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IMDb > Romancing the Stone (1984)
Romancing the Stone
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Romancing the Stone (1984) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 47 | slideshow) Videos (see all 8)
Romancing the Stone (1984) -- A romance writer sets off to Colombia to ransom her kidnapped sister, and soon finds herself in the middle of a dangerous adventure.
Romancing the Stone (1984) -- Late in the evening, inside a wrecked airplane fuselage, Joan accuses Jack of not being a real man, until he cuts the head off a snake.
Romancing the Stone (1984) -- Joan Wilder returns home to discover her apartment has been ransacked and her sister is being held hostage in Colombia.
Romancing the Stone (1984) -- Jack and Joan take a wild ride down a muddy hillside.
Romancing the Stone (1984) -- Joan discovers an escape route across a deep gorge.

Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   21,168 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 4% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Robert Zemeckis
Writer:
Diane Thomas (written by)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Romancing the Stone on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
30 March 1984 (USA) more
Tagline:
She's a girl from the big city. He's a reckless soldier of fortune. For a fabulous treasure, they share an adventure no one could imagine... or survive.
Plot:
A romance writer sets off to Colombia to ransom her kidnapped sister, and soon finds herself in the middle of a dangerous adventure. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(17 articles)
Turner: 'Cage And I Are Friends Again'
 (From WENN. 23 February 2009, 4:06 AM, PST)

Romancing Remake
 (From The Hollywood News. 5 December 2008, 4:55 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Superb adventure-comedy more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Michael Douglas ... Jack T. Colton

Kathleen Turner ... Joan Wilder

Danny DeVito ... Ralph
Zack Norman ... Ira

Alfonso Arau ... Juan
Manuel Ojeda ... Zolo
Holland Taylor ... Gloria
Mary Ellen Trainor ... Elaine
Eve Smith ... Mrs. Irwin
Joe Nesnow ... Super
José Chávez ... Santos

Evita Muñoz 'Chachita' ... Hefty Woman (as Chachita)
Camillo García ... Bus Driver
Rodrigo Puebla ... Bad Hombre
Paco Morayta ... Hotel Clerk
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
2 bribones tras la esmeralda perdida (Mexico)
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Runtime:
106 min
Country:
Mexico | USA
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Portugal:M/6 | Ireland:15 (uncut) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Iceland:12 | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Spain:7 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (re-rating) (2001) (uncut) | UK:PG (original rating) (cut) | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The water taxi Joan Wilder rides to meet Ira is named "The Orca," which is also the name of Quint's boat in Jaws (1975). Jaws director Steven Spielberg produced director Robert Zemeckis' previous film, Used Cars (1980). Zemeckis also co-wrote Spielberg's 1941 (1979) which features a "Jaws" parody. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the drug dealer's village, Joan is told there is no telephone for many miles. Yet in the chase that ensues, many telephone poles with wires can be seen throughout the village. more
Quotes:
Jack Colton: My minimum price for taking a stranded lady to a telephone is 400 dollars.
Joan Wilder: Will you take 375 in traveler's checks?
Jack Colton: American Express?
Joan Wilder: Of course.
Jack Colton: You've got a deal.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Six Days Seven Nights (1998) more
Soundtrack:
ROMANCING THE STONE more

FAQ

How did Joan get the map?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
Is there really a snake called a bushmaster? Is it poisonous?
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20 out of 24 people found the following comment useful:-
Superb adventure-comedy, 6 January 2001
10/10
Author: jhaggardjr from Chicago, Illinois

"Romancing the Stone" is argubly my favorite adventure movie of all-time. Yep, in my opinion it surpasses all three movies in the "Indiana Jones" trilogy (which are right behind in terms of greatness). This movie has action, adventure, comedy, drama, and romance all rolled up into one great motion picture. Kathleen Turner stars as Joan Wilder, a romance novelist who flies to the South American country of Colombia to rescue her kidnapped sister. She's ordered by the kidnappers to bring a treasure map that she received in the mail with her to the Colombian city of Cartegna. Ms. Wilder ends up getting on the wrong bus that ends up taking her deep into the jungle where she meets a fortune hunter who saves her life in more ways than one. He also seems to resemble the hero in her books. Jack Colton, the fortune hunter, is played by Michael Douglas (who also produced the film) and he talks her into using the map to find the treasure. But they're not the only ones who are dying to get their hands on the treasure. A couple of bad guys are in hot pursuit of the two adventurers. There's Zolo (Manuel Ojeda), an evil colonel who's on to Ms. Wilder (and is the real nasty bad guy of the bunch); Ira (Zack Norman), one of the crazed kidnappers who's obsessed with crocodiles (he's always saying "Look at those snappers!"); and Ralph (Danny DeVito), Ira's bumbling cousin who goes to the airport to pick up Ms. Wilder, see's at the last second that she got on the wrong bus, and is forced to go into the jungle to find her. Even Ralph and Ira know that Zolo is bad news. There are also minor supporting characters in the film. There's Gloria (Holland Taylor from TV's "The Practice"), Ms. Wilder's publisher; Elaine (Mary Ellen Trainor), Ms. Wilder's sister; and Juan (Alfonso Arau), a Colombian native who actually turns out to be a huge fan of Ms. Wilder. In one very funny scene, Ms. Wilder and Mr. Colton go to the house of this man and ask him if they can borrow his car. The Colombian tells them to get lost, until he finds out that the woman is actually Joan Wilder the novelist, and admits that he's one of her biggest fans who has read every one of her books. He proceeds to help the two get out of a jam. "Romancing the Stone" has plenty of exhilarating action scenes, and a load of big laughs. This was director Robert Zemeckis' first hit movie (which he made before the original "Back to the Future"), and I still think this is his best film. Zemeckis is one of our best directors working today, and rarely (like Steven Spielberg and James Cameron) does he make a bad film. "Romancing the Stone" is a great movie. Turner is splendid as the novelist up to her neck in trouble; Douglas is terrific as her sidekick; and Norman and Arau are hilarious in smaller roles. But the one who provides the biggest laughs in the movie is Danny DeVito. He is literally a scream in "Romancing the Stone". I kept falling down on my side because he had me laughing so hard. This is one movie that's a must-see for people who like a mix of action, suspense, adventure, romance, thrills, and lots of comedy. One of the '80s best. Followed by the very good sequel "Jewel of the Nile".

**** (out of four)

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