Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991)

Documentary following singer Madonna on her controversial Blond Ambition tour in 1990.

Director:

Alek Keshishian

Stars:

Madonna, Donna DeLory, Niki Harris

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Madonna	...	Herself
Donna DeLory	...	Herself - Vocals and Dancer (as Donna Delory)
Niki Harris	...	Herself - Vocals and Dancer (as Niki Harris)
Luis Camacho	...	Himself - Dancer
Oliver Crumes Jr.	...	Himself - Dancer (as Oliver Crumes)
Salim Gauwloos	...	Himself - Dancer
Kevin Alexander Stea	...	Himself - Dancer (as Kevin Stea)
Gabriel Trupin	...	Himself - Dancer
Carlton Wilborn	...	Himself - Dancer
Sharon Gault	...	Herself - Mama Make-up
Joanne Gair	...	Herself - Madonna's Make-up
Jai Winding	...	Himself - Keyboards
Jonathan Moffett	...	Himself - Drums
David Williams	...	Himself - Guitar
Luis Conte	...	Himself - Percussion

Storyline

From the rain of Japan, through threats of arrest for 'public indecency' in Canada, and a birthday tribute to her father in Detroit, this documentary follows Madonna on her 1990 'Blond Ambition' concert tour. Filmed in black and white, with the concert pieces in glittering MTV color, it is an intimate look at the work of the music performer, from a prayer circle with the dancers before each performance to bed games with the dance troupe afterwards.

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Plot Keywords:

dancer | superstar | sex | bra removing | female nudity | 

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Taglines:

Like you've never seen her before.

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual dialogue and situations

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 May 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Truth or Dare

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$15,012,935

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$29,012,935

Company Credits

Production Co:

Boy Toy, Miramax, Propaganda Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kevin Costner was reportedly dismayed about Madonna making the 'gag gesture' after he called her concert "neat". He refused to comment on it in interviews at the time, but admitted that fifteen years later, while attending her concert with his children, she unexpectedly apologized to him from stage.

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Goofs

Supposedly the live footage is filmed in the United States (she even greets the audience by saying 'Alright America do you believe in love' but they zoom out so far that you can't see her lips moving). In the United States Madonna was wearing the ponytail. In all the live footage she has curled hair. This means the show was actually filmed in Europe (according to the credits, it was in Paris). There are several references to the live footage being filmed in America, especially Like a Virgin in Toronto and Keep it Together (the technical problems) in Los Angeles, even though that footage was also filmed in Paris.

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Quotes

Warren Beatty: [after Madonna declines to talk to her doctor off-camera] She doesn't want to live off-camera, much less talk. There's nothing to say off-camera. Why would you say something if it's off-camera? What point is there existing?

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Crazy Credits

All through the end credits Madonna and her dancers' voices are heard getting ready for bed and after the credits are done Madonna is shown saying, "I'm just gonna push this button and the camera's gonna go off now. Ok?"

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Alternate Versions

The second UK video release was cut by 57s for a 15 certificate, removing some sex references:

• (49 mins) When Madonna refers to her old school friend in spotted dress, remove her line "Did she say she finger-fucked me?"
• (64½ mins) In man's account of woman being raped, remove "Her bum was bleeding."
• (83 mins) When Madonna talks about being in her father's bed, remove her phrase ". . . after he fucked me .... "
• (95 mins) Remove Madonna's question to black man sitting at table "Have you ever been fucked up the ass".
• (96½ mins) After two men break apart from kiss, remove whole episode in which Madonna is asked to show how she "gives head" with a bottle, resuming on woman in profile asking "Madonna, truth or dare?"

A sticker on the cover stated it was a "specially edited version". This was just done to boost sales - all other releases (cinema/initial video/DVD) are uncut with an 18 certificate.

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Connections

Featured in The '90s Greatest: A New Generation (2018)

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Soundtracks

Live to Tell
Written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard
Bleu Disque Music Co., Inc., Webo Girl Publishing, Inc., Johnny Yuma Music, WB Music Corp.
Performed by Madonna

User Reviews

Great Documentary Highlighting Madonna's Tour

Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991)

**** (out of 4)

Madonna's "Blonde Ambition" tour is followed in this documentary, which gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the star and the tour.

Even if you're not a fan of Madonna, it's pretty hard not to really enjoy this documentary on a number of levels but the biggest thing is that it really is extremely well-made. Director Alek Keshishian has really created a rather unique and original look at an artist doing their thing while trying to hold everything together.

Many people have accused this film as being fake or saying that Madonna was acting up in front of the camera. This has been happening since Bob Dylan's DON'T LOOK BACK and it has happened countless times since this film was originally released. I think what makes DON'T LOOK BACK and MADONNA: TRUTH OR DARE so terrific is the fact that the two artists know how to play the camera and they both did it perfectly.

There's a lot of stuff going on here and the film really did a terrific job at showing you how chaotic life on the road can be. We see the tour through Japan, the United States, Canada and Europe and we see as Madonna struggles at times with relationships, her strength and having to face other demons. The documentary does a terrific job at showing what type of physical demand Madonna had on her night after night and the backstage access was just really fun and interesting.

Madonna's relationship with Warren Beatty is on display here and we see other celebrities including Kevin Costner, Al Pacino and Antonio Bandera. The film and Madonna have a lot to say about the celebrity worship and everything that comes along with it. Other great moments include a concert in Toronto where the police show up threatening to arrest the singer as well as another moment where she meets with her father after a hometown gig.

MADONNA: TRUTH OR DARE is also beautifully shot and I loved the director's decision to show the backstage stuff in B&W and keeping the concert footage in color.