True Romance: The Screenplay [Paperback]

Quentin Tarantino (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2, 2000

True Romance, directed by Tony Scott, is a hilarious, twisted road movie about which Interview raved, "A pop-crazy, instant B classic with A clout." Alabama, a hooker, and Clarence, a comic-book store clerk, fall in love and hit the road in a purple Cadillac. They are going to Los Angeles to start a new life -- with a suitcase full of cocaine accidentally stolen from Alabama's defunct ex-pimp. Guided by the spirit of Elvis, Clarence attempts to sell the coke to a top Hollywood director, putting the young lovers in the middle of a standoff between the narcs and the Sicilian gangsters who rightfully own the cocaine. This publication of Tarantino's first screenplay, written when he was still a video-store clerk, contains the original ending and Tarantino's "answers first, questions later" structure, both of which were altered by Scott.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The first screenplay of one of America's brightest young filmmakers, True Romance is a twisted road movie in which Alabama, a hooker, and Clarence, a young comic-book store clerk, fall in love, get married, and hit the road in a purple Cadillac. They are going to L.A. to start a new life--with a suitcase full of cocaine accidentally stolen from Alabama's defunct ex-pimp. Guided by the spirit of Elvis, Clarence attempts to sell the coke to a top Hollywood director, putting himself and Alabama in the middle of a standoff between the narcs and the Sicilian gangsters who rightfully own the cocaine. Especially noteworthy for Tarantino's age--he wrote it while still a videostore clerk--True Romance contains the "Sicilian scene" acted by Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken, which many fans and critics consider one of his finest accomplishments. The published screenplay also contains the original ending and Tarantino's "answers first, questions later" structure, both of which were altered by director Tony Scott.

"A vibrant, grisly, gleefully amoral road movie [that] sticks to its own stylistic guns...wickedly tongue-in-cheek."--Janet Maslin, The New York Times

"A pop-crazy, instant B classic with A clout."--Interview

"Tarantino creates a world of tough guys, bravado, lurid melodrama, easy women, betrayal, guns and drugs.... The energy and style of the movie are exhilarating."--Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed Pulp Fiction, which received the Palme d'Or at Cannes, a Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Screenplay, and seven other Academy Award nominations. He also wrote and directed the critical and audience favorites Reservoir Dogs and Jackie Brown, and wrote the original screenplay for Natural Born Killers, which was adapted and directed by Oliver Stone.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press; 1st Grove Press ed edition (August 2, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802136869
• ISBN-13: 978-0802136862
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #537,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Addictive, July 7, 2004

By 

John "MovieAddict" (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: True Romance: The Screenplay (Paperback)

The single review on Amazon for this screenplay is about three words long and doesn't discuss the merits of the literature AT ALL. I'm starting to think Amazon should place word limit restrictions so reviewers can't submit comments such as, "cul movie!"

If you've read my review of Tarantino's PULP FICTION script you'll see that I called it very addictive, and the same is true here, in fact it's more enjoyable to read. I printed it out off of my script website (wiredonmovies.com) and read it rather quickly. The movie itself disappointed me, and seemed like a fanboy's "wet dream" as some have described it. All in all the elements don't quite add up and the film (directed by Tony Scott) has an edge but lacks the humor of Tarantino's edge.

The screenplay is a blast, and differs from the film sometimes, especially the end. I imagine Quentin's version of the film (he originally planned on directing it but turned it down for RESERVOIR DOGS and used the money he made off this script to fund that project) would have been superior to Scott's own outcome.

5.0 out of 5 stars Just like the movie, August 24, 2011

By 

Y. Chung "DC" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: True Romance: The Screenplay (Paperback)

I have been the biggest fan of this movie since it came out.
I used to repeat after each line because it is so well-written and also hilarious.
Just like most of Tarantino's works, there are lots of dialogues.
Some seem pointless and offensive yet mostly passable as funny and sarcastic.
They also reflect how modern Americans view racism and Tarantino so masterfully wrote his script that the readers would laugh about it rather than getting upset about it.

3 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tarantino, February 23, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: True Romance: The Screenplay (Paperback)

It's tarantino. It's the screenplay of the movie. you saw the movie,right? GET IT.