FAQ for
Romancing the Stone (1984) More at IMDbPro »

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags are used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for Romancing the Stone can be found here.

No. Romancing the Stone is based on an original screenplay by American screenwriter Diane Thomas [1946-1985]. The story goes that Thomas was working as a waitress and pitched her screenplay to one of her customers -- Michael Douglas. Thomas was killed in 1985 while riding in her Porsche that had been given to her by Douglas as thanks for her work with him on the movie. The movie was novelized from the script by American author Catherine Lanigan in conjunction with the release of the film in 1984. A sequel, The Jewel of the Nile, followed in 1985.

Cartegena, Columbia is on the Caribbean coast of northwestern South America. Columbia is the first South American country you would enter if you were driving from Central America through Panama to South America. Upon entering Columbia, turn north, head up the coast, and you will eventually get to Cartegena. A map of Columbia showing Cartegena can be seen here. Although Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) originally planned to go to Cartegena in Bolívar province, she wound up in Cordóba province, which is to the south of Cartegena. Cordoba province's capital is Montería, also visible on the map.

It was mailed to her from Columbia by her sister Elaine (Mary Ellen Trainor)'s husband Eduardo. He had made some bad deals with some Columbian nasties and had the map in his possession and would not give it up. This is why they killed him. He mailed it to Joan in New York on the day he was killed.

Joan and Jack (Michael Douglas) were drinking from an old bottle of José Cuervo tequilla.

Yes and yes. The bushmaster (Lachesis muta muta) is the largest venomous snake in the world. They've been known to grow to a length of 14 feet, although their average length is around six feet. The Bushmaster ranges in jungle environments throughout Central and South America.

Ralph (Danny DeVito) was driving an old Renault 4, Elaine was driving a shiny red Cobra, and the bellmaker (Alfonso Arau)'s "Little Mule" was a 1982 Ford Bronco.

He says, "I lost my langostino." Langostino can refer to several types of seafood but, in the context of the movie, it probably is referring to a type of prawn (shrimp).

The French title for this movie is À la Poursuite du Diamant Vert, [translation: In Pursuit of the Green Diamond], so el Corazon must be a green diamond aka an emerald.

Simply titled End Titles, the music was composed by American film score composer Alan Silvestri and played by the American jazz fusion band called Spyro Gyra.

After the alligator bites off Zolo (Manuel Ojeda)'s hand and swallows el corazon, it goes over the wall into the water and Jack dives after it. The scene changes back to Joan's publisher's office in New York. Gloria (Holland Taylor) is reading the ending of Joan's new book about her recent adventure...but with a slightly different ending (Jack meets her at the airport). The publisher says, "You're now a world-class hopeless romantic," and Joan corrects her. "HopeFUL remantic," she says. In the next scene, Joan is walking home with a bag of groceries, her hair flowing and a confident look on her face and in her step. She stops outside her apartment building where she sees a big sailboat parked in the street. Jack throws down a ladder, Joan climbs aboard, spots his alligator boots, and says "I like your boots." Jack replies, "Yeah, that poor old yellow-tailed guy developed a case of fatal indigestion. Died right in my arms." Joan says, "I can't blame him. If I were to die, there's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be." They kiss, and the boat "sails" down the street as the credits roll.

ANGELINA

Columbia