Untamed Heart (1993)

Director:

Tony Bill

Writer (WGA):

Tom Sierchio (written by)

Release Date:

12 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Comedy

Plot:

All of Caroline's boyfriends seem to leave her or cheat on her. On her way home from work two men try to rape Caroline...

Plot Keywords:

Orphan | Baboon | Damsel In Distress | Waitress | Dying Young

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Christian Slater	...	Adam
Marisa Tomei	...	Caroline
Rosie Perez	...	Cindy
Kyle Secor	...	Howard
Willie Garson	...	Patsy
James Cada	...	Bill #1
Gary Groomes	...	Bill #2
Claudia Wilkens	...	Mother Camilla
Pat Clemons	...	Sister Helen
Lotis Key	...	Nun
Vanessa Hart	...	Nun
Charley Bartlett	...	Young Adam
Vincent Kartheiser	...	Orphan Boy
Wendy Feder	...	Orphange Nurse
Nancy Marvy	...	Caroline's Mom

Also Known As:

The Baboon Heart (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | New Zealand:M | USA:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Joe's Coffee Shop, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

A hot property before it went into production, stars like Geena Davis, Demi Moore and Brad Pitt were all vying for roles. Madonna had been particularly interested in the film, lobbying hard for Jason Patric to land the male lead. However, she finally quit trying when the studio decided to go with William Baldwin instead, although ironically Christian Slater has the part in the finished film.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The story is set in the winter around Christmas time but trees in the background are full of leaves and the snow is gathered in an unnatural way.

Quotes:

Caroline: When did you get here?
Adam: Ten.
Caroline: Ten? That was almost two hours ago. You'd rather be out here with my cat than inside with...
[realizing]
Caroline: than inside with a room full of strangers and relatives.

Movie Connections:

References "Candid Camera" (1960/I)

Soundtrack:

Mercy

A different love story

UNTAMED HEART tells the story of the romance between a lovelorn diner waitress (Tomei) and shy busboy (Slater). It is a sad, sweet movie without the usual gloss and pretension that ruin so many filmed love stories. These are working class people living working class lives. Tomei is touching as a woman who has been hurt once too often but who still holds out hope. Slater gives one of his best performances as the virtually mute busboy with both social and health problems. A heart-tugging vignette at the very beginning, involving the busboy as child in a Catholic orphanage, foreshadows later events in the film. Slater underplays beautifully, and thankfully so as this is Tomei's film all the way. She never looked more beautiful than she does here. Watch for the Christmas morning scene. Tomei wakes up to a special magic thanks to her busboy pal, and magnificently conveys her sense of wonder. Beware, however: UNTAMED HEART (BOY WITH A BABOON HEART would have been a better title) is a two-box of Kleenex.