Grace of My Heart (1996)

Director:

Allison Anders

Writer (WGA):

Allison Anders (written by)

Release Date:

13 September 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

For years her songs brought fame to other people. Then she found her own voice.

Plot:

An aspiring singer, Denise Waverly/Edna Buxton, sacrifices her own singing career to write hit songs that launch the careers of other singers...

Plot Keywords:

Rock Band | Adultery | Funeral | Topless | Beach House

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Illeana Douglas	...	Denise Waverly / Edna Buxton
Sissy Boyd	...	Dress Saleswoman
Christina Pickles	...	Mrs. Buxton
Jill Sobule	...	Singing Contestant
Jennifer Leigh Warren	...	Doris Shelley
Tegan West	...	M.C. at Talent Show
Richard Schiff	...	Audition Record Producer
Natalie Venetia Belcon	...	Betty
Kathy Barbour	...	Sha Sha
John Turturro	...	Joel Millner
Diane Robin	...	Waitress in Diner
Eric Jerome Kirkland	...	Stylette
Irving Eugene Washington III	...	Stylette
Kurt Jackson	...	Stylette
Michael Angelo Saulsberry	...	Stylette (as Michael Saulsberry)
Drena De Niro	...	Receptionist #1
Jade Gordon	...	Girl in Coffee Shop
Eric Stoltz	...	Howard Cazsatt
Tracy Vilar	...	Annie
Amanda De Cadenet	...	Receptionist #2
Martin Valinsky	...	Brill Building Songwriter
Bruce Davison	...	John Murray
Lita Stevens	...	Radio Station Receptionist
For Real	...	Brill Building Hallway Singers
Patsy Kensit	...	Cheryl Steed
Larry Klein	...	Record Producer
Chris Isaak	...	Matthew Lewis
David Williams	...	Click Brother #1
Andrew Williams	...	Click Brother #2
Bridget Fonda	...	Kelly Porter
Lucinda Jenney	...	Marion
Dierdre Lewis	...	Girl in Howard's Bed (as Deidre Lewis)
Buster	...	Baby Luma
John Nacco	...	Cab Driver
Lynne Adams	...	Kindly Nurse
Brittany English Stephens	...	Luma
Johnny Thomas III	...	Annie's Son
Harry Victor	...	Journalist
Matt Dillon	...	Jay Phillips
Jeffrey McDonald	...	Member of the Riptides
Steve McDonald	...	Member of the Riptides
Brian Reitzell	...	Member of the Riptides
Christina Ehrlich	...	The Riptides' Dancing Girl
Melanie A. Gage	...	The Riptides' Dancing Girl
Albert Macklin	...	TV Interviewer
J. Mascis	...	The Riptides' Engineer (as J Mascis)
Eric A. Stromer	...	Doris' L.A. Boyfriend
Robert Brunner	...	Theremin Player
Chris Shearer	...	Security Expert
China Kantner	...	Singer on Beach
Paige Dylan	...	Singer on Beach
Alicia Jaffee	...	Singer on Beach
Alice Cohen	...	Singer in Tree
Lita Hernandez	...	Singer in Tree
Delia González	...	Singer in Tree (as Delia Gonzalez)
David Clennon	...	Dr. 'Jonesy' Jones
Precious Chong	...	Crying Woman at Funeral
Peter Fonda	...	Guru Dave (voice)
Shawn Colvin	...	Commune Guitarist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Latanyia Baldwin	...	Brill Building Hallway Singer (uncredited)
Necia Bray	...	Brill Building Hallway Singer (uncredited)
Josina Elder	...	Brill Building Hallway Singer (uncredited)
Johnny Meyer	...	Record Store Worker (uncredited)
Kristen Vigard	...	Denise Waverly (uncredited) (singing voice)
Wendi Williams	...	Brill Building Hallway Singer (uncredited)

Directed by
Allison Anders

Writing credits (WGA)
Allison Anders		(written by)

Produced by
Ruth Charny	....	producer
Burtt Harris	....	line producer
Daniel Hassid	....	producer
Elliot Lewis Rosenblatt	....	co-producer
Elliot Lewis Rosenblatt	....	line producer
Martin Scorsese	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Larry Klein

Cinematography by
Jean-Yves Escoffier

Film Editing by
James Y. Kwei
Harvey Rosenstock
Thelma Schoonmaker

Casting by
Russell Gray

Production Design by
François Séguin

Art Direction by
Mayne Berke

Set Decoration by
Sara Andrews

Costume Design by
Susan L. Bertram

Makeup Department
Linda Grimes	....	makeup artist: second unit
Lori Hicks	....	makeup artist: second unit
Erwin H. Kupitz	....	wig designer
Henry Lito	....	hair stylist: second unit
Peggy Nicholson	....	hair stylist: second unit
Christine M. Steele	....	key makeup artist
Linda Vallejo	....	hair stylist
Gigi Williams	....	hair styles supervisor
Gigi Williams	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Clark Henderson	....	post-production supervisor: Los Angeles
Erica L. Hiller	....	production supervisor: Los Angeles
Tom Razzano	....	production manager: second unit
Tom Razzano	....	unit production manager: New York Segments
Elliot Lewis Rosenblatt	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Christian P. Della Penna	....	second assistant director
Carole Dubuc	....	second assistant director: second unit
Burtt Harris	....	first assistant director: second unit
Artist W. Robinson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jenny Beltran	....	art swing (as jenny rimer)
Michael Bogert	....	art swing gang
Finbar Duhan	....	art swing gang
Susie Goulder	....	set decorator: second unit
Andrew King	....	property assistant
Wing Lee	....	art director: second unit
Adam Lustig	....	assistant art director
Brian Markey	....	construction coordinator
M. Scott Moore	....	property master: second unit
Tony Palermo	....	property assistant
Mary Patvaldnieks	....	assistant set decorator
Lynda Reiss	....	property master
Jennine Rimer	....	art swing gang
Abigail Sheiner	....	art department coordinator
Bobby Thomas	....	lead man
Kenneth Weinberg	....	property assistant: second unit

Sound Department
Chris Barnes	....	adr supervisor: UK
David Boulton	....	adr mixer
Benjamin Cheah	....	assistant sound editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer
Chris Fielder	....	transfer assistant editor
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lewis Goldstein	....	sound effects editor
Stephen Halbert	....	sound mixer
Stephen Halbert	....	sound
Kenton Jakub	....	adr editor
Paul Koronkiewicz	....	boom operator: second unit
Lee Lemont	....	adr supervisor: Los Angeles
Julie Lindner	....	assistant sound editor
Adam Lipsius	....	apprentice sound editor
Marissa Littlefield	....	adr editor
Lawrence Loewinger	....	sound mixer: second unit
Ernie Marsch	....	adr recordist: UK
Todd Milner	....	assistant sound editor
Bruce Pross	....	foley supervisor
Fred Rosenberg	....	dialogue editor
Philip Stockton	....	supervising sound editor
Becky Sullivan	....	adr supervisor: Los Angeles
Eric 'Sprocket' Uporsky	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects

Stunts
Michael T. Brady	....	stunt coordinator
Erik Rondell	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Claudette Barius	....	still photographer
Glenn Davis	....	best boy electric: second unit
Jeff DeLucia	....	electrician
David Devlin	....	gaffer
David Devlin	....	lighting director
James P. Dolan	....	gaffer: second unit (as Jim Dolan)
John Donohue	....	key grip: second unit
Roch Dutkowiak	....	best boy electric
Matt Gulbin	....	rigging key grip
Michael Gulbin	....	key grip
Mitch Gulbin	....	best boy grip
Adam Holender	....	director of photography: second unit
Shawn Honea	....	camera loader
David Knox	....	camera operator: second unit
Jim Kwiatkowski	....	key grip
Timberlake Lewis	....	second assistant camera
Dan McMahon	....	electrician
Daisuke Dice Miyake	....	grip
Larry J. Richardson	....	electrician
Craig Vaccaro	....	best boy grip: second unit
Christian Waelder	....	dolly grip
David J. White II	....	first assistant camera
Mark Wilson	....	grip

Casting Department
Jennifer Bender	....	extras casting
Stacie Goodman	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Julia Bartholomew	....	costume supervisor
Mynka Draper	....	costumer
Dominique Dubois	....	costumer
Jade Gordon	....	costumer
Cookie Lopez	....	set costumer
Lori Jean Sacks	....	costumer
Patricia Sanftner	....	wardrobe supervisor: second unit
Tricia Gray	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Gregg Apirian	....	assistant editor
Tony Grocki	....	assistant editor
Carol Hillson	....	first assistant film editor: New York
Mike Mertens	....	color timer
Beth Moran	....	apprentice editor: New York
Marlo Poras	....	apprentice film editor: New York
Bart Rachmil	....	apprentice film editor: Los Angeles
Julie Rogers	....	first assistant editor: Los Angeles
Javier Salinas	....	apprentice editor: New York
Nicole Schubert	....	second assistant film editor: Los Angeles
Andrew Weisblum	....	second assistant film editor: New York

Music Department
Tiffany Anders	....	music consultant
Rhonda Baron	....	music coordinator
David Richard Campbell	....	orchestrator
Jim Cox	....	orchestrator
Chris Douridas	....	music consultant
Jimmie Haskell	....	orchestrator
Larry Hirsch	....	music recordist
Leslie Jones	....	music recordist
Carlton Kaller	....	production music editor
Edward Karam	....	orchestrator
Larry Klein	....	musical director
Stephen Krause	....	scoring mixer
Steve Krause	....	score mixer
Julie Last	....	music recordist
Stephen Lotwis	....	music editor
Glenn Lucas	....	apprentice music editor
Robert Mackston	....	music editor (as Bobby Mackston)
Dan Marnen	....	music recordist
Denise Okimoto	....	music editor
Charlie Paakkari	....	music recordist
Gene Page	....	orchestrator
Suzana Peric	....	music editor
Tony Phillips	....	music recordist
Karyn Rachtman	....	executive music producer
Mary Ramos	....	associate music supervisor
Gary Raymond	....	music playback (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Scott Anderson	....	driver: honeywagon
Billy G. Arter	....	transportation coordinator
John Jarvis	....	transportation captain
Adam Pinkstaff	....	driver
James Patrick Whalen Jr.	....	transportation captain: second unit
Ed Wirth	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Devon Anders	....	production assistant
Liz Barcia	....	production assistant
Margaret Bodde	....	assistant: Mr. Scorsese
Michael Boonstra	....	production coordinator: second unit
Katherine Cohn	....	assistant production coordinator: second unit
Michael Dermer	....	assistant: Ms. Charny
Barbara Duncan	....	production coordinator
Susan Giordano	....	first assistant accountant
Rick Halpern	....	production intern
Lori Hersey	....	set production assistant
Michael Jackman	....	manager: second unit
Spencer Keimon	....	office production assistant
Pedro Mata	....	assistant location manager
Greg Mazzy	....	craft service
Zack Milan	....	stand-in
Erica Pearce	....	set production assistant
Michael Perman	....	assistant production coordinator
Martha Pilcher	....	location manager
Martha Pinson	....	script supervisor: second unit
Dhana Rivera	....	assistant: Mr. Rosenblatt
Maxine Abarbara Skwat	....	studio teacher
Maya Montanez Smukler	....	assistant: Ms. Anders
Kim Sockwell	....	assistant: Mr. Scorsese
Deanna Stadler	....	key set production assistant
Jared Tobman	....	set production assistant
Barbara Tuss	....	script supervisor
Luke Wasserman	....	assistant: Mr. Hassid
Sean Whitler	....	set production assistant
Darren Wiseman	....	location manager: second unit
Keith Young	....	choreographer

Thanks
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon	....	special thanks
Beatrice Sisul	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Cappa Production
• Gramercy Pictures (I)
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Cineplex Odeon Films (1996) (Canada) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Cinema International (1997) (Netherlands) (video)
• Gramercy Pictures (I)
• MCA/Universal Pictures (non-USA)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Spain)
• United International Pictures (UIP)

Other Companies

• Cynthia Rowley  wardrobe

MPAA:

Rated R for language, and for some sexuality and drug content.

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | USA:R (certificate #34772) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Germany:12 | Spain:13 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Cappa Production

Trivia:

According to director Allison Anders (on her commentary sound track for the DVD) it was a first for a movie to show a woman's waters breaking (in the recording studio scene - however such an event had already been depicted as early as Cinderella Liberty (1973)) as well as having her sweater getting wet because it was time to breastfeed her baby. Allison Anders had also asked for "child care" to be listed in the end credits.

Goofs:

Continuity: Jay Phillips' sunglasses during TV interview.

Quotes:

Edna Buxton: Mother, the dress doesn't fit.
Mrs. Buxton: The dress fits the occasion. It's you that doesn't fit.

Movie Connections:

References Oklahoma! (1955)

Soundtrack:

Don't You Think it's Time

"Grace of My Heart" is a wonderful movie

I was reminded of how really good this movie is today when I saw it on T.V. (with commercials ugh) I've seen it a few times before and every time I watch it, I bawl like a baby and I'm a guy. A really tough guy. But this movie goes straight to my heart and puts a squeeze on it through the wonderful music, the sweet nostalgia and what a cast!

Illeana Douglas is beautiful and she really plays her character with great talent. She's supported by a strong cast and how can you go wrong with Turturro playing Phil Specter? The first time I saw this there was something familiar about the music; the songs, like "God give me Strength". As much as I like Elvis Costello, that scene of Illeana performing it for Matt (Brian Wilson) Dillon was such a unique delivery of a pure and powerful vocal. I later found that the 'familiarity' is Burt Bacharach and the 'voice' is Kristin Vigard: Wow!

Back in those days there was such an explosion of music and creativity and Burt Bacharach was truly a pop force.

I loved the Brill Building scenes, especially when they were working on the songs. I thought the movie lost something when it moved west to California but was deeply moved by Douglas and Turturro 'having it out' at the empty poolside. The final song with the flashbacks and her crowning achievement of recording that "one great album" had me weeping again. I really like this movie so I ordered the DVD online.