To Die For (1995) | Presenting Hitchcock Podcast

Gooooood evening. In this month’s episode of Presenting Hitchcock, Cory and Aaron want all the fame but none of the effort as they discuss 1995’s To Die For.

Written by: Buck Henry

Based on the novel by Joyce Maynard

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Matt Dillon, Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, Illeana Douglas, Alison Folland, Dan Hedaya, Wayne Knight, Kurtwood Smith, and Holland Taylor

Directed by: Gus Van Sant

Trailer:

Our Favourite Trivia:

Hitchcock comparisons:

• Dial M for Murder
• The Paradine Case
• Psycho
• Murder!
• Trouble with Harry

Author cameo: Joyce Maynard appears as Suzanne Stone’s lawyer.

Writer Cameo: Buck Henry plays the school teacher.

This movie is based on the 1990 murder of Gregg Smart. His wife, Pamela, is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for her part in his death.

Meg Ryan was offered five million to play the role of Suzanne Stone and still turned down. Once she had read the screenplay, Nicole Kidman was determined to land the lead role. This involved tracking down Gus Van Sant’s personal phone number and ringing him at home. She spent 40 minutes talking to him on the phone about her thoughts on Suzanne Stone and how to play her. Van Sant called back two hours later to tell her she had gotten the role.

This is the feature debut for Casey Affleck, who beat out his older brother Ben Affleck as well as his childhood friend Matt Damon for the role of Russell Hines. Ben and Matt would later work with Gus Van Sant on Good Will Hunting (1997) which they also wrote and won an Oscar for.

This is the first credit for Joaquin Phoenix, who used his birth name, Leaf Phoenix, prior to this film.

Gus Van Sant previously worked with River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho (1991), and Rain Phoenix in Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993).

When Janice (Illeana Douglas) hears the news of Larry’s (Matt Dillon) death, she faints and lands on her arm, which is in a cast for her next several scenes. This was written into the screenplay after Douglas actually broke her thumb while horsing around with Dillon. Gus Van Sant wanted to incorporate the injury into the movie.

Listen to our breakdown of the true crime behind To Die For on our Inspired By A True Story podcast

The Random Draw for Next Picture:

Next up, we’ll be discussing Presumed Innocent.

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