Don Juan DeMarco

Don Juan DeMarco
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Jeremy Leven
Produced by	Francis Ford Coppola Michael De Luca Fred Fuchs
Written by	Lord Byron (Character) Jeremy Leven
Starring	Marlon Brando Johnny Depp Faye Dunaway
Music by	Michael Kamen
Cinematography	Ralf Bode
Editing by	Tony Gibbs
Distributed by	New Line Cinema
Release date(s)	April 7, 1995
Running time	97 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English Spanish
Budget	$25 million
Box office	$68,792,531

Don Juan DeMarco is a 1995 American romantic comedy-drama film starring Johnny Depp as John Arnold DeMarco, a man who believes himself to be Don Juan, the greatest lover in the world. Clad in a cape and domino mask, DeMarco undergoes psychiatric treatment with Marlon Brando's character, Dr. Jack Mickler, to cure him of his apparent delusion. But the psychiatric sessions have an unexpected effect on the psychiatric staff, some of whom find themselves inspired by DeMarco's delusion; the most profoundly affected is Dr. Mickler himself, who rekindles the romance in his complacent marriage.

The movie is based on two different sources; the modern-day story is based on director/screenwriter Jeremy Leven's short story Don Juan DeMarco and the Centerfold (the movie's original title before the studio changed it shortly before release), while the flashbacks depicting DeMarco's back-story are based on the more familiar legend of Don Juan, especially as told by Lord Byron in his version of the legend.

Plot

Psychiatrist Jack Mickler (Marlon Brando) dissuades a would-be suicide—a 21-year-old, costumed like Zorro claiming he is Don Juan (Johnny Depp)—is held for a ten-day review in a mental institution. Mickler, who is about to retire, insists on doing the evaluation and conducts it without medicating the youth. "Don Juan" tells his story—born in Mexico, the death of his father, a year in a harem, and finding true love (and being rejected) on a remote island. Listening enlivens Mickler's relationship with his own wife, Marilyn (Faye Dunaway). As the ten days tick down and pressure mounts on Mickler to support the youth's indefinite confinement, finding reality within the romantic imagination becomes Jack's last professional challenge.

Cast

• Johnny Depp as John Arnold DeMarco/Don Juan
• Marlon Brando as Dr. Jack Mickler
• Faye Dunaway as Marilyn Mickler
• Géraldine Pailhas as Doña Ana
• Franc Luz as Don Antonio
• Bob Dishy as Dr. Paul Showalter
• Rachel Ticotin as Doña Inez
• Talisa Soto as Doña Julia
• 'Tiny' Lister, Jr. as Rocco Compton
• Richard C. Sarafin as Detective Sy Tobias
• Tresa Hughes as Grandma DeMarco
• Stephen Singer as Dr. Bill Dunmore
• Selena as Mariachi singer

Music

The film features the original Bryan Adams song, "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?"; the lyrics incorporate quotes from Depp's character, and the melody is used as a musical motif throughout the film. In addition, the song itself is performed three times, once by a mariachi band serenading the characters in Spanish, once by Jose Hernandez and Nydia, as background music (again in Spanish), and once by Bryan Adams during the closing credits. The song is also available on the soundtrack. The song was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song at the 68th Academy Awards, but lost to "Colors of the Wind" from Pochahontas.

Release

Critical reception

The film currently holds 73% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, averaging a 5.8 rating.^[1]

Box office

The film had an estimated budget of $25 million, grossing just $22,150,451 in the U.S. With a total $68,592,731 gross worldwide, it was then considered a hit for New Line Cinema.^[2] Upon its opening weekend, Don Juan DeMarco opened at #4 with $4,556,274 behind the openings of Bad Boys and A Goofy Movie, and the second weekend of Tommy Boy.^[3]

See also

Novels portal

• The Brave, a film which Depp directed and in which he again acted alongside Brando
• Zorro

References

1. ^ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/don-juan-demarco/
2. ^ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=donjuandemarco.htm
3. ^ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=1995&wknd=14&p=.htm

External links

• Don Juan DeMarco at the Internet Movie Database
• Don Juan DeMarco at AllRovi
• Don Juan DeMarco at Box Office Mojo
• Don Juan DeMarco at Rotten Tomatoes
• Movie stills
• Roger Ebert Review