The Bodyguard (1992)

A former Secret Service agent takes on the job of bodyguard to an R&B singer, whose lifestyle is most unlike a President's.

Director:

Mick Jackson

Writer:

Lawrence Kasdan

Stars:

Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston, Gary Kemp

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Costner	...	Frank Farmer
Whitney Houston	...	Rachel Marron
Gary Kemp	...	Sy Spector
Bill Cobbs	...	Devaney
Ralph Waite	...	Herb Farmer
Tomas Arana	...	Portman
Michele Lamar Richards	...	Nicki
Mike Starr	...	Tony
Christopher Birt	...	Henry
DeVaughn Nixon	...	Fletcher
Gerry Bamman	...	Ray Court
Joe Urla	...	Minella
Tony Pierce	...	Dan
Charles Keating	...	Klingman
Robert Wuhl	...	Oscar Host

Storyline

A pop singer has been receiving threatening notes, and her manager hires a bodyguard known for his good work. The bodyguard ruffles the singer's feathers and most of her entourage by tightening security more than they feel is necessary. The bodyguard is haunted by the fact that he was on Reagan's secret service staff but wasn't there to prevent the attack by Hinckley. Eventually the bodyguard and the singer start an affair, and she begins to believe his precautions are necessary when the stalker strikes close to home.

---

Plot Keywords:

interracial kiss | interracial love | black woman white man relationship | love | bodyguard | 

---

Taglines:

Never let her out of your sight. Never let your guard down. Never fall in love.

---

Genres:

Action | Drama | Music | Romance | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Crew driver Bill Vitagliano was killed in an on-set accident when he was crushed between two colliding scissor-lifts, during the preparation for an underground parking garage scene.

---

Goofs

At Frank's cabin, when Frank walks Rachel up to her room, there is a shadow of a microphone/camera on the left-hand wall.

---

Quotes

Frank: You're too old to be this naive !

---

Alternate Versions

The original theatrical, VHS and early television prints had the 1984 Warner Bros. logo with the 1989 Time Warner Entertainment byline at the beginning and at the end, meanwhile, the DVD, Blu-Ray, streaming and current television prints had the current Warner Bros. logo with the 2003 TimeWarner byline at the beginning and the end of the film.

---

Connections

Referenced in Anni 90 - Parte II (1993)

---

Soundtracks

(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding
Written by Nick Lowe
Produced by Danny Kortchmar
Performed by Curtis Stigers
Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc.

User Reviews

I can't protect you, not like this.

Frank Farmer is a top line bodyguard, formerly secret service protector to President Reagan, he is approached to guard Rachel Marron, the latest pop sensation on the cusp of Hollywood domination. After initially being reluctant to take the job, Farmer gets to the task of protecting Rachel from a potential maniac who's been sending her threatening letters. As the initial in camp hostilities die down, Frank & Rachel start to draw ever closer, but so does the person who wants her dead...

The Bodyguard is one of those films that was long in gestation, originally mooted in 1976 to star Steve McQueen (it was written with McQueen in mind in the 60s) and Diana Ross, it was put on the back burner after McQueen fell ill to the cancer that killed him. Then it resurfaced in 1979 with Diana Ross to play opposite Ryan O'Neal, but the two stars just couldn't get on and the project again fell by the wayside. Enter Kevin Costner and his boys at TIG Productions, original choice to star alongside Costner, Maddona, ruined her chance (thankfully) of starring after being a bitch to Costner in her Truth Or Dare documentary. In stepped Whitney Houston (brilliantly diva casting), Costner gave himself a crew cut (in homage to McQueen) and The Bodyguard went on to make $410,900,000 worldwide.

The film now seems like a myth to me because the rating across many forums is on the low side, critics hate it and you will be hard pressed to find macho film fans readily about to own up to liking the picture. That's a shame because as undeniably nonsense as it is, it has got a great thriller heart to blend in with its romantic core. The good ship Bodyguard may dock at all the formula ports in the genres, but it's one hell of a journey getting to the end, even with that song that seemed to top the charts for years! (the soundtrack to the movie selling 17 million in America alone).

In spite of the obviousness of the plot, and the general feeling of familiarity, The Bodyguard has much going for it, things that ensured it became a monster hit and had cinema goers queueing round the block to see it. Houston is something of a revelation, here she nails the diva bitch heart of gold portrayal of Rachel with astonishing ease, and couple that with a voice sent from some deity paradise far away, makes her total value for money. Costner also stepped up to the plate to win a new breed of fans as Farmer, his charm and laid back manner works well with a ruggedness that the male viewers could easily get on side with. The rest of the cast are merely playing second fiddle to the well matched up leads, and outside of Gary Kemp becoming increasingly annoying as the film progresses, they all blend in well to create what is now a sadly undervalued picture.

See it with someone you love, don't just take my word for it, look at the box office take, it doesn't lie. 7/10

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 November 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Bodyguard

Filming Locations:

10231 Charing Cross Road, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$16,611,793, 29 November 1992

Gross USA:

$122,006,740

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$411,006,740

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kasdan Pictures, Tig Productions, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1