Frankie and Johnny (1991)

Director:

Garry Marshall

Writers (WGA):

Terrence McNally (play)
Terrence McNally (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 October 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

You never choose love. Love chooses you.

Plot:

Johnny has just been released from prison, and gets a job in a cafe beside waitress Frankie. Frankie is a bit of a loner...

Plot Keywords:

Restaurant | Love | Cafe | Beautiful Woman | Sex

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Johnny
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Frankie
Hector Elizondo	...	Nick
Nathan Lane	...	Tim
Kate Nelligan	...	Cora
Jane Morris	...	Nedda
Greg Lewis	...	Tino
Al Fann	...	Luther
Ele Keats	...	Artemis
Fernando López	...	Jorge
Glenn Plummer	...	Peter
Tim Hopper	...	Lester
Harvey Miller	...	Mr. Rosen
Sean O'Bryan	...	Bobby
Goldie McLaughlin	...	Waitress Helen

Also Known As:

Frankie & Johnny (USA) (poster title)

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Playwright Terrence McNally originally wrote the role of Frankie for Kathy Bates. Johnny was played by Kenneth Welsh in the 1987 Off-Broadway production of "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune" that starred Bates.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer come home after their first date. They begin to make the bed. Al Pacino starts to take his jacket off. When he jumps on the bed to bite her butt, his jacket is completely on, and he must take it off again.

Quotes:

Cora: It didn't SEEM like you came! I mean, usually a guy'll moan or somethin', you didn't even clear your throat!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Frankie and Johnny Are Married (2003)

Soundtrack:

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY (A MAN AND A WOMAN)

Do you believe?

The first time I saw this movie, I fell in love. The second time around, I was already in love, watching it with my love who also fell in love and now we're all in love. All because of this movie.

Set in New York, the movie deals with loneliness, different ways of coping or letting go, it deals with love, the yearning for it and also the fear of it, this magical feeling you almost don't dare hope for. The simple but genuine approach to these important themes makes the story stand out and makes you want to believe, because deep inside you already do.

You can tell the movie is based on a play, primarily because of the special atmosphere created by the careful progression of the story, scene by scene, not to mention the wonderful and individual characters we get acquainted with. Both Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino make outstanding performances and the on screen chemistry between the two is perfect.

This is an absolute must see for all you dreamers out there, and if you ever come across the play, you probably should check that out as well. Remember, the elephant must face the window and a VCR will never be a substitute for love. Sit down with this movie, and I promise you, from the first shot of the Greyhound accompanied by Terence Trent D'Arby's wonderful title track, you'll never want it to end.