According to production notes in AMPAS library files, writer-producer Lawrence Kasdan conceived of the script in 1975. The leading role was written for actor Steve McQueen. An item in the 18 Aug 1977 HR announced that the screenplay had been sold to Warner Bros. Pictures, and a 13 Dec 1978 Var article listed The Bodyguard as one of fifteen Warner Bros. films set to go into production in 1979. Nearly three years later, a 13 Nov 1981 DV article claimed the film would be produced by Daniel Melnick’s Indieprod Company and distributed by Twentieth Century Fox. This article also named Mark Kasdan as a co-writer. Distribution rights reverted to Warner Bros., however, and neither Indieprod Company nor Mark Kasdan received credit in the final film. Although Lawrence Kasdan considered directing his own script, he was unavailable when the project finally came together and went into production some ten years later.
       A 3 May 1991 LAT item announced that Kevin Costner would co-star with singer Whitney Houston, who was set to make her feature film acting debut as “Rachel Marron.” Although Madonna was rumored to have expressed interest in the role, an 8 Jul 1991 People news item suggested the singer-actress had ruined her chances by portraying Kevin Costner negatively in her recently released documentary, Truth or Dare (1991, see entry).
       In preparation for the role of “Frank Farmer,” Kevin Costner spent time with bodyguards and security advisor Gavin DeBecker, who specialized in “high-profile celebrity protection.”
       Principal photography began on 25 Nov 1991, as listed in the 3 Dec 1991 HR production chart. Locations included the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, where Fallen Leaf Lake near Lake Tahoe, CA, was chosen as the filming site for “Herb Farmer’s” mountain home. Miami, FL’s Fontainebleau Hotel stood in for itself, as did the Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. Also in Los Angeles, Joe Jost’s bar in Long Beach served as a location, as noted in a 9 Nov 1995 Long Beach, CA Press-Telegram item. Exteriors for the “Academy Awards” ceremony were shot at the Park Plaza Hotel near MacArthur Park, while interiors were recreated at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Although filmmakers were allowed to use the Academy Awards name, they did not receive permission to use “Oscar” statuettes.
       During filming, a grip truck driver named William Vitagliano was accidentally pinned between two cranes on a downtown Los Angeles set, according to a 6 Jan 1992 HR item. Vitagliano was rushed to the hospital but died soon after. Warner Bros. launched an investigation to ascertain whether the accident was caused by human error or equipment failure. An 18 Jul 1994 DV brief later reported that legal action brought against equipment manufacturers Snorkel Economy, Figgie International and Acme Holdings, resulted in an undisclosed settlement.
       A 28 Sep 1992 Var brief noted that composer John Barry dropped out of the project when actor-producer Kevin Costner and writer-producer Lawrence Kasdan became involved in the editing process, driving Barry to distraction. Warner Bros. denied the claims, and stated that Barry dropped out over creative differences. According to a 1 Nov 1992 LAT item, after an initial editing period of twelve weeks, Kevin Costner, Lawrence Kasdan, and Jim Wilson became involved in making further edits to Mick Jackson’s director’s cut. The running time was shortened by fifteen to twenty minutes, and, despite rumors that Jackson was displeased by the arrangement, Wilson insisted the collaborative process was harmonious.
       An initial release date of 4 Dec 1992 was moved up to 25 Nov 1992, as stated in an 18 Sep 1992 DV item, after Warner Bros. determined the film would be a strong box-office contender “through the holidays.” A benefit premiere took place on 23 Nov 1992 at Mann’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The event raised $250,000 for the Magic Johnson Foundation and the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children.
       Critical reception was tepid. However, both the film and soundtrack album were overwhelming commercial successes. An advertisement in the 2 Dec 1992 DV announced The Bodyguard had taken in $24,402,567 in its first five days of release. A 19 Jul 1993 HR advertisement later reported it had grossed $411 million worldwide and was still in release. The film went on to become the number one pay-per-view selection among hotel guests in 1993, according to an 8 Mar 1994 WSJ brief. On 22 Nov 1993, Var reported the soundtrack had become the fourth highest-selling soundtrack album of all time with over ten million copies sold. A 28 May 1994 LAT item later listed soundtrack sales of twenty-eight million.        Whitney Houston’s version of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” which became a certified platinum seller within ten days of release, was named “song of the year” by BMI at the 43rd Annual Pop Awards Dinner. When Dolly Parton’s original recording of the song was released in 1974, it had been a number one country hit, according to a 17 Jan 1993 LAT brief. It was a number one hit again in 1982, when re-released as part of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982, see entry) soundtrack. Houston’s recording went on to become “the longest-running No. 1 single in the history of Billboard magazine (14 weeks),” as stated in the 28 May 1994 LAT. Two original songs from The Bodyguard, “I Have Nothing” by David Foster and Linda Thompson, and “Run To You” by Jud Friedman and Allan Rich, were nominated for Academy Awards for Music (Original Song), and “I Will Always Love You” (as performed by Whitney Houston) was ranked #65 on AFI’s 2004 list 100 Years…100 Songs.
       A 21 Feb 1997 DV brief announced that writer Christine Roum was hired to write a sequel. Months later, the 9 Dec 1997 Vancouver Sun reported that Kevin Costner had been in talks to co-star with Diana, Princess of Wales, and a script had been completed days before the princess’s death on 31 Aug 1997. The story was reportedly set in Hong Kong.
       The film was adapted into a stage musical, also titled The Bodyguard, which debuted in London, England, in Dec 2012. The 17 Dec 2012 Var review described the production as “handsome but flaccid” with an “even thinner” script than the film. However, after running for two years in London, a touring version was established that, as of the writing of this Note (Nov 2015), is playing throughout the United Kingdom and Germany.
       End credits include thanks to the following organizations: The Fontainebleau Hilton Hotel; E! Entertainment; Daily Variety; The Hollywood Reporter; Film clip from ‘Yojimbo’ courtesy of Transit Films, Germany; Billboard Magazine used courtesy of BPI Communications, Inc.; Fortune Magazine logo and trademark used with permission of Time Inc. Magazine Company; MTV: Music Television logos provided courtesy of MTV Networks.