Untamed Heart

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Tony Bill directs. Jost Vacano behind the camera. Cliff Eidelman scores. Mia Goldman cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 133 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
• 2Directed by Tony Bill, shot by Jost Vacano. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 3Original score by Cliff Eidelman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 4Editor Mia Goldman shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 5Christian Slater and Marisa Tomei and Rosie Perez carry the top of the cast.
• 6Marketing tagline: "He doesn't make sense. She doesn't make sense. Together they make sense.".
• 7IMDB entry: tt0108451 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography

Jost Vacano

Original score

Cliff Eidelman

Editing

Mia Goldman

Production design

Steven J. Jordan

Costume design

Lynette Bernay

Stunt coordinator

Jack Gill

Runtime

102 min · 1h 42m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Box office

$18,899,204

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

PG-13

IMDB

Untamed Heart (1993) ↗

Also by

Tony Bill

• 
  To Have & to Hold

  1998 · ★ 9.5
• 
  The Princess and the Pea

  1984 · ★ 8.2
• 
  Faerie Tale Theatre

  1982 · ★ 8.1
• 
  Dirty Dancing

  1988 · ★ 8.1
• 
  Whitewash: The Clarence Brandley Story

  2002 · ★ 8.0
• 
  Rescuers: Stories of Courage - Two Families

  1998 · ★ 8.0

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Untamed Heart Theater Trailer

  Trailer

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Wuchak2019-02-07
  ★ 7/10

  Moving portrait of an outcast, plus cutie Marisa Tomei Released in 1993, "Untamed Heart" tells the story of Caroline (Marisa Tomei) who works the night shift at a Minneapolis diner. She's a cute and likable young woman but, for some reason, is unable to maintain the romantic interest of the guys she dates. The answer to her love problems turns out to be right under her nose in the form of the diner's quiet dishwasher/janitor, Adam (Christian Slater). "Untamed Heart" is a must for fans of Marisa Tomei and the romance between Caroline and Adam works, although their sexual union is premature IMHO, but real-time has to be condensed into a 102-minute film so I guess it can be overlooked. What struck me most about this film, aside from Marisa, was the character of Adam. He's an outcast; he doesn't fit with the crowd; he's quiet and mysterious in a misfit type of way; he's an easy target for people to mock; he's content to adore Caroline from a distance; his love for her doesn't change as she keeps making mistakes trying to find someone to love; he secretly acts as her guardian angel and doesn't care about getting credit. Why is Caroline attracted to such a person? Because "opposites attract." We're naturally attracted to people that have what we lack and vice versa. Caroline is open, talkative and comfortable with practically any social setting; Adam isn't. Adam is aloof, meditative and unconcerned about fitting in — qualities Caroline lacks. You'll see people like Adam in real life if you open your eyes. At a local restaurant I sometimes catch a glimpse of one of the kitchen workers, whether taking a smoke break outside or whatever. He's in his mid-30s, maybe older, obviously intelligent with a striking appearance, but he's quiet and aloof from the people around him, with an air of mystery. This is a person, like Adam in the film, who doesn't fit into society's mold. College doesn't work for him despite his intelligence, nor does a conventional job; he just does what he has to in order to live. The film is very successful at bringing to life this type of outcast in Adam. I found it quite moving because I understand and can relate. Not everything in the story works, however, which is why I knock off a star in my rating. For instance, it isn't even remotely believable that Adam would be able to secretly break into someone’s house and do what he does while the people are sleeping. Dumb. What were the writers thinking? The film was shot on location in NE Minneapolis. GRADE: B

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

  US

Key crew

• CastingMarci Liroff
• Stunt CoordinatorJack Gill
• EditorMia Goldman
• ProducerHelen Buck Bartlett
• ProducerTony Bill
• Executive ProducerJ. Boyce Harman Jr.
• Associate ProducerMarci Liroff
• Associate ProducerTom Sierchio
• Costume DesignLynette Bernay
• Production DesignSteven J. Jordan
• Special EffectsBrian Wood

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• love
• tragedy
• orphan
• baboon

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical1993-02-12PG-13

Also known as

International titles

• Qualcuno da amareIT
• Corazón indomableES
• Coeur sauvageFR
• Дике серцеUA