Tune In Tomorrow

Tune in Tomorrow is a gem of a little movie. Just 90 minutes long, it "crackles with romantic lust" (EW) and has more plot than two movies put together (which is essentially what they did). The movie is based on a 1977 novel by Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa and paralleled his own romance & marriage to an Aunt Julia. Llosa ran for President of Peru, which was the political basis for the Albanian sub-plot in the film (in the novel the Bolivians were the bad guys).

The director, Jon Amiel, in his first Hollywood picture, had to create a movie with period costumes, two fires, 45 locations, and over 50 actors with only an $8 million budget. And he had to contend with a studio change in the middle of production, from MGM/UA to independent Cinecom. It was filmed mainly in Wilmington, North Carolina with some exterior shots in New Orleans and Paris. Keanu once mentioned that at their last location, Hurricane Hugo blew by them, destroying the top of a building a mile away! The film went into production in the summer of 1989 and was released in November of 1990 to very favorable reviews by critics.

It was given two names, one for the States, "TT" (I'm dropping the "I" in the middle for obvious reasons), and one abroad, "Aunt Julia and the Screenwriter." It failed at the box office. The director blamed the studio, which emphasized its slapstick comedy to appeal to young men, instead of its romantic qualities and its appeal to women. The director admitted that the film was probably "never likely to be a massive broad-based comedy hit" but was disappointed because it was "not properly handled" by the studio. Years later, Keanu remarked that "TT" was "a very under-appreciated picture...a good film." It did not find an audience until its video release and Keanu became a star.

"TT" had the feel of an arthouse movie, from its voice-over credits at the beginning, to its story-within-a-story plot. Its theme was how artists reflect real life in their work and how real life creates art, the "eat or be eaten" speech by Pedro. The film is set in 1951 New Orleans and has two stories overlapping: the soap opera, with its dysfunctional characters played by John Larroquette, Buck Henry, Peter Gallagher, and Elizabeth McGovern, and 21 year old Martin Loader pursuing his uncle's wife's sister, an older twice-divorced woman looking for her third rich husband. Keanu was almost 26 years old and his Martin, the central character in the film, had to be naive and optimistic in a believable way, AND not be overshadowed by the strong performances of veteran actors Peter Falk and Barbara Hershey.

Keanu was the straight man in the piece, and had to portray earnest dogged desire and youthful idealism in an engaging and convincing manner. He succeeded, earning universal praise from the critics.

Although producer John Fieldler and director Jon Amiel had considered other actors for the role of Martin, both wanted Keanu because of his performance in "River's Edge." Amiel wanted Keanu to play a "young Jimmy Stewart character: gawky, sincere, charming, bright, and adorable." Amiel hesitated about his choice twice: when Keanu showed up for the audition with his Marlon haircut from "I Love You To Death" and on the first day of rehearsals when he arrived bandaged and limping from a recent motorcycle spill. But Keanu did his usual extensive preparation for the role, using a dialogue coach for his New Orleans accent, which he maintained on and off the set. And he fell asleep at night listening to an audio tape on New Orleans history narrated by a life-long resident.

He studied the novel, reading it several times. Keanu said this of Martin: "What appealed to me was Martin's spirit and passion. He's just about to break out of his repression." Amiel remarked that in preparation for the role he encouraged Keanu to "play a kid who was articulate and sexually quite confident. I constantly encouraged him to work with the outgoing, almost breezy elements of his personality."Amiel felt that Keanu had to work on this aspect of Martin's character because "he's very shy and in many ways not suited to superstardom....he was quite reticent with women at the time I was working with him." Keanu did not meet Hershey until the first day of rehearsals and found Amiel's charge to be sexually confident, well...awkward. It took long rehearsals of the jitterbug scene between the two stars to perfect the playful, sexually-charged chemistry between them. Even Keanu remarked that the jitterbug scene was "how we started to meet each other...being thrust together." Hershey's take on Keanu? She remarked that she thought of him as "a natural talent with a beautiful Arabian prince face."

So I love "TT." I somewhat agree with Variety which said the plot was "cluttered and overdone." I agree with the NY Times that, at times, the soap opera plot was "long dramatized segments." But I love Martin Loader, more than Paul Sutton, I think. There are many similarities between the two romantic leads. Both are writers (give me a second, I'm just warming up).
Both men come from the same time period (post-WWII), both men have short hair and look damn fine in a suit (although I will take Paul's hat over Martin's bowtie anyday). Both men lack any trace of cyncism, and are more attractive for their naivite and innocence (geeks they are not). Both fall in love quickly and face family disapproval (I'm getting better!) Both have an older mentor (Quinn and Falk) who tries to help them woo their lady love. Both love interests are more worldly-wise, with failed relationships (unmarried pregnant, two-time divorcee). Both face a major fire at their workplace which alters their future occupation and helps gain their lady love. Both have a dance scene followed by a crucial, breathless (at least it left me breathless) KISS (jitterbug, crush those grapes!) Both voice similar lines to their leading ladies: to Julia, Martin yells "It wasn't me", and to Victoria, Paul says softly "there's me." I'm dying now, aren't I? Okay, I'll try two more. Both agree to short-term promises, Martin for five years and Paul for one night. Both have seductive dances, as Martin slips his hand down Julia's back during a slow dance, smelling her fragrance, and Paul slips on wings, breathing in Victoria's allure. Anymore?

After "TT" filming ended Keanu took off for a second season at Shakespeare & Co. in Lennox, Mass. And the Movie Club is entering its second season of monthly reports. I am sure he needed the encouragement of his co-stars on that stage, just like the Movie Club needs the support of its Garden members on this cyber stage. The balcony is now open.