Each time I took a chance…
On all those two-bit Romeos
Who counterfeit romance…
Somehow always thinking of
The last time I fell down…
Knowing that you fall in love…
Once upon a town…
One from the Heart is a 1982 American musical drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
Hank (Frederic Forrest) and Frannie (Teri Garr) are a married couple celebrating their fifth anniversary on the Fourth of July. However, they have a falling-out over their clashing desires, as Frannie yearns for adventure in exotic locales, while Hank wants to stay put and make money. They go enjoy the festivities in Las Vegas away from each other and have affairs with other partners: Ray (Raúl Juliá), a wannabe musician, and Leila (Nastassja Kinski), an acrobat. The question of whether Hank and Frannie will work things out or choose their new partners is up in the air.
A notorious Box Office Bomb, the film is considered to have contributed to the end of the New Hollywood era and marred Coppola's career; for a long time, he had to make movies specifically to pay off the debts he accrued with this one (from the heart).
Tropes:
- Advertising by Association: One of the taglines seems to subtly lampshade the inherent weirdness of Coppola doing a romantic story. "From the director of The Godfather I & II and Apocalypse Now... a unique vision of love."
- Double-Meaning Title: "One from the Heart" is one of the songs in this love story. But also, considering that this was a passion project for Coppola, one could say this film truly came from his heart.
- Harmless Electrocution: There's a very cartoony scene where Hank is trying to get into Ray's house to get Frannie and he gets electrocuted by some lights. He simply keeps going, completely unharmed, once it stops.
- The Musical: Not a traditional musical, as nearly all the songs (sung by Tom Waits and Crystal Gayle) play over the movie instead of being performed by the characters. Leila is the only one to get an actual musical number, "Little Boy Blue".
- Over-the-Shoulder Carry: Hank forcefully takes Frannie away from Ray by breaking into his bedroom and hoisting her naked over his shoulder, a treatment which Frannie vehemently protests.
- Race for Your Love: Towards the end, Frannie decides to board a plane with Ray to go to Bora Bora, and Hank races to the airport to try to stop her.
- Viva Las Vegas!: The whole film is set in Vegas, which is looking especially glitzy in the midst of the Fourth of July celebrations.
