Hearts of Fire

Phoenix/Lorimar. Dir Richard Marquand; Producer Richard Marquand, Jennifer Miller, Jennifer Alward; Screenplay Scott Richardson, Joe Eszterhas; Camera Alan Hume; Editor Sean Barton; Music John Barry Art Dir Roger Murray-Leach

Bob Dylan
Rupert Everett
Fiona
Julian Glover
Ian Drury
Richie Havens

It is unfortunate that the last film of helmer Richard Marquand, who died shortly after completing it, should be Hearts of Fire. As an epitaph it leaves something to be desired, failing to fire on all cylinders despite a nimble performance by the enigmatic Bob Dylan typecast as a reclusive rock star.

Pic opens with would-be rock singer Molly McGuire (exuberantly played by Yank singer Fiona) meeting rock star Billy Parker (Dylan) and agreeing to hop over to England with him.

In Blighty she is spotted by British popster James Colt (Rupert Everett), who takes her under his wing - and into his bed - while a drunken Dylan flies home to the security of his chicken farm.

Fiona and Everett head off on tour together and, while Fiona agonizes about the real price of success and worries about which man she prefers, the inevitable climax of the gig in her hometown fast approaches.

Dylan performs well, though he looks a mite uncomfortable during the musical numbers. He certainly appears fitter than Everett whose voice is as wet and stilted as his performance.

(Color) Widescreen. Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1987. Running time: 95 MIN.

Variety is striving to present the most thorough review database. To report inaccuracies in review credits, please click here. We do not currently list below-the-line credits, although we hope to include them in the future. Please note we may not respond to every suggestion. Your assistance is appreciated.