Recent True Romance Headlines

Or check out all the entries in the True Romance category.

True Romance Details

Theatrical Release Date: September 10, 1993

Runtime: 121 minutes

Primary Cast:Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken, Bronson Pinchot, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Rapaport, James Gandolfini.

Tarantino's Input:Screenplay writer.

Posters: Primary poster - Poster #2 - Poster #3

Screenplay: Final version

Synopsis: True Romance is really part of a loose trilogy that includes Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, with a crackling Tarantino screenplay that rides a fine line between raucous comedy and violent excess. Christian Slater plays Clarence, the comic-book lover who meets a beguiling prostitute named Alabama (Patricia Arquette), confronts her vicious pimp (Gary Oldman), and embarks on a cross-country odyssey with $5 million worth of Mafia cocaine. Mayhem ensues, culminating in a favorite Tarantino climax--the "Mexican standoff"--in which a roomful of guys are pointing guns at each other, waiting to see who shoots first. Brutal, profane, and totally outrageous.

Connection To Other Tarantino Films:

Writer Quentin Tarantino sold the script to fund Reservoir Dogs. The price for the script was $30,000 - which was the minimum amount of money that can be paid for a script at the time (according to WGA rules).

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 (which he wrote and directed). In a flashback scene in Reservoir Dogs, Mr. White is asked about "Alabama".

Drexl uses the phrase, "from a diddled-eyed Joe to a damned if I know" which was also used by the Mr. Orange's mentor in Reservoir Dogs.

The screenplay of True Romance was originally a part of another very long screenplay that was written by Tarantino and Roger Avary. The other half of it was used for the film Natural Born Killers. In both of these films Tom Sizemore stars as a cop.

Alabama says, "Any time of day is a good time for pie." Fabienne also says this in Pulp Fiction, also written by Quentin Tarantino.

DVD Features: (Unrated Director's Cut - Special Edition)Commentary by Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette; Commentary by director Tony Scott; Commentary by writer Quentin Tarantino; Theatrical trailer(s); Digitally remastered unrated director's cut; Innovative storyboard track allows you to access the director's storyboards while watching the film; Web-enabled screenplay viewer with storyboards, original production notes, and web links; 30 minutes of deleted and extended scenes with optional director commentary; Alternate ending with optional director and writer commentaries; Selective commentaries with Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Brad Pitt, and Michael Rapaport; Interactive behind-the-scenes featurette; Animated photo gallery; Vintage 1993 production featurette; Widescreen anamorphic format; Number of discs: 2. Buy it at Amazon.com or DVDEmpire.com.

- return to main page -