Grace of My Heart (1996)

Director:

Allison Anders

Writer (WGA):

Allison Anders (written by)

Release Date:

13 September 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

For years her songs brought fame to other people. Then she found her own voice.

Plot:

An aspiring singer, Denise Waverly/Edna Buxton, sacrifices her own singing career to write hit songs that launch the careers of other singers...

Plot Keywords:

Commune | Songwriter | Beach | Singer Songwriter | Suicide

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Illeana Douglas	...	Denise Waverly / Edna Buxton
Sissy Boyd	...	Dress Saleswoman
Christina Pickles	...	Mrs. Buxton
Jill Sobule	...	Singing Contestant
Jennifer Leigh Warren	...	Doris Shelley
Tegan West	...	M.C. at Talent Show
Richard Schiff	...	Audition Record Producer
Natalie Venetia Belcon	...	Betty
Kathy Barbour	...	Sha Sha
John Turturro	...	Joel Millner
Diane Robin	...	Waitress in Diner
Eric Jerome Kirkland	...	Stylette
Irving Eugene Washington III	...	Stylette
Kurt Jackson	...	Stylette
Michael Angelo Saulsberry	...	Stylette (as Michael Saulsberry)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, and for some sexuality and drug content.

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Iceland:L | USA:R (certificate #34772) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Germany:12 | Spain:13 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Cappa Production

Trivia:

Boyd Rice played a character loosely based on Lee Hazlewood, but the character was cut from the final edit of the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: Jay Phillips' sunglasses during TV interview.

Quotes:

Denise Waverly: What exactly did you like about my record? The thickness of the vinyl?

Movie Connections:

References Oklahoma! (1955)

Soundtrack:

God Give Me Strength

Behind every idol is a song...

Illeana Douglas portrays songwriter Densie Waverly in a film loosely based on Carole King. It is more like a sneak peek into the lives of the 60's pop composers at the famous Brill Building(Neil Diamond, Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich). Most of the characters are based on real life rock and rollers. John Turturro plays a Phil Specter like producer named Joel, who discovers Denise. Matt Dillon does a pretty decent portrayal of a producer, not unlike Beach Boy Brian Wilson. Some parts are a bit too dramatic, but the songs in the movie--composed by the Brill writers make up for it. The highlight is Douglas's lip sync(sung by Kristen Vigard), written by Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello. Good rock and roll movie. If you like this try: *La Bamba *That Thing You Do *The Rose