Runaway Bride (1999)

A reporter is assigned to write a story about a woman who has left a string of fiances 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

Ike Graham has his own by-lined column in USA Today, which he usually uses as a forum to rail against the opposite sex. For his latest column which he writes at the last minute as usual, he, based on some information from a stranger in a bar about a woman he knows of back home, includes the story of still single Hale, Maryland residing Maggie Carpenter, who is known as the "Runaway Bride" since she has been engaged multiple times, but always leaves her betrothed standing at the altar. Because an incensed Maggie complains to the newspaper for factual inaccuracies in her story, Ike is fired, but he realizes that the story still has some life in it and thus decides to go to Hale to do further investigation. He finds that Maggie is again engaged, now for the fourth time, this time to high school football coach and adventurist Bob Kelly, who is confident enough in himself to know he will be different than the previous three grooms. When Maggie finds out that her arch enemy Ike is in town, ...

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Plot Keywords:

maryland | wedding | journalist | bride | columnist | 

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Taglines:

They're Off And Running July 20.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and some suggestive dialogue

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 July 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Novia fugitiva

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the scene where Julia Roberts drives through the town square and sees Richard Gere playing slide guitar with some "locals", Gere not only played the guitar for real but he wrote the part he was playing.

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Goofs

When Ike comes into Curl Up And Dye for the first time, Maggie calls Peggy over and points to the counter at the article with Ike's picture (and the devil horns and pitch fork that has been added on). It is originally on taped on the counter, but in the next shot is taped onto the mirror.

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Quotes

Cousin Cindy: Hi, I'm Cindy, Maggie's unmarried cousin.

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Crazy Credits

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

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in God, the Devil and Bob: There's Too Much Sex on TV (2000)

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Soundtracks

Minstrel Montage
Arranged by Dave Stevens
Performed by Joseph Williams Andrews (as Joe Andrews), William Todd Crosby (as Todd Crosby), Eugene Walker Jackson Jr. (as Gene Jackson) and Robert Lee Jones (as Bob Jones)

User Reviews

Let it grow on you.....

When I first saw this movie, following the wonderful "Notting Hill," I was less than thrilled. However, I have watched and watched and watched "Runaway Bride" and it really is a witty romance. What is particularly poignant about the film is the chemistry between Gere and Roberts. Though it seems very fast, it is completely natural for fans of "Pretty Woman," who saw these two fall in love a decade earlier.

Roberts is wonderful in this movie. She is completely comfortable, natural, and highly believable as the spunky Maggie Carpenter. Gere is cocky, weathered, and attractive as the misguided Ike Graham. The plot is predictable, but the first act is snappy and the climax is well-done. It may not please most people on the first run, but rent it again and you'll begin to see the subtleties that make it great.