Love Field (1992)

When a woman en route to JFK's funeral befriends a black man and his daughter, they experience numerous revelations and hardships.

Director:

Jonathan Kaplan

Writer:

Don Roos

Stars:

Michelle Pfeiffer, Dennis Haysbert, Stephanie McFadden

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Lurene Hallett
Dennis Haysbert	...	Paul Cater
Stephanie McFadden	...	Jonell
Brian Kerwin	...	Ray Hallett
Louise Latham	...	Mrs. Enright
Peggy Rea	...	Mrs. Heisenbuttel
Beth Grant	...	Hazel
Johnny Ray McGhee	...	Mechanic
Cooper Huckabee	...	Deputy Swinson
Troy Evans	...	Lt. Galvan
Mark Jeffrey Miller	...	Trooper Exley (as Mark Miller)
Pearl Jones	...	Mrs. Baker
Janell McLeod	...	Station Cashier
Bob Minor	...	Barricade Policeman
Rhoda Griffis	...	Jacqueline Kennedy

Storyline

Dallas housewife Lurene Hallett's life revolves around the doings of Jacqueline Kennedy. She is devastated when President Kennedy is shot a few hours after she sees him arrive at Love Field. Despite her husband Ray's prohibition, she decides to attend the funeral in Washington D.C. Forced to travel by bus, she befriends Jonell, the young black daughter of Paul Couter. Sensing something wrong, her good intentioned interference leads the mixed race threesome on an increasingly difficult journey to Washington with both the police and Ray looking for them.

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Plot Keywords:

jacqueline kennedy character | john f. kennedy character | john f. kennedy assassination | nostalgia | father daughter relationship | 

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Taglines:

WE LOVE YOU PRESIDENT KENNEDY

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the film, Louise Hallett (Michelle Pfeiffer) is so affected and moved by the assassination of Democrat American President John F. Kennedy that her character embarks on a cross-country trip to attend his public funeral. According to show-business trade-paper 'Variety', the character of Lurene "imagines a kinship with [First Lady] Jacqueline Kennedy, since both lost infant children". However, Lurene's blond bombshell image actually evokes that of movie star Marilyn Monroe, whom JFK is well known to have in real life as having an affair with [See: Revealed: JFK's Women: The Scandals (2006) and "Marilyn and the Kennedys" aka Say Goodbye to the President (1985)]. Janet Maslin in a review published on 11th December 1992 in The New York Times commented that Lurene "feels a special psychic bond with Jacqueline Kennedy", "defining herself visibly in terms of Mrs. Kennedy's appeal", but looks like " . . . a cross between the young Mrs. Kennedy and the Marilyn Monroe of The Misfits (1961)".

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Quotes

Mrs. Enright: I don't know when we started killing people to solve things.
Paul Cater: I didn't know we stopped.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Untamed Heart/Strictly Ballroom/Groundhog Day/Love Field/Riff-Raff (1993)

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Soundtracks

Stars and Stripes Forever
Written by John Philip Sousa (uncredited)
Performed by Claremont High School Band
Conducted by Gary Lida

User Reviews

Love Fields a real sleeper, one of the best small films ever

I loved this movie! Pfieffer's child-like naiveté is beautifully balanced with the mature competence of Dennis Haysbert's character. This is the first time I'd ever seen Haysbert and I've been a fan ever since. Something about that man...the viewer understands why she falls for him. I ached for both characters. The movie stirs up some feelings about injustice, racism, oppressed women -- a memory of those times but not nostalgia for them. The ending soothes and satisfies all that was stirred up. Love Fields uses only a few people and not a lot of scenery to tell its story, but its quite enough. It is, essentially, a love story -- unexpected, but so right. The period (mid-60's)is well-established and well-maintained. See this movie!

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 February 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

A szeretet földje

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$301,000, 15 February 1993

Gross USA:

$1,014,726

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,014,726

Company Credits

Production Co:

Orion Pictures, Sanford/Pillsbury Productions, Via Rosa Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1