Gamblers and visionaries lust for the second chance–and the time has come for Francis Coppola and his legendary busted flush “One From the Heart.”
With its digital music box vision of love in Las Vegas, the experimental 1982 musical that became a notorious Hollywood flop is back for a second try, reworked, re-edited and re-released. I wish it well.
“Heart” has always been one of Coppola’s sore points, the film experience that brought down his studio, Zoetrope. But I’ve always had a soft spot for this odd movie. Like Las Vegas itself, it’s an outrageous dream, flawed but full of beauties–a bizarre, giddily artificial jazz fantasia about criss-crossing romances in a dream Sin City.
With Teri Garr, Frederic Forrest, Raul Julia and Nastassia Kinski as the lovers who cross, dancing their quadrangle of sudden passion to Tom Waits’ smoky torch ballads against sinfully pretty Dean Tavoularis sets, it’s like nothing you’ve seen, heard or could imagine.
That’s part of the problem.
“One From the Heart”–set in Las Vegas but shot entirely in Coppola’s newly purchased Zoetrope Studio in 1981–is a piece of digital-techno-wizardry at the service of a seemingly over-simple romance. Like Martin Scorsese’s 1977 “New York, New York,” “Heart” mixes two modes that seemed uncongenial: the shimmering artifice of the classical Hollywood studio musical and the grittier kitchen-sink psychological realism and frank sexuality of the post-Vietnam era drama.
In the story, originally set by co-writer Armyan Bernstein (“Windy City”) in his native Chicago, “Heart’s” couple, Hank and Franny (Forrest and Garr), are an unmarried pair, celebrating their 50th anniversary. He’s a mechanic, she’s a department store window-dresser and the magic has leaked out of their bedroom. After a couple of violent quarrels, Franny stalks off, anxious for the man and the island, Bora-Bora, of her dreams.
After getting commiseration from best pals–Hank’s sleazy partner-buddy Moe (Harry Dean Stanton) and Franny’s zaftig barmaid chum Maggie (Lainie Kazan)–each stumbles on a new dream-lover. Franny finds suave, sexy Ray (Raul Julia), a Latino lounge “singer-pianist” who turns out to be a waiter. Hank finds acrobat Leila (Nastassia Kinski), an adorable circus girl with the face of a lewd little angel.
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Sex and romance beckon.
Will audiences now respond to something they and the critics rejected violently in 1982 and which most never even got a chance to see?
I hope so. Despite its rep, “Heart” is obviously one of Coppola’s most personal films and one of his most daring as well. It was shot during his greatest period (1972-83), the time when he also made the first two “Godfather” movies,” “Apocalypse Now,” “The Conversation” and “Rumble Fish.” Yet the movie struck most ’82 critics as a nutty misfire; many still respond that way today.
Why? For one thing we don’t necessarily like the lovers. That’s because Waits and Gayle are the ones singing their thoughts, while Forrest and Garr, neither a conventional romantic movie-star type, scream semi-improvisatory yawps.
There is a last laugh. Though they all got bad notices (except Tavoularis and Storaro), they really did revolutionize the form; in “Heart,” you easily see the seeds of “Moulin Rouge.”
Back then, I was one of the few critics who praised “Heart.” I liked its bravura, whimsy and tender mix of raw, heart-on-sleeve romance, stylized grace and digital wizardry. I never thought it deserved its reputation as Coppola’s Folly. I haven’t changed my mind.
`One From the Heart’
(star)(star)(star)
Directed by Francis Coppola; written by Armyan Bernstein, Coppola; photographed by Vittorio Storaro and Ronald V. Garcia; edited by Anne Goursaud; additional editing (restoration) by Rob Bonz; production designed by Dean Tavoularis; songs and music by Tom Waits; choreography by Kenny Ortega; musical supervisor (uncredited) Gene Kelly; produced by Gray Frederickson, Fred Roos; restoration produced by Kim Aubry, Coppola. A Zoetrope Studios release; opens Friday at the Music Box Theatre. Running time: 1:47. No MPAA rating. Adult. (nudity, sexuality, language and drug mention).
Hank …………………… Frederic Forrest
Franny …………………. Teri Garr
Ray ……………………. Raul Julia
Leila ………………….. Nastassia Kinski
Maggie …………………. Lainie Kazan
Moe ……………………. Harry Dean Stanton
Restaurant Owner ………… Allen Goorwitz
Couple in hotel elevator …. Italia and Carmine Coppola
Singers ………………… Tom Waits, Crystal Gayle