The Bodyguard (1992 film)

This article is about the 1992 film. For other uses, see The Bodyguard.
The Bodyguard

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Mick Jackson[1]
Produced by Kevin Costner
Lawrence Kasdan
Jim Wilson
Written by Lawrence Kasdan
Starring Kevin Costner
Whitney Houston
Gary Kemp
Bill Cobbs
Music by Alan Silvestri
Cinematography Andrew Dunn
Edited by Donn Cambern
Richard A. Harris
Production
company
Tig Productions
Kasdan Pictures
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release dates
  • November 25, 1992 (1992-11-25)
Running time
 130 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $410,945,720[2]

The Bodyguard is a 1992 American romantic thriller film directed by Mick Jackson,[3] written by Lawrence Kasdan, and starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. Costner stars as a former Secret Service agent-turned-bodyguard who is hired to protect Houston's character, a music star, from an unknown stalker. Kasdan wrote the film in the mid 1970s, originally as a vehicle for Ryan O'Neal and Diana Ross.[4]

The film was Houston's acting debut and was the second-highest-grossing film worldwide in 1992, making $411 million worldwide, despite mixed to negative reviews from critics. The soundtrack became one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time, selling more than 45 million copies worldwide.[5]

Plot

Rachel Marron (Whitney Houston) is an Oscar-nominated music superstar who is being stalked and sent death threats. Frank Farmer (Kevin Costner), a former Secret Service agent during Ronald Reagan's presidency-turned professional bodyguard, is hired to protect her.[6]

The film follows Rachel's life through her career and family. Performances include her singing hits such as "I Will Always Love You" and "I Have Nothing". Frank successfully protects her from danger and as a result of his protection, Rachel falls in love with Frank. He initially tries to keep the relationship professional, but the two sleep together. However, recognizing that their relationship may compromise his protection of her, Frank breaks off their affair. Hurt, Rachel begins to push Frank's buttons by violating the routines he put in place, and attempting to sleep with his former Secret Service co-worker, Greg. After finally personally experiencing contact with her stalker via a creepy phone call, Rachel realizes that she must put her trust in Frank ahead of her own desire for success. She finally recognizes the seriousness of the situation and cancels the rest of her tour.

Frank, Rachel, Rachel's driver Henry (Christopher Birt), son Fletcher (DeVaughn Nixon), and sister Nikki (Michele Lamar Richards) then flee to an isolated cabin owned by Frank's father, Herb. At the cabin, Nikki attempts to seduce Frank, and becomes angry when her advances are refused. Fletcher is almost killed the next day when a bomb explodes inside the boat he had been riding in moments before. After finding footprints around the cabin, they realize the person after Rachel has followed them. They bunker down in the cabin for the night, with plans to leave in the morning. It is then revealed that Rachel's obsessive stalker and the person trying to kill her are not the same person when an upset and drunken Nikki admits that in a drug-induced jealous fit she had hired a hitman to kill Rachel. After Fletcher was almost killed earlier that day, Nikki realized the hitman she had hired would kill anyone to get to his target, including her nephew that she loves like her own son, but she cannot call it off because she does not know the identity of the killer. When said hit man breaks into the house and Nikki tries to stop him, he shoots and kills her before escaping. At the Oscars after Nikki's murder, the killer tries to assassinate Rachel again with a gun hidden inside of a camera, when she accepts her award for Best Actress. Frank jumps in front of her to save her life, and is shot himself. Frank manages to kill the hitman who turns out to be his friend and former Secret Service coworker Greg Portman (Tomas Arana) before losing consciousness.

In the end, Tony loses an eye during the melee, having had it gouged out by Portman, but both he and Frank survive their injuries. Frank's duty having been fulfilled by successfully protecting Rachel, they part with a kiss. Frank then moves on to his next assignment, guarding the Reverend Philip Hardy with the First Presbyterian Church of Iowa Rapids.[7]

Cast

Background

Lawrence Kasdan's first screenplay,[4] the film was originally proposed in 1976 with Steve McQueen and Diana Ross in the leads, but negotiations fell through as McQueen refused to be billed second to Ross.[8] It was proposed again in 1979, starring Ryan O'Neal and Ross again in the leads. The project fell through due to irreconcilable differences in the relationship of the two stars. Costner stated that he based Frank Farmer on Steve McQueen; even cutting his hair like McQueen (who had died 12 years earlier).

Fellow singer Madonna was considered for the role of Rachel.[9]

According to an interview with the BBC, Costner confirmed he had discussed a film role for Diana, Princess of Wales shortly before her death in 1997. Costner had planned to show the film to Princess Diana due to her interest in seeing it. "I had talked with Princess Di a couple of times," said Costner. "I explained to her that I was going to try to make this movie for her and she was genuinely interested." Costner went on to say "We talked on the phone and she never committed to saying that she would do the film, but I said that when I was done with this movie, that I was going to show it to her and she was genuinely excited to see it."

Reception

Critical reception

The Bodyguard has received mixed reviews.[10][11] The film holds a 39% rating on the film aggregator website, Rotten Tomatoes,[12] and received six Golden Raspberry Award nominations, including Worst Picture.[13] Owen Gleibermann, of Entertainment Weekly negatively reviewed the film, stating, "To say that Houston and Costner fail to strike sparks would be putting it mildly." He added, "[...] the movie gives us these two self-contained celebrity icons working hard to look as if they want each other. It's like watching two statues attempting to mate."[14] However, other critics praised the film, such as Roger Ebert, who gave the film three out of four stars, remarking "The movie does contain a love story, but it's the kind of guarded passion that grows between two people who spend a lot of time keeping their priorities straight."[15]

Two songs from the film, "Run to You" and "I Have Nothing", were nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song.[16] The film was also nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning three, including Album of the Year for its soundtrack album of the same name.[17]

Box office

In the United States, The Bodyguard opened on November 25, 1992 in 1,717 theaters; it grossed $16.6 million in its opening weekend, ranking third.[18] The film was in theaters for thirteen non-consecutive weeks, ultimately grossing $121.9 million domestically, and $410.9 million worldwide. It was the seventh highest-grossing film of 1992 in North America, and the second highest-grossing film of 1992, worldwide.[19] At the time, the film became one of the 100 all-time highest grossing films worldwide, though it has since fallen out.[2]

Soundtrack

The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album became the best-selling soundtrack of all time. It has been certified diamond in the US (sales of at least ten million) with shipments of over 17 million copies.[20] Worldwide, the sales are at a staggering 45 million copies.[21] In addition, Houston's "I Will Always Love You" sold 12 million units worldwide.[22]

The soundtrack features five hit singles for Houston: "I Will Always Love You", "I'm Every Woman", "Queen of the Night", and two Oscar nominated songs "I Have Nothing" and "Run to You".

Parodies

Remake

In 2011, Warner Bros. announced a remake that will update the story to reflect the world of the Internet; in which sites such as Twitter, Google Maps and countless other sites makes access to celebrities easier than ever. The remake will be penned by Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer, with singer Rihanna being tipped to play the role of Rachel Marron, though this is yet to be confirmed.[23]

On 10 March 2011, Rihanna ruled out playing the part saying "Absolutely not. I hate it when singers do singing movies all the time, because you can never look at them as anybody else. I want to play a character, my whole life is playing Rihanna, being a singer won't be a stretch for me."

Britney Spears and Alexandra Burke are rumored to be in the running.

References

  1. ↑ Murphy, Ryan (1992-11-01). "A look inside Hollywood and the movies. : TINKER, TINKER : Today's Special: 'Bodyguard.' Care for the Director's Cut or the Final Cut?". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  2. 1 2 The Bodyguard (1992). Box Office Mojo (1993-04-27). Retrieved on 2011-04-05.
  3. ↑ Murphy, Ryan (1992-11-01). "A look inside Hollywood and the movies. : TINKER, TINKER : Today's Special: 'Bodyguard.' Care for the Director's Cut or the Final Cut?". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
  4. 1 2 John J. Puccio (February 8, 2005). "Bodyguard (DVD)" (review). DVDTown.com.
  5. ↑ Ford, Rebecca (March 15, 2012). "Whitney Houston's 'The Bodyguard' to Re-Release in Theaters for One Night". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  6. ↑ The Bodyguard (1992), IMDB.com
  7. ↑ Our speaker this evening, the honorable congressman from the fifth district, Galen Windsor, has been a lone, courageous, voice...he alone has challenged those who have linked organized crime with legitimate business throughout our state. But first our benediction will be delivered by Reverend Phillip Hardy of the First Presbyterian Church. The Reverend holds up the cross while he speaks (Frank originally gives Rachel the cross with the radio transmitter but now he has it) "Heavenly Father, please bless us today as we meet in friendship and duty. And Lord, whatever dangerous endeavors those among us may take,let them never be without your sanctuary." Standing against the wall behind the table is Frank. As the Reverend's prayer goes on, all heads are bowed to receive the benediction. All heads but Frank's." http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Bodyguard.html
  8. ↑ Beck, Marilyn, Stacy Jenel Smith. – "Costner Sings to Houston's Debut". – Los Angeles Daily News. – October 7, 1991.
  9. ↑ IMDB
  10. ↑ "The Bodyguard". Variety. 1991-12-31. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
  11. ↑ "The Bodyguard". Washington Post. 1992-11-27. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
  12. ↑ The Bodyguard Movie Reviews. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on 2011-04-05.
  13. ↑ 1992 RAZZIE® Nominees & "Winners" – The Official RAZZIE® Forum. Razzies.com. Retrieved on 2011-04-05.
  14. ↑ "The Bodyguard". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
  15. ↑ "The Bodyguard". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
  16. ↑ Awards for The Bodyguard (1992), IMDB.com
  17. ↑
  18. ↑ The Bodyguard (1992) Box Office Mojo Retrieved 2010-09-13
  19. ↑ The Bodyguard (1992) Box Office Mojo Retrieved 2010-09-13
  20. ↑ Gold & Platinum – April 05, 2011. RIAA. Retrieved on 2011-04-05.
  21. ↑ Whitney Houston. Music.ninemsn.com.au. Retrieved on 2011-04-05.
  22. ↑ Shawn Telford (November 8, 2008). "Behind the glitter and glitz, the real Dolly Parton shines". Seattlepi.com. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  23. ↑ Rihanna to be in 'The Bodyguard' remake? - Times Of India. Timesofindia.indiatimes.com (2011-02-27). Retrieved on 2011-04-05.

External links

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