What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)

The story of singer Tina Turner's rise to stardom and how she gained the courage to break free from her abusive husband, Ike Turner.

Director:

Brian Gibson

Writers:

Tina Turner (book), Kurt Loder (book)

Stars:

Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, RaéVen Kelly

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
RaéVen Kelly	...	Young Anna Mae (as Rae'Ven Kelly)
Virginia Capers	...	Choir Mistress
Dororthy Thorton	...	Choir Member (as Dorothy Thornton)
Demetrice Cheathon	...	Choir Member
Nita Woods Allen	...	Choir Member
Helen Marie Lovelace	...	Choir Member
Natalie Wilson	...	Choir Member
Seymour Daniel Jr.	...	Choir Member
David McKinney	...	Choir Member
Jayd Stanfield	...	Choir Member
Maurice O'Neal	...	Choir Member
Frank Rasberry	...	Choir Member
Monroe Howard	...	Choir Member
Serist Roberts	...	Choir Member
Wakeen Best	...	Choir Member

Storyline

Anna Mae Bullock always had a special voice. Soon after arriving in St. Louis to live with the mother who had walked out when she was small, the now teenage Anna Mae soon attracts the attention of pop group leader Ike Turner. She becomes the band's singer, his wife, and mother to his children - not all hers. In love with Ike and determined not to leave in the way her mother had, she finds herself the target of increasing violence from her unstable husband who can't see who is making the band such a success.

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Plot Keywords:

african american singer | african american woman | 1980s | african american protagonist | female protagonist | 

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Taglines:

The triumphant true-life story of Tina Turner!

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for domestic violence, strong language, drug use and some sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 June 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

What's Love Got to Do with It

Filming Locations:

Warner Grand Theatre - 434 W 6th St, San Pedro, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$39,100,956

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital (Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Angela Bassett was injured while filming the first spousal abuse sequence. She fell off the back of a high-rise sofa, put her hands out to reduce the impact, and suffered a hairline fracture of her right hand. She only tried the stunt fall once, and footage leading up to the mishap appears in the film.

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Goofs

When Ike and Tina are in the dressing room of the Apollo in 1960, Ike is drinking from a blue and white paper coffee cup with the famous Greek design. That design was introduced in 1963 by the Sherri Cup Company.

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Quotes

[FIRST TITLE CARD]: The lotus flower is a flower that grows in the mud.

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Connections

Referenced in Becker: What's Love Got to Do with It? (2003)

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Soundtracks

Tina's Wish
Written by Ike Turner and Tina Turner
Performed by Tina Turner

User Reviews

Acting, writing, directing, and musical showcase

"What's Love Got to Do With It" is a fascinating and absorbing portrayal of the first 43 years of Tina Turner's life. It accurately and convincingly depicts the abuse she underwent and her escape and, finally, salvation through Buddhism. Laurence Fishburne is one of this generation great actors and gives a riveting and observant performance as Ike Turner, but cannot come close to the overwhelming, breathtaking, and mighty presence of Angela Bassett as Tina. She deservedly won the Golden Globe as the Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical of 1993 and if the film had come out any other year than 1993 (during which Holly Hunter gave a performance of a lifetime in "The Piano"), she would have easily taken home an Oscar.

Music plays a huge part in the film and all of it is good. Though I'm only 12, I truly appreciate Tina's music and am always in awe when she sings "Proud Mary" (one of my favorite scenes in the film.) As Roger Ebert pointed out, one of the most triumphant scenes is where, after Tina and Ike have had a vicious and bloody fight, Tina runs away to the Ramada Inn where they take her in. It is one of the best acted scenes of this decade and I never tire of it when I see the film again.

"What's Love Got to Do With It" is one of the best films of 1993 (one of the greatest movie years in history- "Schindler's List", "The Piano") and one the most passionately and skillfully performed films of the decade.

**** out of **** (A)