A Hidden Gem in John Turturro’s Career
John Turturro has had a remarkable career, starring in iconic films directed by Spike Lee and the Coen brothers, receiving critical acclaim at prestigious film festivals like Cannes and Venice, and delivering powerful performances in shows such as Severance, Monk, and The Night Of. However, one of his most personal projects remains largely unknown to many of his fans. This film, Romance & Cigarettes, was released over two decades ago and has since faded from public memory.
The Creation of Romance & Cigarettes
Romance & Cigarettes premiered at the Venice Film Festival and was written and directed by Turturro himself. The film featured an impressive lineup of talent both in front of and behind the camera. Joel and Ethan Coen, long-time collaborators of Turturro, served as producers. The cast included James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Christopher Walken, Steve Buscemi, Bobby Cannavale, Mandy Moore, Mary-Louise Parker, and even Turturro’s cousin Aida Turturro, who had previously appeared in The Sopranos.
The film is a comedic rock opera that explores a fractured relationship and its impact on friends and family. It features elaborate musical numbers set to songs by Bruce Springsteen, James Brown, Elvis Presley, Cyndi Lauper, Tom Jones, and Janis Joplin. Additionally, the cast performed original tunes, including songs by Gandolfini and Sarandon.
A Disappointing Reception
Despite being praised by the Venice jury and shortlisted for the Golden Lion, Romance & Cigarettes struggled to find an audience. A week after its premiere, it had its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, which typically serves as a launchpad for Oscar campaigns. However, the film disappeared from the public eye shortly after.
Turturro recalls the heartbreak of seeing the film fall through the cracks. “We had a wonderful studio, United Artists, and we had a big release planned,” he told Gold Derby. “Everyone loved the movie. I got all that music. It took me two years to clear it all. And I'm making a movie that was twice the size for half the budget. And then we got caught in a giant merger, and they didn't know what to do with that film.”
United Artists, founded by Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and D.W. Griffith, was eventually absorbed by MGM. This merger left many films, including Romance & Cigarettes, in limbo.
A Small Release and Critical Acclaim
Turturro and the Coens fought to get the film released, and it eventually had an art-house run. Roger Ebert gave it a four-star review, calling it “Unfiltered Joy.” While the film received positive reviews and did well in limited screenings, Turturro felt it never received the attention it deserved.
“We were able to get a small release, and it did very well,” Turturro said. “It got a lot of critical acclaim, but I never felt like it had its full hearing.”
A Personal Story
Loosely based on Turturro’s parents’ relationship, the idea for Romance & Cigarettes had been in his mind for a long time. He began writing the script while filming Barton Fink, in which he played a screenwriter. “The first scene in that movie I wrote on camera when I was doing Barton Fink,” Turturro recalled. “I was really writing things while they were filming.”
Because of his star power, Turturro was able to attract an A-list ensemble. He started with James Gandolfini, who was in the middle of his breakout role on The Sopranos. “Jimmy Gandolfini is great in that role,” Turturro said. “He was a guy who loved music. He loved singing along. He was shy, but he's a beautiful guy, beautiful actor.”
Gandolfini found a match in Kate Winslet, whom Turturro described as “as good as she's ever been. She's hilarious and so sexy and so funny.”
A New Opportunity
Ahead of the film’s 20th anniversary on September 6, Turturro hosted a special screening at the Southhampton Playhouse in New York. He encourages fans to seek out the movie, which is available for free on Tubi, Pluto TV, and the Roku Channel, and can also be purchased or rented on platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV+.
“We all have our private soundtracks, and that is what the movie is about. It's something that I loved making,” Turturro said. “If someone wants to know anything about me, they can watch that movie.”
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