Runaway Bride (1999)

A reporter is assigned to write a story about a woman who has left a string of fiancés at the altar.

Director:

Garry Marshall

Writers:

Josann McGibbon, Sara Parriott

Stars:

Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Joan Cusack

6 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julia Roberts	...	Maggie Carpenter
Richard Gere	...	Ike Graham
Joan Cusack	...	Peggy Flemming
Hector Elizondo	...	Fisher
Rita Wilson	...	Ellie Graham
Paul Dooley	...	Walter Carpenter
Christopher Meloni	...	Coach Bob Kelly
Donal Logue	...	Priest Brian Norris
Reg Rogers	...	George 'Bug Guy' Swilling
Yul Vazquez	...	Dead Head Gill Chavez
Jane Morris	...	Mrs. Pressman
Lisa Roberts Gillan	...	Elaine from Manhattan
Kathleen Marshall	...	Cousin Cindy
Jean Schertler	...	Grandma
Tom Hines	...	Cory Flemming

Storyline

New York columnist Ike Graham elaborates, for once without full fact checking, the story he heard from a bar mate of Maryland small town girl Maggie Carpenter, who left several grooms at the altar, taking off without warning or serious reason. Fearing a legal case from Maggie, Ike's editor and ex Ellie fires him. Staff buddy Fisher cues Ike to seek his job back (or earn another) by attempting to prove the alleged inaccuracies and/or writing a priceless follow-up piece. So his sports-car heads for her home Hale, where she runs a garage and designs glassware. His charms and journalistic nose get everyone to open up and reveal her embarrassing past before she can swear people to silence, from her three dumped grooms and family to her overconfident present groom, high school coach Bob Kelly. In the process, Maggie finds hating him as hard as tempting, while Ike develops a strange appreciation for the maverick, until even Bob sees reason to get jealous.

---

Plot Keywords:

maryland | wedding | journalist | bride | columnist | 

---

Taglines:

Catch her if you can.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and some suggestive dialogue

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Ike is telling Maggie about his mother's desire that he author books, and his father's goals for him, neither of which he achieved, he tells Maggie that everyone knows "journalism is literature in a hurry." Although not attributed, this is a quote from a toast given by an English Magistrate, Sir Francis Jeune, although it has been incorrectly attributed to Mathew Arnold, a British Poet and cultural critic, and Lord Morley,a British Liberal Statesman and publisher.

---

Goofs

When Ike and Maggie drive away from the tavern in Ike's convertible, after putting Maggie's father in his truck to "sleep it off", their hair should be blowing during the drive in the open convertible - especially Maggie's long mane. Their hair is perfectly still.

---

Quotes

Maggie Carpenter: A girl can't get married in flannel!

---

Crazy Credits

After all of the credits have run, Ike (Richard Gere) and Maggie (Julia Roberts) are seen throwing snowballs.

---

Alternate Versions

The titles are reformatted for the VHS version because the print was changed from a widescreen print to a standard one. the titles, which originally ran across the entire bottom of the screen in one line are now in the center of the screen in two lines, which somewhat ruins the cinematography of the opening shots because it is now the center of attention as opposed to the background.

---

Connections

Featured in MsMojo: Top 10 Julia Roberts Performances (2016)

---

Soundtracks

Let's Make A Deal
by David Borla and Chris Scianni
Performed by Dangerman
Courtesy of 550 Music
By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing
Contains sample from "Pa Colombia" by C. Curet Alonso (as Curet Alonso)
Performed by Willie Colón
Courtesy of Fania Records

User Reviews

A charming film

Following up on the huge romantic hit "Pretty Woman," Richard Gere, Julia Roberts and Hector Elizondo reteam to produce yet another romantic comedy called "Runaway Bride."

Nobody lost a step or missed a beat as Gere, Roberts and Elizondo teamed up with newcomers Joan Cusack and Rita Wilson. The cast performed with such perfection it seemed like they were performing as it happened for the first time. I commend the casting director and the producer for putting together an excellent cast that really gelled and had chemistry that was like magic.

I must say that "Runaway Bride" was much more charming than "Pretty Woman." I still enjoyed "Pretty Woman" but the updated version had a certain charm and a twist that was lacking in the first film.

I can't say what the twist is without giving away too much, you'll just have to see it to find out.

This was a cute film with a unique way of telling a plot that seems to have been done before on the silver screen.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 July 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Runaway Bride

Filming Locations:

Waugh United Methodist Church - 11453 Long Green Pike, Glen Arm, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$70,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$35,055,556, 1 August 1999

Gross USA:

$152,257,509

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$309,460,292

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Interscope Communications

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS (uncredited) SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1