Wild at Heart (1990)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

David Lynch

Writers (WGA):

Barry Gifford (novel)
David Lynch (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 August 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Plot:

Young lovers Sailor and Lula run from the variety of weirdos that Lula's mom has hired to kill Sailor.

Plot Keywords:

Hitman | Lover | Hate | Prison | Car Accident

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Nicolas Cage	...	Sailor Ripley
Laura Dern	...	Lula Fortune
Willem Dafoe	...	Bobby Peru
J.E. Freeman	...	Marcelles Santos
Crispin Glover	...	Dell
Diane Ladd	...	Marietta Fortune
Calvin Lockhart	...	Reggie
Isabella Rossellini	...	Perdita Durango
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Johnnie Farragut
Grace Zabriskie	...	Juana Durango
Sherilyn Fenn	...	Girl in Accident
Marvin Kaplan	...	Uncle Pooch
William Morgan Sheppard	...	Mr. Reindeer (as W. Morgan Sheppard)
David Patrick Kelly	...	Dropshadow
Freddie Jones	...	George Kovich
John Lurie	...	Sparky
Jack Nance	...	00 Spool
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Buddy
Gregg Dandridge	...	Bob Ray Lemon
Glenn Walker Harris Jr.	...	Pace Fortune
Frances Bay	...	Madam
Blair Bruce Bever	...	Hotel Custodian
Sally Boyle	...	Aunt Rootie
Peter Bromilow	...	Hotel Manager
Lisa Ann Cabasa	...	Reindeer Dancer
Frank A. Caruso	...	Old Bum (scenes deleted)
Frank Collison	...	Timmy Thompson
Eddy Dixon	...	Rex
Brent David Fraser	...	Idiot Punk (as Brent Fraser)
Cage S. Johnson	...	Man at Shell Station
Sheryl Lee	...	Good Witch
Valli Leigh	...	Mr. Reindeer's Resident Valet #2
Nicholas Love	...	Man in Wheelchair (as Nick Love)
Daniel Quinn	...	Young Cowboy
Mia M. Ruiz	...	Mr. Reindeer's Resident Valet #1
Charlie Spradling	...	Irma
Billy Swan	...	Billy Swan
KoKo Taylor	...	Singer at Zanzibar (as Koko Taylor)
Ed Wright	...	Desk Clerk
Darrell Zwerling	...	Singer's Manager
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Zachery Berger	...	Man in Gents' Room (scenes deleted)
Scott Coffey	...	Billy (scenes deleted)
Jack Jozefson	...	Chet (scenes deleted)
Tommy G. Kendrick	...	Red (scenes deleted)
Bellina Logan	...	Beany Thorn (scenes deleted)
Albert Popwell	...	Barkeeper at Zanzibar (scenes deleted)
Shawne Rowe	...	Waitress (scenes deleted)
Michele Seipp	...	Girl at Zanzibar (scenes deleted)
Bob Terhune	...	Earl Kovich (scenes deleted)
Tracey Walter	...	Traveller (scenes deleted)
Debra Lamb	...	Fire Eater at Party (uncredited)
Neil Summers	...	Cop (uncredited)

Directed by
David Lynch

Writing credits (WGA)
Barry Gifford		(novel "Wild at Heart: The Story of Sailor and Lula")
David Lynch		(screenplay)

Produced by
Steve Golin	....	producer
Michael Kuhn	....	executive producer
Monty Montgomery	....	producer
Sigurjon Sighvatsson	....	producer

Original Music by
Angelo Badalamenti

Cinematography by
Frederick Elmes		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Duwayne Dunham

Casting by
Johanna Ray

Production Design by
Patricia Norris

Costume Design by
Amy Stofsky

Makeup Department
Fríða Aradóttir	....	hair stylist (as Frida Aradottir)
Brian Blair	....	makeup effects assistant (as Bryan Blair)
Michelle Bühler	....	makeup artist (as Michelle Buhler)
Denise Dellavalle	....	hair assistant
Denise Dellavalle	....	makeup assistant
Louis Lazzara	....	special makeup effects
David B. Miller	....	special makeup effects

Production Management
Kool Lusby	....	production manager (as Kool Marder)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steven Hirsch	....	second assistant director
Margaux Mackay	....	first assistant director
Charles Myers	....	first assistant director (as Myers)
Deepak Nayar	....	second assistant director
W. Thomas Snyder	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Charles Armstrong	....	construction coordinator
Gretchen Armstrong	....	chief scenic artist (as Gretchen Adele Armstrong)
Kenneth Berg	....	construction foreman (as Kenneth J. Berg)
Paul Burge	....	carpenter
David A. Carpender	....	props assistant (as David Carpender)
Daniel Kuttner	....	on-set dresser
Leonardo	....	art department assistant
Nancy Martinelli	....	art department coordinator
Adam Morris	....	art department assistant
J.K. Nageldinger	....	carpenter
Frank Silva	....	property master
Christopher Stone	....	art department assistant
Leslie Weimer	....	scenic artist
Marion C. Weimer-Mirley	....	scenic artist (as Marion Weimer)
Roger L.C. Williams	....	art department assistant
Deborah Winship	....	set decorating assistant

Sound Department
Sara Bolder	....	dialogue editor
Kim Cascone	....	assistant sound editor
Scott Chandler	....	foley recordist
Luis Colina	....	sound effects editor
Frank E. Eulner	....	assistant sound editor (as Frank Eulner)
Ken Fischer	....	sound effects editor
Rob Fruchtman	....	dialogue editor (as Robert Fruchtman)
Kristen Gerstner	....	assistant sound editor
J.R. Grubbs	....	assistant sound editor
Scott Guitteau	....	assistant sound editor
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist (as Gary Hecker)
Jon Huck	....	sound mixer
Richard Hymns	....	supervising sound editor
Donna Jaffe	....	assistant sound editor
Tom Myers	....	sound re-recordist
John Nutt	....	dialogue editor
Jenny Oznowicz	....	assistant sound editor
David Parker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Catherine Rowe	....	foley artist
Susan Sanford	....	assistant sound editor
Rob Scott	....	boom operator (as Robert A. Scott)
Michael Silvers	....	dialogue editor
Randy Thom	....	sound designer
Randy Thom	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Verbeck	....	dialogue editor
John Wentworth	....	sound effects recordist
Gwendolyn Yates Whittle	....	assistant sound editor
Dennis Leonard	....	additional re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Dennis Leonard	....	post-production sound engineer (uncredited)
David E. Turner	....	machine room operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David Domeyer	....	special effects/pyrotechnics
Eddie Paul	....	mechanical effects
Don Power	....	special effects

Stunts
Michael Adams	....	stunts
Mike Ceballos	....	stunts
Roydon Clark	....	stunts
Gregg Dandridge	....	stunts
Ousaun Elam	....	stunts
Donna Evans	....	stunts
Ralph Garrett	....	stunts
Orwin C. Harvey	....	stunts (as Orwin Harvey)
Loren Janes	....	stunts
Steve Kelso	....	stunts
Hannah Kozak	....	stunts
Bernie Pock	....	stunts
Wally Rose	....	stunts
Joseph Michael Roth	....	stunts
Jeff Smolek	....	stunt coordinator
Neil Summers	....	stunts
Bob Terhune	....	stunts
Eddie Wong	....	stunts
Hannah Kozak	....	stunt double: Isabella Rossellini (uncredited)
Joseph Michael Roth	....	stunt double: Nicolas Cage (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Stuart Abramson	....	dolly grip (as Stuart M. Abramson)
Steve Alessi	....	grip (as Steve N. Alessi)
Kurek Ashley	....	grip
Corwin A. Bibb	....	grip
Curtis Bradford	....	grip (as Curtiss Bradford)
Katherine M. Butler	....	second assistant camera
John Carney	....	best boy (as John F. Carney)
Malcolm Doran II	....	grip
David Dubois	....	rigging gaffer (as David W. Dubois)
Paul Enger	....	grip: El Paso
Cobie Fair	....	grip
John Gutierrez	....	grip: El Paso
Charles Hardesty	....	electrician: El Paso
Paul Hauser	....	electrician
George A. Hock	....	grip
Irv Katz	....	best boy
Chris Kiperman	....	grip
Dan Kneece	....	Steadicam operator
Kim Kono	....	electrician (as Kim K. Koko)
Jules Labarthe	....	electrician
Elliott Marks	....	special photographer
Bruce McCleery	....	rigging gaffer (as R. Bruce McCleery)
Bill McCord	....	grip/electric: New Orleans
Dana McCormick	....	grip/electric: New Orleans
Renton-Paul Medcalf	....	grip
Randy Ratliff	....	grip
Patrick Reddish	....	gaffer
Michael Shore	....	key grip
Michael L. Smith	....	grip/electric: New Orleans (as Mike Smith)
Rob Sweeney	....	first assistant camera
Jimmy Trotter	....	grip/electric: New Orleans
John Vecchio	....	electrician
Wayne Wheeland	....	grip
Nicholas Woodring	....	grip/electric: New Orleans
Kimberly Wright	....	still photographer
Edward A. Gutentag	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Dean Anthony	....	extras casting
Eric DaRe	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cheri Reed	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Brian Berdan	....	first assistant film editor
Deborah Gavlak	....	second assistant film editor (as Debra Gavlak)
Vivian Hengsteler	....	negative cutter
Jenny Hicks	....	second assistant film editor (as Jennifer Hicks)
Ute Leonhardt	....	post-production coordinator
Danielle Liekefet	....	post-production coordinator
Dan Muscarella	....	color timer
Mary Sweeney	....	first assistant film editor

Music Department
Peter Afterman	....	music consultant
Jon Huck	....	music consultant
David Lynch	....	composer: additional music
G. Marq Roswell	....	music supervisor (as Mark Roswell)
David Slusser	....	music editor
Sharal Churchill	....	music consultant (uncredited)
Kevin Laffey	....	music consultant (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Carol Autenrieth	....	driver
Elven Barrow	....	driver: New Orleans (as Elvin Barrow)
T. Bone	....	driver: El Paso (as Bone)
Dan Brizendine	....	transportation captain
Charles Burdette	....	driver: New Orleans
Chris Clark	....	driver: art department
Mike Clark	....	driver
Thomas P. Donovan	....	driver
Charles Franklin	....	driver: New Orleans
David Harrison	....	driver: New Orleans
Allan W. Herendeen	....	driver
Earl R. Hurst Sr.	....	transportation captain: New Orleans (as Earl Hurst)
Darwin Joston	....	driver
Steve Mann	....	driver (as Steven Mann)
David Milchen	....	transportation captain: El Paso
Shawn Solomon	....	driver
Allan Tietjen	....	driver
Russ Tolliver	....	driver (as Russell Tolliver)
John Yarbrough	....	transportation coordinator (as John 'J.D.' Yarbrough)

Other crew
Susan Carney	....	assistant to producers
Beth Denton	....	office production assistant: New Orleans
Julie Duvic	....	liaison (as Julie D. Duvic)
Kimberly Edwards	....	production accountant
Christy Fiero	....	production assistant (as Christy Susskind)
Robin Ginsberg	....	post-production accountant
Arthur Girard	....	set production assistant: New Orleans
Kelly Hauser	....	location assistant: El Paso
James Intveld	....	voice consultant
Mike Johnson	....	fire advisor
Jon Juhlin	....	office production assistant
Cheryl Kurk	....	assistant production coordinator (as Cheryl A. Kurk)
Luis Lara	....	caterer
Mara Lee	....	set production assistant
Darren Leno	....	set production assistant: New Orleans
Steve Ligorio	....	craft service: El Paso
Bruce Loeb	....	set security
Maurice Lospinoso	....	office production assistant (as Maurice 'Moe' Lospinoso)
Patricia Serafina Madiedo	....	production coordinator: New Orleans (as Pat Mediedo)
Tara Martin	....	location assistant: New Orleans
Janet McMinn	....	office production assistant: El Paso
Richard Murken	....	key production assistant (as Richard F. Murken)
Robert A. Neft	....	production assistant (as Robert Neft)
Kathryn Powell	....	production coordinator: El Paso
Heidrun Reshöft	....	assistant to producers (as Heidrun Reshoeft)
Eric L. Roberts	....	craft service
Alessandro Rossellini	....	set production assistant
John Schluter	....	police liaison: New Orleans
Mildred Schluter	....	first aid: New Orleans (as Millie Schluter)
Mildred Schluter	....	nurse: New Orleans (as Millie Schluter)
Ivan E. Schwarz	....	assistant liaison (as Ivan Schwarz)
Bob Shapiro	....	assistant accountant (as "Mr. Bob" Shapiro)
Wayne Softley	....	craft service: New Orleans
Brian Steward	....	production assistant (as Brian Stewart)
Mary Sweeney	....	script supervisor
Debby Trutnik	....	assistant: Mr. Lynch
Ruth Turman	....	set production assistant: New Orleans
Mira Tweti	....	unit publicist (as Mira S. Tweti)
Kimberley Vashiell	....	choreographer (as Kimberly Vashiell)
Aron Warner	....	completion bond
Marjorie Webster	....	production coordinator
Rusty Wheaton	....	first aid: El Paso
Steven Wood	....	set medic
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic (uncredited)
Brian McMillan	....	head animal trainer (uncredited)
Lenny Neimark	....	location assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Sidney J. Barthelemy	....	special thanks (as New Orleans Mayor Sidney J. Barthelemy)
Kimberly M. Carbo	....	special thanks
Rick Dinome	....	special thanks
Will Evans	....	special thanks
Tom McDermott	....	special thanks
Sheila Metzner	....	special thanks
Wingols Mielke	....	special thanks
Malcolm Ritchie	....	special thanks
Nigel Sinclair	....	special thanks
Jon Turtle	....	special thanks (as John Turtle)
Kurt Woolner	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
• Propaganda Films

Distributors

• Bac Films (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• Háskólabíó (1990) (Iceland) (theatrical)
• Palace Pictures (1990) (UK) (theatrical)
• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Astro Distribution (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Media Home Entertainment (video)
• Panarecord (Italy) (VHS)
• Transvídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Video (2005) (UK) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Dreamstate Effects
• Visual Concept Engineering (VCE) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• City of New Orleans Film Committee, The  special thanks
• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  film processing
• Creative Casting  extras casting
• Film Finances  completion bond company
• Mercury Records  soundtrack
• Michelson Food Services  catering
• New Orleans Film Commission, The  film commission
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• People of New Orleans, The  special thanks
• Rescues Unlimited  on-set medical services
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Sinclair, Tenenbaum & Co. Inc.  production legal services
• Skywalker Sound North  sound services
• Texas Film Commission  special thanks
• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars
• Working Title Films  special thanks

Also Known As:

David Lynch's Wild at Heart (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

USA:R (cut) | New Zealand:R18 | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-15 (DVD version) | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Castle Green Apartments - 99 S. Raymond, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

Trivia:

During filming, Laura Dern passed out when David Lynch asked her to smoke four cigarettes at once in one deep inhalation. When she came to, she saw a worried Lynch standing above her asking: "Tidbit! Are you alright?"

Goofs:

Continuity: When they are in bed - he has a shirt on in one shot, the other one it's off, and then on again.

Quotes:

Lula: One of these days the sun's gonna come up and burn a hole clean through the planet like a giant electrical x-ray.
Sailor: I wouldn't worry about that, Peanut. By then people'll prob'ly be drivin Buicks to the moon.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Creeps (1997)

Soundtrack:

Chrysanthemum

Lynch on the road to hell

The most creative and controversial director in cinema is back with a road-movie! Wild at Heart is one rough roller coaster ride and a typical Lynch-cocktail of violence, sex and of course…bizarre characters. I challenge you to find one personality in this film that could be referred to as a ‘normal human being'. As usually, Lynch introduces a bunch of wicked individuals in his film who're all messed up in the head pretty bad. Yet, I feel like Wild at Heart might be Lynch's most accessible film (outside The Elephant Man and The Straight Story). The structure remains chronological and quite easy to follow. Unlike the previous Blue Velvet, I feel like the plot and development of Wild at Heart is a bit inferior to the wonderful photography. The greatest aspects in the screenplay are in fact the delicious side-chapters that are told without absolute necessity. Like the story about Lula's cousin Dell (Crispin Glover), the torture of Harry Dean Stanton's character and the nasty and disturbing images of a car accident the protagonists come across. These are the little sequences that truly prove Lynch's talent as a storyteller. Overall and simply put: this movie is COOL! It's a joy to watch and you really hate to love some of the offensive characters. Willem Dafoe takes the cake as Bobby Peru. His portrayal is a neat follow-up to Blue Velvet's Frank Booth. Peru is a filthy and despicable pervert with itchy-trigger-fingers! It's a damn shame he hasn't got any more screen time. Wild at Heart surely isn't the greatest masterpiece out there, but you should love it for what it is: an absurd and entertaining adventure with a couple of thought-provoking values and an extraordinary love-lesson.