The Real Blonde (1997)

Joe and Mary live in Manhattan. She's the breadwinner, working as makeup artist. He's a wannabe actor working as waiter. When a friend gets a soap part ($3600/wk), Joe lowers his standard.

Director:

Tom DiCillo

Writer:

Tom DiCillo

Stars:

Matthew Modine, Catherine Keener, Daryl Hannah

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matthew Modine	...	Joe
Catherine Keener	...	Mary
Daryl Hannah	...	Kelly
Maxwell Caulfield	...	Bob
Elizabeth Berkley	...	Tina
Marlo Thomas	...	Blair
Bridgette Wilson-Sampras	...	Sahara (as Bridgette Wilson)
Buck Henry	...	Dr. Leuter
Christopher Lloyd	...	Ernst
Kathleen Turner	...	Dee Dee Taylor
Denis Leary	...	Doug
Beatrice Winde	...	Wilma
Schecter Lee	...	Chang
John Tormey	...	Harassing Man
Wayne Parent	...	Blair's Assistant

Storyline

Joe and Mary have been living together in Manhattan for six years. Joe is an actor, who has no agent and no thesping credits, but whose ambitions are very high. He works as a waiter at a cafe. Mary works as a make-up stylist for hot fashion photographer Blair, and she pays most of the pair's bills. Joe finally lowers his standards and accepts a degrading bit in a Madonna video, while his friend and co-waiter Bob gets a high-paying job on a soap opera opposite siren Kelly.

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Plot Keywords:

topless female nudity | photographer | waiter | actor | soap | 

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Taglines:

What you see isn't always what you get.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Matthew Modine's character gets excited when he hears a message left on his machine from who he believes to be Madonna about a possible acting gig. In real life, Madonna's 1985 video for the song Crazy For You includes footage of Matthew Modine from the movie Vision Quest.

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Goofs

When Bob tells Ernst that he and Joe are not gay, a microphone appears from above.

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Quotes

Blair: [photographer arriving on set] Morning, ladies.
[hurrying them up]
Blair: Ten minutes.
Sahara: [model, in front of mirror, being prepped, waving] Morning.
Blair: [to all personnel] Let's go!
Sahara: [to make-up artist] I don't know, Mary, I'm sort of giving up on the whole human race.
Mary: Why, honey, what's the matter?
Sahara: Everybody is so superficial.
Mary: Uh.
Sahara: Yeah, I am sick of it. I am sick of all this superficial bullshit.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

A big wet one to SNIFFY MELONHEAD At D.W.M. Bulldozers

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Connections

References The Little Mermaid (1989)

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Soundtracks

Marry with a Chinese Boy
Performed by Tsai Ching
Written by Chou Lan Ping and Cheung Nu

User Reviews

The issue of blondeness is important only to one man but not to the story

When I looked at the poster for this film at the theater in Brandon, Florida (I believe the only theater in Florida to show "The Real Blonde") one would assume that the only blonde in the film was Elizabeth Berkley. Elizabeth is the only person displayed on the poster (four times as a matter of fact). Actually there are three blondes (Elizabeth, Daryl Hannah, and Bridgette Wilson) but only one is a real blonde(I won't say who). But the issue of blondeness is important to only one man (Maxwell Caulfield)and strangely considering the title not of any real importance to the story. The story instead revolves around a man (Matthew Modine) and his live in girlfriend (Catherine Keener) who are having problems with their relationship and their individual lives. The film centers around the resolution of their problems making various side trips on the way. Some of these side trips are entertaining and help the basic story. Other do not. Yet the film moves at a nice pace and while sometimes a little confusing is never boring. All persons involved with this film perform very nicely. Bridgette Wilson plays the dumb but loving blonde very well. Darryl Hannah for the first time I know of plays a rather bitchy character but does so with style. Elizabeth in a role smaller that her billing would suggest never-the-less brings life to her character of a young woman who seems to be always left behind. I found this film worth driving 40 miles to the theater.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

27 February 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Real Blonde

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$83,488, 1 March 1998

Gross USA:

$83,488

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$83,488

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lakeshore Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1