What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Brian Gibson

Writers (WGA):

Tina Turner (book) and
Kurt Loder (book) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 June 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

Not just the story of a life - The movie of a lifetime.

Plot:

A film about the singer Tina Turner and how she rose to stardom with her abusive husband Ike Turner and how she gained the courage to break free.

Plot Keywords:

Tina Turner | Singer | Love | Abusive Husband | 1980s

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 17	10:30 PM	VH1
Sat. July 18	6:30 PM	VH1

Cast

Angela Bassett	...	Anna Mae Bullock / Tina Turner
Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly	...	Young Anna Mae Bullock (as Rae'ven Kelly)
Virginia Capers	...	Choir Mistress
Laurence Fishburne	...	Ike Turner, Sr.
Khandi Alexander	...	Darlene
Dororthy Thorton	...	Choir Member
Demetrice Cheathon	...	Choir Member
Nita Woods Allen	...	Choir Member
Helen Marie Lovelace	...	Choir Member
Natalie Wilson	...	Choir Member
Seymour Daniel Jr.	...	Choir Member
David McKinney	...	Choir Member
Jayd Stanfield	...	Choir Member
Maurice O'Neal	...	Choir Member
Frank Rasberry	...	Choir Member
Monroe Howard	...	Choir Member
Serist Roberts	...	Choir Member
Wakeen Best	...	Choir Member
Michelle Andera Jackson	...	Choir Member
Francis Cheathon	...	Choir Member
Dena Ellerbee	...	Choir Member
Belldawn Best	...	Choir Member
Maggie McGee	...	Choir Member
Billie Barnum	...	Choir Member
Alfie Silas	...	Choir Member
Jeanne Steele	...	Choir Member
Oren Waters	...	Choir Member
Cassandra Thames	...	Choir Member
Valetta Barber	...	Choir Member
Reverend Emery Shaw	...	Organ Player
Cora Lee Day	...	Grandma Georgiana
Jenifer Lewis	...	Zelma Bullock
Phyllis Yvonne Stickney	...	Alline Bullock
Sherman Augustus	...	Reggie
Chi McBride	...	Fross (as Chi)
Terrence Riggins	...	Spider
Gene 'Groove' Allen	...	Club Announcer
Morris O'Connor	...	The Kings of Rhythm
Larry Washington	...	The Kings of Rhythm
Joe Allen	...	The Kings of Rhythm
Michael Sessions	...	The Kings of Rhythm
L. Van Taylor	...	The Kings of Rhythm
Jennifer Leigh Warren	...	Audience Female #1
Sonya Hensley	...	Audience Female #2
Leslie Thurston	...	Audience Female #3
Eartha Robinson	...	Audience Female #4
Kate Lanier	...	Stripper on Balcony
Vanessa Bell Calloway	...	Jackie
Penny Johnson	...	Lorraine Taylor
Jackie O'Brien	...	Boutique Clerk (as Jacqueline Woolsey)
Mayah McCoy	...	Young Hairdresser
Barry Shabaka Henley	...	El Paso Doctor (as Barry 'Shabaka' Henley)
Michael Colyar	...	Apollo Announcer
Rob LaBelle	...	Phil Spector
Patricia Sill	...	Spector's Assistant
Ronnie Turner	...	The Revue
Michael Butler	...	The Revue
Greg Cook	...	The Revue
Michael Smith	...	The Revue
Brian Cayle	...	The Revue
Darrel Richards	...	The Revue
Walter Davis	...	The Revue
Barry O'Neill	...	Kid #1
Alexandra Glazer	...	Kid #2 (as Ali Glazer)
Julie Phillips	...	Kid #3
Elijah Saleem	...	Ike Turner, Jr. (age 16)
Tyrandis Holmes	...	Young Ike Turner, Jr.
Jamaine Harrington	...	Young Michael Turner
Devon Davison	...	Young Ronnie Turner
Eric E. Thomas II	...	Young Craig Turner
Bo Kane	...	Dance Show Host (as Bob Kane)
Richard T. Jones	...	Ike Turner, Jr.
Shavar Ross	...	Michael Turner
Damon Hines	...	Ronnie Turner
Suli McCullough	...	Craig Turner
Daniel McDonald	...	London Announcer
Wynonna Smith	...	4th Ikette
Rose Jackson	...	5th Ikette (as Rosemarie Jackson)
Michael David Simms	...	Ike's Lawyer
John Fink	...	Anna's Lawyer
Rudolph Willrich	...	Judge
Irene DeBari	...	ICU Nurse
Terrence Evans	...	Bus Driver
Richard Stay	...	Partygoer #1
Nelson Parks	...	Partygoer #2
Matt Kirkwood	...	Partygoer #3
Javi Mulero	...	Bellhop
Joe Vant	...	Hotel Clerk
O'Neal Compton	...	George (the Ramada Inn Manager)
Michael Monks	...	Hotel Porter
James Reyne	...	Roger Davies
James Ralston	...	Guitarist
Timmy Cappello	...	Keyboards Player
Jack Bruno	...	Drummer
Bob Feit	...	Bass Player
Kenny Moore	...	Piano Player
Daniel Allan Carlin	...	Conductor
Dean Minerd	...	Stage Hand
Fred Ponzlov	...	Manager #1
Tom De Carlo	...	Manager #2
Richard Livingston	...	Manager #3 (as Richard B. Livingston)
Louis Mawcinitt	...	Manager #4
Owen Bush	...	Old Man
Herb Muller	...	Old Man #2
Sparkle	...	Old Woman #1
Helen Brown	...	Old Woman #2
David Fresco	...	Old Man #3
Page Mosely	...	Ritz Announcer
Lorna Scott	...	Nurse
Rick Felkins	...	Stage Manager
Robert Lesser	...	Fairmount M.C.
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tina Turner	...	Herself (singing voice) (also archive footage)
Ryal Haakenson	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)
Pamela Tyson	...	Leanne (uncredited)
Leonardo Velez	...	Mexican minister of the peace (uncredited)

Directed by
Brian Gibson

Writing credits (WGA)
Tina Turner		(book "I, Tina") and
Kurt Loder		(book "I, Tina")
Kate Lanier		(screenplay)

Produced by
Doug Chapin	....	producer
Roger Davies	....	executive producer
Mario Iscovich	....	executive producer
Pat Kehoe	....	co-producer
Barry Krost	....	producer

Original Music by
Stanley Clarke

Cinematography by
Jamie Anderson

Film Editing by
Stuart H. Pappé		(as Stuart Pappé)

Casting by
Reuben Cannon

Production Design by
Stephen Altman

Art Direction by
Richard L. Johnson		(as Richard Johnson)

Set Decoration by
Rick Simpson

Costume Design by
Ruth E. Carter		(as Ruth Carter)

Makeup Department
Bernadine M. Anderson	....	makeup artist
Jane Aull	....	makeup artist
Marietta Carter-Narcisse	....	makeup designer (as Marietta A. Carter)
Sheila Evers	....	makeup artist
Carolyn Ferguson	....	hair stylist (as Caroline Ferguson)
Cat'ania McCoy-Howze	....	makeup artist
Geri B. Oppenheim	....	makeup artist
Wynona Price	....	makeup artist (as Wynona Y. Price)
Elaina P. Schulman	....	assistant hair style consultant
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair designer
Ann Wadlington	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Pat Kehoe	....	unit production manager
Michele Weisler	....	production supervisor
Alex Schwartz	....	production executive: Disney/Touchstone (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clare Durand	....	dga trainee
Hilbert Hakim	....	second second assistant director
Sandra M. Middleton	....	second assistant director (as Sandra Middleton)
Kimberly Sizemore	....	additional second second assistant director (as Kimberly J. Sizemore)
Rebecca Strickland	....	additional second second assistant director
Barry K. Thomas	....	first assistant director (as Barry Thomas)
Michael Winter	....	additional second second assistant director

Art Department
Jeff Ackerman	....	assistant property master
Tom Altobello	....	assistant property master
Will Blount	....	property master (as William Blount)
Chris Buchinsky	....	illustrator
Mike Higelmire	....	lead man
David Hopkins	....	set dresser
David B. Long	....	construction foreman
Douglas McKay	....	lead man (as Douglas James McKay)
Michael Mikita	....	stand-by painter (as Mike Mikita)
Luigi Mugavero	....	lead man
Monica Ragan	....	assistant property master
Michael Reinhart	....	construction coordinator
David Ronan	....	on-set dresser
John A. Scott III	....	lead man
Lauren York	....	construction foreman
Cosmas A. Demetriou	....	set designer (uncredited)
Glenn Forbes	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Ted Haigh	....	graphic designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bruce Bell	....	sound editor
Alan Bromberg	....	sound editor (as Allan Bromberg)
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer (as David Campbell)
Jane E. Carpenter	....	supervising adr editor (as Jane Carpenter-Wilson)
Jeff Clark	....	sound editor
Marilyn Graf	....	foley mixer
Dale Johnston	....	sound editor
Hudson B. Marquez	....	cable person
Lori Martino	....	assistant sound editor
James Moriana	....	foley artist
Colin C. Mouat	....	sound editor (as Colin Mowat)
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording mixer (as John Reitz)
Art Rochester	....	production sound mixer (as Arthur Rochester)
Gregg Rudloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Douglas J. Schulman	....	boom operator
Solange S. Schwalbe	....	sound editor
John Stacy	....	supervising sound editor
Winfred Tennison	....	cable person
Dan Thomas	....	sound editor
Bill Weinman	....	assistant sound editor
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist
Jim Borgardt	....	adr editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
James Fredburg	....	special effects coordinator (as James K. Fredburg)

Visual Effects by
Bruce A. Block	....	matte cameraman

Stunts
LaFaye Baker	....	stunts (as La Faye Baker)
Kym Washington	....	stunt double
Kym Washington	....	stunts (as Kym Washinton)
William Washington	....	stunt coordinator
Eddie L. Watkins	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
John Bertram	....	grip
Billy Clevenger	....	first assistant camera (as William G. Clevenger)
R. Scott Goodrich	....	second assistant camera
Conrad W. Hall	....	camera operator
Steve Hastings	....	best boy rigger
Sidney James	....	supervisor: on-camera musicians
Scott C. Keys	....	rigging electrician
Kevin J. Lang	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Al LaVerde	....	key grip
Louis Mawcinitt	....	lighting design consultant
Steven C. McGee	....	chief lighting technician (as Steve McGee)
John Powers	....	grip
D. Stevens	....	still photographer
Ty Suehiro	....	best boy grip
Ty Suehiro	....	dolly grip
Clarence Tindell	....	grip
Scott Tindell	....	grip (as Scott A. Tindell)
Clay H. Wilson	....	best boy grip
Michael S. Endler	....	first assistant camera: second camera (uncredited)
Ron Newburn	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
David Giella	....	casting associate
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Leigh Ann Oshirak	....	casting assistant
Marshall Peck	....	extras casting
Patrick Cunningham	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joe Diaz	....	costumer
Darryle Johnson	....	contributing costume designer
Jennifer Lax	....	key costumer
Robert Mata	....	on-set costumer
Rita McGhee	....	on-set costumer
Susie Money	....	key costumer
Hector Morales	....	costume supervisor
Tracey White	....	costumer
Dana R. Woods	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
David Bryden	....	color timer
Tara Duncan	....	apprentice editor
Thomas J. Finnan	....	additional film editor
Moonstar Greene	....	assistant editor
Mike Hill	....	additional film editor (as Michael J. Hill)
Kevin Lindstrom	....	assistant editor (as Kevin J. Lindstrom)
Paula McKee	....	first assistant editor
Maria Montoreano	....	second assistant editor
Paisley Pappé-Iredell	....	assistant editor (as Paisley Pappé)
David Rawlins	....	additional film editor (as Dave Rawlins)
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Kristina Trirogoff	....	apprentice editor
Albert Coleman	....	first assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Daniel Allan Carlin	....	music supervisor
Jeff Carson	....	music editor
Tony DeFranco	....	song production coordinator
Jorge Del Barrio	....	conductor (as George Del Barrio)
Jorge Del Barrio	....	orchestrator (as George Del Barrio)
Jessica Drake	....	vocal coach: Ike and Tina
Dan Humann	....	music scoring mixer
Charles Martin Inouye	....	music editor
Daryl B. Kell	....	assistant music editor (as Daryl Kell)
William Kidd	....	conductor
William Kidd	....	orchestrator
Chris Lord-Alge	....	music mixer: songs
Chris Lord-Alge	....	music recordist: songs
Joseph Magee	....	music mixer: songs
Allen Sides	....	music scoring mixer
Michael Thompson	....	musician: guitar solos
Fred Vogler	....	music playback operator
Reggie Wilson	....	orchestra contractor

Transportation Department
William Hogue	....	driver
Maylon Houston	....	transportation coordinator (as Maylon 'Skook' Houston)
Ron Kelley	....	transportation captain (as Ron Kelly)
Robert Neilson	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Kent Belli	....	second assistant accountant
Noel Bermudez	....	production accountant
Richard Davis Jr.	....	location manager (as Richard Davis)
John Dennis	....	assistant to producers
Terry J. Erdmann	....	unit publicist (as Terry Erdmann)
Michael Ferron	....	assistant: Mr. Carlin
Dominic Fidelibus	....	supervising copyist
Linda Folsom	....	production coordinator
Jill Rene Gilbert	....	assistant to executive producer (as Jill Gilbert)
Dawn Gilliam	....	script supervisor
Jay Gowey	....	location representative: Harbor Star Stage
Bonnie Hamilton	....	technical advisor
Jane Harrison	....	first assistant accountant
Jody Hummer	....	location manager
Kenneth Iwamasa	....	assistant: Mr. Chapin
Stephanie Koules	....	assistant: Mr. Gibson
Steven D. Levine	....	assistant location manager (as Steve Levine)
Kurt Loder	....	consultant
Rick Marcena	....	construction accountant
Vicki Matlin	....	caterer
Peter Pav	....	production assistant
Michael Peters	....	choreographer
Angelo Rivers	....	head wrangler
Eartha Robinson	....	assistant choreographer
Deborah Ross	....	title designer
Andrew T. Rothmund	....	assistant: Ms. Bassett
Eleva Singleton	....	production assistant (as D. Eleva Singleton)
Kevin Beard	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jeff Coopwood	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Deanna Esmaeel	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Barbara Gregson	....	film researcher (uncredited)
Kevin Longden	....	guitar coach: Mr. Fishburne (uncredited)
Gabriel Trupin	....	dancer (uncredited)

Thanks
Rhonda Graam	....	special thanks
Chuck Lanham	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Touchstone Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox Network (1996) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• C.B. Films (Spain)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Touchstone Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Touchstone Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Summersalt Equi-Service Ltd.  animal training
• Walt Disney Pictures and Television  for purposes of copyright law in the United Kingdom this picture was created by

Also Known As:

Tina: What's Love Got to Do with It (Australia) (UK)

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | Iceland:12 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:M18 | Argentina:18 | Canada:18A | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 (bw) | Netherlands:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

Jenifer Lewis, who plays Tina's mother in this film, originally auditioned to play Tina Turner. Lewis is only two years older than Angela Bassett, who plays Tina.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Ike and Tina are fighting at the pool, Ike's lips don't move as he shouts at her.

Quotes:

Judge: I want you to be very sure about this. This means you're gonna walk out of here with absolutely nothing.
Tina Turner: Except my name. I'll give up all that other stuff, but only if I get to keep my name. I've worked to hard for it, your honor.
Ike Turner, Sr.: The name is mine. The name got my daddy’s blood on it. If she wanna go, she can go wherever she wanna go, but the name stays home!

Movie Connections:

Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers: America's Most Inspiring Movies (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Why Must We Wait Until Tonight

Memorable Performances For Intense Drama

Celebrity bio-pics are very hit or miss, but once in a great while a really good one comes along--and WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT is one of them. Based on the autobiography of Tina Turner, the film offers a glossy but intense portrait of her rapid rise to stardom under the sponsorship of husband-manager Ike Turner--a relationship that quickly turned dark and became increasingly abusive as Tina's fame began to outstrip Ike's own.

Although the film is a bit on the obvious side, it is well-crafted and the two leads offer powerhouse performances. Angela Bassett is simply astonishing as Tina Turner; where most other actresses might have simply imitated, Bassett accomplishes the impossible: she makes you believe that she is Tina Turner, capturing both Tina's famous on-stage performing style (the concert scenes are really exciting) and giving a completely believable interpretation of her off-stage personality as well. The script offers Laurence Fishburne little more than a one-dimensional role, but he plays it brilliantly from start to finish, and both are well supported by the overall cast.

There is certainly a great deal more to the lives of both Ike and Tina Turner than this film conveys--but what it does show it presents with considerable power and conviction, and by the time Tina finally hits back at Ike you'll be roaring for her to hit him again--and again--and again--and eager to see her finally triumph entirely on her own. Recommended.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer