2024-03-24 10:21:28
The unstoppable pace and many genres combined for a film that was a huge success and also contributed to making Michael Douglas a star.
On March 24, 1984, one week after the American “wide release” and less than six months after the Italian premiere (it was released in Italy on September 7), the world premiere of “Romancing the Green Stone/Romancing” takes place in Beverly Hills the Stone”, the third work (successful at last) of the man who will become perhaps the only one of the greatest American directors to work in full reality without losing his experimental eye and deep (just mention classics like “Back to the Future”, “Who Designed Roger Rabbit”, “Forrest Gump”, “Cast Away” and his forays into the possibilities of digital cinema at the beginning of the millennium , from “Polar Express” to “A Christmas Carol” ).
A work that, however, was without great success The popularity of this film, the danger of stopping prematurely, since both his beautiful debut “1964 – Warning in NY the Beatles are coming!/I want to hold your hand”, 1978, and the no less appreciable Follow- up “The fantastic challenge / Used cars”, 1980, there is no doubt in terms of sensational flops although supported in terms of executive production by a friend of his life, a Steven Spielberg. At that time, 20 Century Fox is chasing the dream of making a movie that is both modern and retro like Universal’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark” did three years ago, for a note from a colleague Spielberg; and the opportunity came after buying the script from the agent Malibu, Diane Thomas (who died too soon aged only 29 in 1985), who wrote screenplays for pleasure.
“In pursuit of the green stone” (the original title, almost translated, is an idiomatic expression that refers to the processing of precious stones: the process of manufacturing a piece of jewelry from a rough stone), however, it does not look much to mixed between adventure and fantasy of the delightful Indiana Jones saga, as well as the romantic novels of the sixties: important, “small” and very famous (but now forgotten) English or American writers like Helen McInnes, Desmond Bagley, John D. McDonald or James Michener. Tortuous events surround the figure of the most famous New York romance writer Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner), whose media exposure jealously keeps a passionate and personal life not at all like that of the heroine of the best-selling novels.
After determining what will be the next best seller, the woman received a map that appeared to be of treasure and was sent to her by her husband’s brother shortly before he was brutally murdered in Colombia. Not long after, after his house has been destroyed by unknown people, there is a call on the phone from his widowed sister Elaine (Mary Ellen Trainor) who tells him that a group of criminals who are gangsters Ira (Zack ) has kidnapped him. Norman), who will be released only after receiving the precious map. Obtorto heaven, the woman went to South America to get Elaine; but once he arrived at the Cartagena airport, he was intentionally misled by a shady companion and ended up finding himself with him in the middle of the forest, defense and danger. The handsome and irreverent comedian Jack Colton (Michael Douglas) unexpectedly comes to her rescue and takes it upon himself to bring her back to civilization for a handsome fee. But along the way they will end up being found by both the ruthless criminal Zolo (Manuel Ojeda), who is also an agent of the secret police of Bogota, and the naive but determined Ralph (Danny DeVito), the “second” (and cousin) of Fury .
They will see the most unexpected things in the world Drug dealer Juan (Alfonso Arau), an eccentric and reader of Joan’s novels; but it will be when Colton takes it upon himself to drag his reluctant companion to find treasure (the priceless emerald known as El Corazón) that the situation will worsen until very excited in the final show in the city, where the bloody intervention of an alligator will prove decisive. And when Joan, at the end of the adventures (at the time inevitably the same pink color as her novels thanks to the love connection with Colton), returns to New York, she will do so with a knowledge and decision that she did not accept. until recently.
Supported by an unstoppable speed and a sort of mysterious madness resulting from a mixture of exoticism, adventure, comedy, heart and tension, “cliffhanger” action, valuable technical contributions (such as beautiful photography by Dean Cundey) and completely research and show implausibility ,” Romancing the Stone” was a great success, but it had to contend at the box office with the sequel to the film that tried to spice it up, namely “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”, which monopolized the box office two months later. But , as already mentioned, not only launched the eclectic Zemeckis into orbit (who thanks to this success was only able to get the green light to shoot “Ritorno al futuro/Back to the Future”, 1985) but ( thanks to the rejection of Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds, first asked for the role of Colton and disinterested in the exploits of a new Errol Flynn rather than “Indy” Jones) also ordered Michael Douglas on the star stage; as well as in full showing the comic talent of a great character actor like DeVito (until known almost only for the unforgettable Martini in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” or Vernon in “Voglia di tenderness / Laws of Endearment”) and the difference between the beautiful Kathleen Turner (wanted by Douglas style, co-producer, in the roles initially considered for Debra Winger) from the femme fatale iconicity that was earned with Lawrence Kasdan’s masterpiece debut “Trivido Caldo / Body Heat” (1981).
At its core, the film is still a classic today of the romantic adventure which within its fold, without taking itself too seriously, hides an almost feminine reality (Joan’s transformation from insecure to enterprising: a model that years later will be called “power”). He had a sequel, obviously, in time and unfortunately very disappointing although the model on the three stars of the prototype: “The Jewel of the Nile”, 1985, directed by the unsuitable Lewis Teague. But the partnership Douglas / Turner / DeVito is close (and controlled by the relations of true friendship) that also proposed itself in 1989 with the (acid, and today somewhat unknown) true gem: “La Guerra dei Roses / War of the Roses”, second (and best) directed by DeVito. But this, as they say, is another story.
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March 24, 2024 (updated March 24, 2024 | 11:18)
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