The Thing Called Love
(1993)
PG-13 | 116 mins | Drama | 27 August 1993
Director:
Peter BogdanovichWriter:
Carol HeikkinenProducer:
John DavisCinematographer:
Peter JamesEditor:
Terry StokesProduction Designer:
Michael SeymourProduction Company:
Paramount PicturesCarol Heikkenin made her feature film screenwriting debut with The Thing Called Love. According to a 15 Aug 1993 Chicago Tribune article, Heikkenin was inspired to write the screenplay after viewing an episode of the television news program 48 Hours, which featured a ten-minute segment on the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN, a live-music venue noted for launching the careers of country music performers Garth Brooks, Pam Tillis, Hal Ketchum, Kathy Mattea, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. A 14 Dec 1992 DV item stated that co-producer Darlene K. Chan first brought the script to Paramount Pictures in the fall of 1991. However, a conflicting report in the 20 Dec 1992 NYT claimed that producer John Davis brought the project to the studio in Feb 1992. Paramount optioned the script for $70,000 against a mid-$200,000 purchase price, as announced in the 19 Feb 1992 DV. The studio had been seeking a country music project to capitalize on the genre’s “spreading popularity,” and planned to fast-track the film.
Brian Gibson was hired to direct. He cast Mary Stuart Masterson in the leading role, as announced in a 7 Aug 1992 Screen International item, that attributed the screenplay to Carol Heikkinen and Amy Jones, although Jones does not receive onscreen credit. Roughly one month before filming was slated to begin on 5 Oct 1992, Brian Gibson dropped out of the project. The 27 Aug 1992 DV stated that the director had been offered a more lucrative “pay-or-play” deal to direct What’s Love Got To Do with It (1993, see entry). After receiving the offer, ...
Carol Heikkenin made her feature film screenwriting debut with The Thing Called Love. According to a 15 Aug 1993 Chicago Tribune article, Heikkenin was inspired to write the screenplay after viewing an episode of the television news program 48 Hours, which featured a ten-minute segment on the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN, a live-music venue noted for launching the careers of country music performers Garth Brooks, Pam Tillis, Hal Ketchum, Kathy Mattea, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. A 14 Dec 1992 DV item stated that co-producer Darlene K. Chan first brought the script to Paramount Pictures in the fall of 1991. However, a conflicting report in the 20 Dec 1992 NYT claimed that producer John Davis brought the project to the studio in Feb 1992. Paramount optioned the script for $70,000 against a mid-$200,000 purchase price, as announced in the 19 Feb 1992 DV. The studio had been seeking a country music project to capitalize on the genre’s “spreading popularity,” and planned to fast-track the film.
Brian Gibson was hired to direct. He cast Mary Stuart Masterson in the leading role, as announced in a 7 Aug 1992 Screen International item, that attributed the screenplay to Carol Heikkinen and Amy Jones, although Jones does not receive onscreen credit. Roughly one month before filming was slated to begin on 5 Oct 1992, Brian Gibson dropped out of the project. The 27 Aug 1992 DV stated that the director had been offered a more lucrative “pay-or-play” deal to direct What’s Love Got To Do with It (1993, see entry). After receiving the offer, Gibson allegedly asked Paramount to match the deal, but when Paramount agreed after some hesitation, Gibson had already committed to the other film.
An item in the 1 Sep 1992 HR announced that Peter Bogdanovich was in talks to replace Gibson. Bogdanovich had recently abandoned his duties as head of the Venice Film Festival jury, one day prior to the festival’s opening, to work out a deal with Paramount executives in Los Angeles, CA. Bogdanovich’s involvement was confirmed in a 1 Oct 1992 HR item. 26-year-old Mary Stuart Masterson was replaced by 22-year-old Samantha Mathis, partly due to Bogdanovich’s belief that a younger cast would add “poignancy” to the story. Although the director initially thought River Phoenix was too big a star for the role of “James Wright,” Phoenix actively sought the part.
Paramount briefly considered setting the film in Texas and changing the name of the Bluebird Cafe to “Lucy’s Cafe.” However, when Bogdanovich came on board, he insisted on using the location that had first inspired the script. Principal photography began on 2 Nov 1992 in Nashville, where four weeks of filming took place. Actors, including River Phoenix, Heikkenin, and at least one other writer who went unnamed, continued revising the script, which was “frantically doctored” throughout filming, according to articles in the 5 Nov 1993 Seattle Times and 20 Dec 1992 NYT.
Nashville locations included the Bluebird Cafe exterior and surrounding parking lot. Although Bluebird proprietor Amy Kurland was amenable to filming inside the music venue, the interior was deemed too small, and a larger version was built on Stage 5 at Paramount Studios, as stated in production notes. Production delays were caused by cases of the flu and bronchitis that affected Bogdanovich, Phoenix, and actor Dermot Mulroney. Heavy rains in Los Angeles also led to thirteen days of rerouted location shooting. A 12 Feb 1993 LADN item announced the completion of principal photography three days over schedule.
As noted in an 11 Sep 1992 DV item, Paul Williams was initially hired to work on the soundtrack. However, he did not stay with the project. Executive music consultant J. Steven Soles stated in a 14 Dec 1992 DV article that filmmakers went for a “live approach to recording” songs as performed in the film. Several of the actors had musical backgrounds, including Phoenix, whose band, Aleka’s Attic, was formed in the late 1980s; Dermot Mulroney, a classically trained cellist; and Sandra Bullock, who studied piano and was the daughter of an opera singer. Prior to filming, River Phoenix worked with musician T. Bone Burnett on several songs, including “Lone Star State Of Mine,” for which the actor receives sole songwriting credit.
A 3 Nov 1993 DV “Just for Variety” column cited the budget as $10 million. Theatrical release was initially set for Apr 1993, but was delayed until 27 Aug 1993, when “test releases” were conducted in the following cities: Phoenix, AZ; Houston, TX; Denver, CO; Atlanta, GA; San Antonio, TX; New Orleans, LA; and Salt Lake City, UT. Despite some positive reviews, the regional releases were unsuccessful. The film subsequently opened on 12 Nov 1993 in Seattle, WA. A step-by-step release was set to follow, based on the success of the Seattle opening, but the film did not expand to other cities before its home video release. Nearly six years later, a 15 Jul 1999 NYT review stated the film received its New York City theatrical opening that day at Anthology Film Archives.
Shortly before the Seattle release, on 31 Oct 1993, 23-year-old River Phoenix died from a drug overdose at the Viper Room nightclub in Los Angeles. Co-star Samantha Mathis, who was then dating the actor, was present at the time of his death. When questioned about Phoenix’s drug use, Bogdanovich vehemently denied the actor used drugs on set, despite rumors that Phoenix had procured the drug Ecstasy in Nasvhille. A 7 Nov 1993 Long Beach Press-Telegram brief noted concerns that Phoenix’s death might negatively impact plans for a wider release. Although the film was never released in Los Angeles, it was screened at a tribute to Phoenix on 18 Nov 1993 at the Paramount Studio Theater.
The Thing Called Love marked Phoenix’s last completed feature film, although it was released before Silent Tongue (1994, see entry). At the time of his death, Phoenix had been shooting Dark Blood, an incomplete version of which was shown at several film festivals in 2012.
End credits include: “The producers gratefully acknowledge the following for their assistance and cooperation: Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.; The Bluebird Cafe; The Tennessee Entertainment and Music Film Commission and the people of Nashville”; and, “Film clips from John Ford’s ‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ used by permission.” Final acknowledgments include: "The Major League Baseball trademarks depicted in this motion picture were licensed by Major League Properties, Inc."
Aspiring singer-songwriter Miranda Presley arrives in Nashville, Tennessee, from New York City. She goes directly to the renowned Bluebird Cafe, to audition for “Writer’s Night,” a showcase for amateur country music performers. In the parking lot, Miranda runs into James Wright, and follows him inside. James apologizes to Lucy, the Bluebird’s owner, and claims he was helping Miranda with a flat tire. A stickler for the rules, Lucy refuses to allow James and Miranda to audition, and tells them to come back next week. Miranda reprimands James for lying about her, and he teases her before driving away in his pickup truck. Miranda checks into the Drake Motel, and goes to a nearby diner to write songs. At the next Writer’s Night audition, she performs a humorous song called “Big Bar Hair.” James Wright and his friend, Kyle Davidson, are both charmed by her performance. James sings a song about cheating, and is one of the few people Lucy selects to perform on Saturday night. In the parking lot, Miranda chats with James, Kyle, and the modestly talented but enthusiastic Linda Lue Linden. The four take a drive to a horse ranch, where Kyle falls off a horse and endures a mild concussion. He tells Miranda that, as a newcomer to Nashville, she must follow tradition by climbing to a rooftop and shouting, “Look out music city, cuz I’m here now and I ain’t never leaving!” When they take Kyle to the emergency room, Miranda is disturbed by the sight of a man on a gurney and flees. James follows her, and learns that Miranda’s father has recently died. She tells him that her mother left at an early ...
Aspiring singer-songwriter Miranda Presley arrives in Nashville, Tennessee, from New York City. She goes directly to the renowned Bluebird Cafe, to audition for “Writer’s Night,” a showcase for amateur country music performers. In the parking lot, Miranda runs into James Wright, and follows him inside. James apologizes to Lucy, the Bluebird’s owner, and claims he was helping Miranda with a flat tire. A stickler for the rules, Lucy refuses to allow James and Miranda to audition, and tells them to come back next week. Miranda reprimands James for lying about her, and he teases her before driving away in his pickup truck. Miranda checks into the Drake Motel, and goes to a nearby diner to write songs. At the next Writer’s Night audition, she performs a humorous song called “Big Bar Hair.” James Wright and his friend, Kyle Davidson, are both charmed by her performance. James sings a song about cheating, and is one of the few people Lucy selects to perform on Saturday night. In the parking lot, Miranda chats with James, Kyle, and the modestly talented but enthusiastic Linda Lue Linden. The four take a drive to a horse ranch, where Kyle falls off a horse and endures a mild concussion. He tells Miranda that, as a newcomer to Nashville, she must follow tradition by climbing to a rooftop and shouting, “Look out music city, cuz I’m here now and I ain’t never leaving!” When they take Kyle to the emergency room, Miranda is disturbed by the sight of a man on a gurney and flees. James follows her, and learns that Miranda’s father has recently died. She tells him that her mother left at an early age, and she grew up with only her dad, who was a big Elvis Presley fan. Miranda leads James to the hospital rooftop and shouts the “traditional” call Kyle taught her. James ridicules her at first, but joins in. Miranda returns to the Bluebird Cafe to get Lucy’s feedback on her songwriting. Lucy suggests Miranda needs to “dig deeper” and avoid “novelty” songwriting. Miranda begins working as a waitress at the Bluebird. During her shift on Saturday night, she sees James perform “Lone Star State Of Mine,” a song he began writing when they were together. Later that night, Miranda asks James to write a song with her. They drive to a hilltop overlooking a drive-in movie theater and improvise a song. When he drops her off at the Drake Motel, they kiss, and James promises to call her. To save money, Miranda shares a room with Linda Lue Linden, who fears she lacks musical talent and plans to enter the “Miss Nasvhille” beauty pageant. Kyle Davidson enlists Miranda to record his song, “I Can’t Understand.” He reveals his romantic feelings for her, but Miranda is more interested in James, even though he hasn’t called as promised. Miranda and Kyle record a “demo” of his song, and Miranda urges him to send it to country singer Trisha Yearwood, since Kyle once delivered pizza to Yearwood’s house. They go there and break into the singer’s car, leaving a cassette tape behind. However, police arrive and arrest them. Trisha Yearwood is called to the police station, but, having listened to Kyle’s song, she declines to press charges and promises to give the tape to her manager. Kyle and Miranda go dancing with Linda Lue and her new boyfriend, Billy. Unknown to Miranda, James is scheduled to perform. When he takes the stage, he sees Miranda and Kyle dancing together, and calls Miranda to the stage to sing with him. After performing with James, Miranda finds Kyle sulking. He warns her that James will never fall in love with her. She dismisses him and goes home with James. Shortly afterward, they move in together. On a night when Miranda is scheduled to work, James encourages her to call in sick. They go to Memphis to see Graceland, former home of Elvis Presley, but find it closed. James and Miranda sit in the back of his pickup truck listening to the radio. He tells her his father was a cheater, and would take James with him to visit his mistress. People in his hometown believe James will end up cheating, too, but he vows not to. At a convenience store, James uses a plastic ring from a candy machine to propose to Miranda. She thinks he is joking, but a convenience store clerk informs them that her brother is a minister, and James convinces Miranda to marry him then and there. Back in Nashville, James boasts to Kyle that Miranda makes a great wife, and Kyle fights him in the Bluebird Cafe parking lot. The next morning, Kyle wakes up hungover. He drives around in a stupor until he hears his song, recorded by Trisha Yearwood, on the radio. Stunned, he runs into the car in front of him, shouting, “That’s my song!” Meanwhile, James gets a deal to record an album in Austin, Texas, and tells Miranda he will be gone for a couple months. Offended that he would leave without inviting her, Miranda rips up their marriage license, and takes a bus back to New York City. However, halfway there, she becomes distracted while writing a song and misses getting back on the bus. In Austin, James misses Miranda and drives back to Nashville to see her. Miranda shows up at the Bluebird Cafe for the next Writer’s Night audition. She performs her new song, “Big Dream,” with Kyle, James, and Linda Lue in the audience. Miranda is finally selected to perform. James pulls her aside to apologize, and the couple is reunited. Linda Lue announces that she and Billy are going to New York, where she plans to pursue acting. Before leaving, she gives Kyle a sensual goodbye kiss and tells him he could have had her “for a song.” Miranda and James invite Kyle to go for a ride, and the three discuss ideas for new songs they will write together.
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