not what we as the audience are left with, and so with the final product there is much to admire about the style that Scott uses in the film. He films Tarantino's script (from a Roger Avary script originally) very much like he's shooting a Hollywood movie (as he knows how to with DP Jeffrey Kimball), with all the cut-aways and editing timing that is expected in a conventional crime-drama-thriller, then by hearing the snapping dialog from the script, and the cast performing them, Scott does become an important piece of making True Romance a success.

The story is a throwback to the old 'lovers on the run' formula, among others- Clarence (Christian Slater in one of his finest) is an employee in a comic book store in Detroit, loves kung-fu movies and big guns and such, who gets set up unwittingly with a call girl named Alabama (Patricia Arquette). The two fall in love, and Clarence feels confident enough by a certain voice in the back of his head (provided by Val Kilmer) to go and free Alabama for good from her vile pimp and drug dealer Drexl (Gary Oldman in one of the better villain roles of the time). He does, and through a couple of accidents Clarence and Alabama wind up with millions worth in cocaine, and high-tail it to LA to sell it, as the original (mob) owners of the coke follow after, with explosive results.

For fans of the actors, in particular the supporting cast, True Romance is one of the treats of treats in modern movies, on par with Pulp Fiction's roster of know-ables: Christopher Walken as a gangster (who would've thought?), Brad Pitt as a stoner roommate, Tom Sizemore and Chris Penn as cops, a few good lines for Samuel L. Jackson, an early plum for James Gandolfini, and my personal favorite of the lot, Dennis Hopper as Clarence's ex-cop father. Another thing that makes True Romance one of the (dare I say) most accessible of Tarantino's works is that a viewer who might not know this is his work on first viewing (this was me a few years ago, sad to say) will stay tuned through the whole thing if it's on TV just because of the star power; indeed, before Oldman's Detrix is introduced into the film, TR seems to flow like it'll be a romantic drama with light overtones. All I can say is by the end of this film, you will see that good taste can prevail no matter how much bloodshed gets on the screen, or how many obstacles get in the way of love (and Elvis!).

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Infofreak from Perth, Australia
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Cynical, seen-it-all-before smart ass that I am, I can't but help love 'True Romance'! On paper it looks like a sure fire recipe for disaster. A typically hip pop-culture saturated Quentin Tarantino script directed by schlockmeister Tony Scott, the man responsible for rancid Simpson/Bruckheimer "blockbusters" like 'Top Gun' and 'Days Of Thunder'. But some how it really works! The movie is especially helped by a dynamite cast, one of the most impressive in many years. Possibly only Julian Schnabel's underrated biopic 'Basquiat' can rival its mixture of star power and cult faves. Slater, Arquette, Walken, Hopper, Oldman, Kilmer, Penn, Sizemore, Jackson, Rapaport, Gandolfini, Argo, Corrigan, etc.etc. These are many of the finest actors working today. Add them to an electric story of love on the run, jam packed with amusing, highly quotable dialogue and plenty of action and laughs, and you have yourself a genuinely entertaining update of a classic 70s drive-in movie. 'True Romance' is a wild ride not to be missed!

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t1n02112 from United States
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Required viewing. A modern masterpiece. The scene between Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper is absolutely classic(the last last line is what I quoted in my summary). A 'learn how to be cool' movie. It's funny, thrilling, sarcastic. He's got an imaginary friend...and it's ELVIS! The juice of Tarantino. The birth of Scaggnetti (and Tony Soprano.)

Quotes are all over this flick. 'Do I look like a beautiful blonde with big tits, and a ^$#%#@ that tastes like ice cream?.....then why are you lying to me?" Choose a f$$$ing lane! Don't give me the finger,I 'll have you f###ing killed!"

"I always liked you Clarence...." "The first time you kill somebody, that's hardest one....the second one ain't no f##### mardi gras, but it's still hard. The third one....you level off. ...Now I do do it just to watch there expression change.", James Gandolfini (Pre-Sopranos) showing raw talent as a cold-hearted killer. Brad Pitt hitting the bong and talking to shotgun wielding mafiosos with Soundgarden in the background..."You wanna hit?"....chick-chick(shotguns) "Ok, Well, you go down Santa Clara for a while, then turn left, and keep driving for a while...."

It's true romance... He kills her pimp, and she takes a Royal beating for him. BUT the movies's not over. You have to have pulled some crazy s*** in your life to totally appreciate this movie, but it is awesome.

"When you get out in two years you'll be so in touch with wife needs cuz you'll know what's like to get f##### up the a##!"...Scagnetti

"If it's anything this last week has taught me, is that it's better to have a gun and not need it, than to need a gun and not have it."

"Tell me I'm the dumbest motherf##### you've ever seen, or I'm gonna pump two into your face right now!" ...Clarence

Non-stop action. Ups and downs. Irony, and a realistic ending. Cameos...up and coming actors... it's all here. And most of all, "True Romance", which I believe is a totally accurate title. Absolutely brilliant. A movie you can watch many times.

You have to see this outstanding piece of work.

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Erik A. Riveros (eriveros@nb.com) from Manhattan, New York
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True Romance has everything necessary to create art on celluloid. From the writing expertise of Quentin Tarantino to Tony Scott's brilliant directing to its cast of gifted actors, the movie is all that one would hope for.

Beginning in Detroit and ending in Mexico, a loner that never really made his mark on the world meets a call girl who falls as deeply in love with him as he does with her. Filled with drugs, gangsters, Hollywood and of course romance, the movie's story becomes only stronger as the movie goes on.

With exceptional performances by Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken (the scene they share is without equal), Gary Oldman and Christian Slater, the action and violence only help to develop the plot and accentuate it's intricacies. Its superb ending has since been imitated - by Tony Scott's own Enemy of the State for one - but never as cleverly.

A must see for any movie lover.

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daveisit from Melbourne, Australia
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I cannot ignore the influence Quentin Tarantino's script had over the style of direction in "True Romance". The scary part is, if Tarantino had directed, it probably would have been even better. The sacrifice he made ended out being well worth it though. The good acting from a strong cast completed this great movie.

Christian Slater's wardrobe however, steals the show.

8 out of 10.

Following the "eggplant scene", Dennis Hopper was concerned about being "shot" by Christopher Walken with the prop gun so close against his head for fear of being burned by the barrel. Director Tony Scott assured him the gun was 100% safe, and even tested it by having the prop man fire it against his (Scott's) own forehead. But upon firing the prop gun the barrel extended about a third of an inch and Scott ended up on the floor with blood pouring from the wound.
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It was Brad Pitt's idea for his character to be a stoner who never leaves the couch.
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Quentin Tarantino sold the script for $50,000 which was the minimum amount of money that can be paid for a script at the time (according to WGA rules).
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Gary Oldman met with Tony Scott about the project and told him he hadn't read the script he'd been sent, then asked Scott what his part was like. Scott told him "You're playing a white guy who thinks he's black, and you're a pimp." Oldman immediately accepted the role.
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Gary Oldman stated in an interview that he would like to do a film on Drexl Spivey, his character in the film.
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The hat Brad Pitt wears in the kitchen sequence he found abandoned on the boardwalk in Venice, California. He took it, washed it, and wore it for the film.
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Although this movie was not directed by Tarantino, it is still considered part of the Tarantino universe. The two key pieces of evidence is Lee Donowitz being the son of Sgt.. Donnie Donowitz from Inglorious Basterds, this being confirmed from Tarantino himself. The second pieces of evidence is the fact that Mr. White from Reservoir Dogs mentioned working with a girl named "Alabama".
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In the diner scene, when Clarence asks Alabama what her turn-offs are, she replies "Persians" in the finished film. Being turned off by her character appearing racist in that scene, Patricia Arquette, who played Alabama, name-dropped a different ethnicity for each take that was shot. She said she wanted to be equally offensive to all people.
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That's Patricia Arquette's four-year-old son Enzo Rossi in the final scene.
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The motel room fight scene between Alabama (Patricia Arquette) and Virgil (James Gandolfini) took 5 days to shoot.
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The genesis of True Romance began with a 50 page script by Roger Avary titles The Open Road. Avary described the plot as being about "an odd couple relationship between an uptight business man and an out-of-control hitch-hiker who travel into a Hellish mid-Western town together." When he had trouble finishing it, he asked his friend and fellow Video Archives clerk, Quentin Tarantino, to give it a shot. After several weeks, Quentin handed him over 500 hand-written pages of, what Roger Avary described as "the Bible of pop culture." Roger typed and edited the behemoth, working with Quentin on further story ideas. According to a Film Threat article from 1994, the final script was a combination of True Romance and Natural Born Killers (1994). Reportedly, it followed Quentin's original NBK script until after the prison riot. After escaping, Mickey and Mallory decide to find and kill the screenwriter who wrote the glitzy Hollywood movie about their exploits. The writer goes on the run, and True Romance was the movie he writes while trying to evade the two psychotic killers. It was told in trademark Tarantino chapter fashion, out of chronological order. When it became obvious that the miniseries-length script would never sell, they split the two stories into separate movies.
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In the DVD commentary, Quentin Tarantino admits that this is the most autobiographical movie he has ever made.
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According to Dennis Hopper, the only words that were improvised in the scene with Christopher Walken were "egg plant" and "cantaloupe".
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Jack Black appears in a cameo as a theater usher in a deleted scene.
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The scene in which Nicky (Chris Penn) and Cody (Tom Sizemore) interrogate Elliot (Bronson Pinchot) was improvised by the three actors.
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The sunglasses Christian Slater wears throughout the movie can also be seen being worn by Uma Thurman in Kill Bill. She takes them from Buck after she wakes from her coma and wears them to shield her eyes from the florescent hospital lights.
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Drew Barrymore was the first choice for the role of Alabama Whitman but she was unavailable.
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Tony Scott gave Patricia Arquette the Cadillac featured heavily in the film as a gift after filming wrapped.
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In early versions of the script the character of Drexl had several more scenes. Many were removed and re-purposed for Pulp Fiction, before being removed from that project as well.
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According to director Tony Scott, Val Kilmer had originally wanted to play the character of Clarence. Kilmer spent 8 hours in make-up being transformed into Elvis Presley. Fortunately, he was only required for two days of filming. The character is called Mentor in the closing credits so as not to face any litigation from the Presley estate.
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During the bloody motel room fight between Alabama (Patricia Arquette) and Virgil (James Gandolfini), Alabama smashes a porcelain bust of Elvis Presley over Virgil's head. In real life, Arquette later married Nicolas Cage (a huge Elvis fan); Cage later left her for Presley's daughter Lisa Marie Presley.
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The scene on the roller coaster was filmed over two days. Michael Rapaport unfortunately has a fear of roller coasters, and suffers from acute motion sickness, facts which no one knew during the first day's filming. By the second day, the crew was prepared for this, and they gave him something to calm his nerves. As a result, one can easily tell from cut to cut on which day a particular moment was filmed by watching his face in the background. His expression goes back and forth from apprehensive and nauseous (the first day) to bland and oblivious of his surroundings (the second day).
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Copies of the original script sent out to studios had the tag-line, "When you're tired of relationships, try a romance."
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Quentin Tarantino said that he never visited the set of the movie during filming.
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Gary Oldman based the character of Drexl on an actor named Willi One Blood, who he later starred with in Luc Besson's Leon (1994).
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Liam Neeson turned down the role of Vincenzo Coccotti.
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Quentin Tarantino wrote the roles of Clarence Worley and Alabama Whitman with Robert Carradine and Joan Cusack in mind.
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As a temporary music track, Film Editor Tony Ciccone put "Outshined" by Soundgarden in the scene where stoner Brad Pitt gives directions to the henchman. The result was such a hit at test screenings that a good portion of the music budget went for obtaining rights to use the hit song in the final film.
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Bronson Pinchot ad-libbed the scene where his character was caught with the cocaine.
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The screenplay of True Romance (1993) was originally part of a 500 page screenplay written by Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary called The Open Road. The other half of it was used for the film Natural Born Killers (1994). In both films Tom Sizemore plays a cop.
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Tony Scott spent a year searching for the right actress to play Alabama Whitman. He considered and rejected Bridget Fonda, Diane Lane, Kyra Sedgwick, and Julia Roberts.
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The trivia section in the DVD special features reports that Writer Quentin Tarantino sold this script for about $10,000. With this money he purchased the red Chevy Chevelle convertible that Vincent Vega drives in Pulp Fiction (1994)
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When Dick Ritchie throws the suitcase full of coke into the air, a "D.A.R.E. to keep kids off drugs" bumper sticker can be seen.
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The character of Blue Lou Boyle was originally a speaking part (with Robert De Niro as the definite favorite), but many cuts were made to Quentin Tarantino's script, including a scene featuring him. Instead, he's briefly mentioned as Vincent Coccotti's (Christopher Walken) superior.
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The work "fuck" and its derivatives are said 225 times.
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The roller coaster scene was filmed on and around the Viper at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, just north of Los Angeles. The Viper is still in operation as of 2009.
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Quentin Tarantino chose the name Alabama as an homage to Pam Grier, who was Alabama in Women in Cages (1971). The original script even had Clarence mention that the name sounded like a Pam Grier character.
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Tom Sizemore was originally cast as Virgil before eventually assuming the role of Cody Nicholson. Sizemore recommended James Gandolfini for the role of Virgil.
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The roller coaster scene was originally written to have taken place in a zoo. Director Tony Scott changed it to give the movie an "adrenaline rush".
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In a 2008 Maxim article, it is revealed that the character of Lee Donowitz, played by Saul Rubinek, was envisioned as a portrayal of Hollywood producer Joel Silver by the film's director, Tony Scott. The two had just worked together on The Last Boy Scout (1991). When Scott told Rubinek that he "got Joel exactly right" during his audition, Rubinek had no idea who Joel Silver even was. In the article, Scott is quoted as saying: "The Hollywood satire is affectionate, but Joel didn't talk to me for a long time after that."
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In Quentin Tarantino's original script Floyd D. calls Drexl a "white boy". That's why Drexl kills him and Big Don. In the original script Marty wasn't around when Drexl kills them.
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Kevin Corrigan's character is listed as "Marvin" but he is never referred to as that name in the film. In one scene, Frankie calls him "Mad Dog". This was an ad-lib by Frank Adonis who felt that Corrigan bore a resemblance to an Irish mob hitman named Mad Dog Coll.
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The opera piece heard during the scene with Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper is from Lakmč by Lč o Delibes. It is also used in The Hunger (1983), another film directed by Tony Scott.
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Clarence offer to shows Alabama Spider-Man #1 at the comic book store. He probably was referring to Amazing Spider-Man #1 published in 1963, one of the most sought-after modern superhero comic books. The value is extremely dependent on condition, but as of 2009 even a well-worn issue would bring at least $1000 and a perfect pristine copy might sell at auction for close to $100,000.
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The first draft was completed in late 1988 by Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary.
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Juliette Lewis was considered for the role of Alabama Whitman. Ironically she played an analogous role in Tarantino's other original screenplay that year, "Natural Born Killers."
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The song 'Robbers' by the 1975 has been said my lead singer Matty Healy to be based on the film.
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A draft was written when William Lustig was attached as director, where most of the interior scenes where moved outside, including Cliff Worley's confrontation with Vincenzo Coccotti, and the whole Clarence/Drexl fight. "You go inside, you die!" he reportedly told the writers. After he left, the scenes were moved back inside.
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The comic book that Clarence shows Alabama is "Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos" #18. In this issue, Nick has gotten a ring for his sweetheart (Pamela Hawley) that he keeps on a chain around his neck. Later in the story, he gets in a fight with a Nazi and the ring falls overboard but Fury dives into the ocean to retrieve it. What Clarence doesn't tell Alabama is that when Fury returns to give the ring to his love he finds she's been killed. On a side note, Samuel L. Jackson (who appears as Big Don) would go on to play Fury in Marvel's series of Avenger films.
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The movie that appears on the television when Clarence and Alabama check in to their motel room is "Freejack" (1992). Coincidentally, Floyd is watching the same movie when Virgil (James Gandolfini) visits.
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One of the original directors set up to do this was B-movie veteran William Lustig. But Tarantino turned him down because he did not believe he could do like Jonathan Demme (who went from B-movies to "regular" feature movies).
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Early versions of the script set the mood with a couple of quotes after the title page. The first: "His films are a desperate cry from the heart of a grotesque fast food culture." -French critics on the films of Roger Corman. The second: "... Beyond all the naivetč and stupidity, beyond the vulgarity inherent in the amount of money involved, beyond all this, a certain grandeur had rooted itself into the scheme, and I could still spy a reckless and artistic splendor to the way we had carried it out." -Clifford Irving on the Howard Hughes hoax.
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Michael Rapaport was originally cast in the role of Marvin. But the casting director later thought Rapaport was right for the role of Dick Ritchie. Dick Ritchie was originally written as an African-American in the script.
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During the hotel drug deal negotiation scene where Clarence is discussing movies he praises Oscar winning picture 'The Deerhunter'. Christopher Walken appears in both films whilst the character of Blue Lou Boyle was intended to be played by fellow Deerhunter star Robert Di Niro. In 'The Deerhunter' Walken's Vietnam veteran character ends up shooting himself in the head after becoming addicted to drugs. In 'True Romance' he plays a drug dealer who shoots a Vietnam veteran played by Dennis Hopper in the head (Hopper having starred in another seminal 1970s Vietnam film, 'Apocalypse Now'.)
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The film cast includes three Oscar winners: Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken and Patricia Arquette; and three Oscar nominees: Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman and Samuel L. Jackson.
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Quentin Tarantino wanted the role of Concotti to be played by Robert Forster. This role went to Christopher Walken.
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Roger Avary would later revisit the idea of man's life-altering, violent encounter with a call girl in his directorial debut Killing Zoe (1993).
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Both Dennis Hopper and Christian Slater later appeared in films written by Graham Yost: Hopper in Speed (1994) and Slater in Broken Arrow (1996) and Hard Rain (1998).
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One of three films that stars both Dennis Hopper and Gary Oldman. The others are: Chattahoochee (1989) and Basquiat (1996).
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Tarantino's original ending had Clarence dying in the gun battle, leaving Alabama a widow. Tarantino said that he intended Alabama to turn to crime and join with Mr. White, a character from Reservoir Dogs (1992) (which he wrote and directed). In a flashback scene in Reservoir Dogs (1992), Mr. White is asked about "Alabama".
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There are 21 on-screen deaths, all male, all from death by gunshot.
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There are two versions of cop Nicky Dimes' death during the hotel suite shootout. In one of them, Dimes executes Boris for Boris' murder of Cody Nicholson but is then shot and killed by one of the mobsters right before that mobster also dies. In the other version, Dimes still executes Boris but is then shot to death by Alabama because she thinks he shot and killed Clarence (who is badly wounded but alive). Both versions have been used during the film's extensive cable-TV airings.
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suitcase full of money|drug addict|drugs|pimp|sicilian|mafia|cocaine|on the run|ex cop|recovering alcoholic|the n word|tattoo parlor|smoking a cigarette|bloody nose|home aquarium|eating with chopsticks|chinese food|reference to elvis presley|romantic love|police interrogation|narcotics detective|cadillac convertible|heavy bleeding|acting audition|aspiring actor|hawaiian shirt|elvis presley impersonator|newlywed|los angeles california|f word|hotel|bodyguard|beach|pistol|machine gun|movie theater|trailer home|husband wife relationship|boyfriend girlfriend relationship|sunglasses|diner|voice over narration|friendship|pay phone|mafia boss|mob boss|crime boss|hitman|shower|police officer killed|police detective|wearing a sound wire|revolver|young love|comic book shop|tough guy|punched in the nose|prostitute|violence|sawed off shotgun|red dress|getting in tattoo|fire in 55 gallon drum|pink cadillac|massacre|gun held to head|fellatio while driving|torture|pump action shotgun|obscene finger gesture|punched in the stomach|chesterfield cigarette|shot multiple times|blood splatter|dreadlocks|reference to coca cola|undercover operation|techno music|shotgun|sex in public|pot smoking|police raid|police bust|phone booth|movie actor|marijuana joint|drug use|snorting cocaine|cola|burning rubber|burger|bathtub|sex in a phone booth|purple cadillac|killing in the name of love|on the road|drug abuse|stabbed in the foot|mob enforcer|man punching a woman|gay slur|italian american|road trip|hamburger|shot in the crotch|mobster|gunfight|drug dealer|shot to death|shot in the stomach|shot in the head|shot in the forehead|shot in the eye|murder of a police officer|shot in the face|detroit michigan|movie producer|movie theatre|gangster|roller coaster|racial slur|amusement park|shootout|kung fu|tattooing|convertible|drug dealing|motel|father son relationship|comic book|crack cocaine|ethnic slur|filmmaker|organized crime|briefcase|corkscrew|prostitution|hollywood california|reference to mickey rourke|reference to charles whitman|movie marquee|closed circuit tv|airport|home invasion|reference to sonny chiba|camera pan|slow motion violence|reference to steve mcqueen|reference to charles bronson|reference to william shatner|reference to wyatt earp|pet dog|cross country chase|car chase|montage|explosion|fish out of water|toilet|culture clash|silencer|bulletproof vest|satire|death of partner|uzi|bead curtain|rottweiler|reference to pepsi|police stop|police chase|police car|police car siren|burnout|reference to jack the ripper|gore|ghost|cult film|informant|vomit|lovers on the lam|left handedness|psychopath|black comedy|shot in the leg|shot in the back|shot in the arm|bob marley impersonator|white male pretending to be black|mexican standoff|title spoken by character|

AKAs Titles:


Certifications:
Argentina:16 / Australia:R / Brazil:18 / Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) / Canada:16+ (Quebec) / Canada:18+ (Quebec) (Director's Cut) / Canada:18A (Alberta) (2009) / Canada:18A (British Columbia) (1999) / Denmark:15 / Finland:K-18 (2001) (uncut) (self applied) / Finland:K-18 (1994) (cut) / Finland:K-16 (1994) (heavily cut) / Finland:(Banned) (1994) (uncut) / France:-16 / Germany:18 / Hong Kong:III / Iceland:16 / Ireland:18 / Italy:VM14 / Japan:R-15 / Mexico:B / Mexico:B15 (DVD rating) / Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) / New Zealand:R18 / Norway:18 / Peru:18 / Philippines:R-18 / Portugal:M/18 / Singapore:NC-16 (edited for re-rating) / Singapore:R(A) (original rating) / Singapore:M18 (re-rating) / South Korea:18 / Spain:18 / Sweden:15 / UK:18 (director's cut) / USA:R / USA:Unrated (director's cut)