“Most cynics are really crushed romantics.”
Steven Kloves wrote the screenplay and intended this to be his directorial debut. Kloves is perhaps best known for adaptations of novels, more recently for the first four Harry Potter films. Initially, studio execs thought that a more experienced filmmaker should direct and George Roy Hill was considered at one point. But after three years in development Kloves convinced the producers that he should direct it. They were impressed with his refusal to make a safe, Hollywood movie. Some people in Hollywood believed that the film could be made with Chevy Chase and Bill Murray which Kloves felt would be a disastrous mistake. From the very start, Kloves had envisioned Jeff and Beau Bridges as the Baker brothers. He got them to sign on after he met with Jeff at his ranch in Montana. Madonna was originally approached for the role of Susie Diamond but she turned it down because the plot was “too mushy”. Debra Winger was also offered the lead, but turned it down. Michelle Pfeiffer hadn’t sung professionally since Grease 2 (1982). Pfeiffer sang all her character’s songs in the film – no vocal double was used. The scene where she sings “Makin’ Whoopee” on top of a piano took six hours to shoot, in just four takes. Her performance won a Golden Globe for Best Actress. Both Beau and Jeff Bridges learned to play all the songs, but Dave Grusin recorded the songs for the final movie soundtrack. Grusin won a Grammy for Best Album of Original Instrumental Background Score. The film cost $12 million to make. It grossed only $16.8 million (USA).
