"I didn't get to this place
in my life by doing the smart thing every time; how about you, Frank Farmer,
out there on the edge - haven't you done something in your life that just
didn't make much sense - except somewhere inside you, in your stomach somewhere?
I know you have, 'cause nobody gets good without it - and I know you're
good.... so, I'm going to the Oscars to see if I win - and I'm not gonna
worry about it at all, because I have you to protect me right?"
"That's right, that's right......"
Whitney Houston made her acting debut alongside
Kevin Costner in this 1993 classic romance. Some critics put this film
down but it certainly proved popular with audiences who could not resist
the timeless tale of a love that just could not be.
The caption read... "Never let her out of your
sight. Never let your guard down. Never fall in love." Well, a romantic
could spot the chemistry brewing between Frank and Rachel even in those
first few crucial (and sarcastic) seconds of "Can we get you something
to drink?".... "Yeah, orange juice."..... "Straight???"; and we could just
*tell* that as soon as she got over her attitude problem and he quit being
totally and utterly frustrated with her that, well, he'd break the third
rule!

So, after a lot of angst, we finally get to see *the* date, which is
followed by *that* kiss. And couldn't you just *cut* the silence with a
knife, or perhaps 'sword' would be a better choice of words.....
We watch contentedly as their chemistry is resolved and they seize the
moment and admit it's love.
Then came the hard part (and the first bit we least liked). Frank made
the decision - it was either her life or his desire for her. He was a bodyguard
and thus it was her life that he opted for. As the movie progresses we
see Rachel's attitude return in frustration at Frank's apparently cold
treatment towards her. She can't understand why he won't love her, and
he can't understand why she can't see that it's impossible for him to protect
her when *she* is his weakness. Their feelings could be summed up by a
line in one of 'Rachel's' hit songs, 'Run to You'....
"I know that when you look at me there's
so much that you just don't see"
The story is resolved when he saves her in the intense final scenes at
the Oscars where he literally chose to die for her. Rachel is distraught
at the thought of him dying and leaving her alone. One only had to see
the look on her face to know that she could feel the words of her song
ringing true...
"What's the sense of trying hard to find
your dreams without someone to share it with - tell me what does it mean?"
Someone once said to me of the end of this movie
"I waited until the end of the credits in the hope that they finally got
together". 'I Will Always Love You' helps turn on the tears as Rachel runs
from the plane to say good bye in terms that will let Frank know how she
truly feels.
"So I'll go, but I know I'll think of
you every step of the way"
And so, it is evident that this intense tale of life,
love and passion is only one that was meant as a passing encounter. The
events were only meant as a memory of love and sacrifice for both to cherish,
and the movie was meant as one that many romantics will remember, and love
forever.
However, despite the beauty of the movie itself,
'The Bodyguard' will probably be most famous for its unbelievable soundtrack
which won award after award world wide. Whitney Houston, the album and
several songs on it not only won numerous awards but set many records on
international music charts which still stand today.
Soundtrack listing:
'I will always love you' - Whitney Houston
'I have nothing' - Whitney Houston
'I'm every woman' - Whitney Houston
'Run to you' - Whitney Houston
'Queen of the night' - Whitney Houston
'Jesus loves me' - Whitney Houston
'Even if my heart would break' - Kenny G and Aaron
Neville
'Someday (I'm coming back)' - Lisa Stansfield
'It's gonna be a lovely day' - The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M
'(What's so funny 'bout) Peace, love and understanding'
- Curtis Stigers
'Waiting for you' - Kenny G
'Trust in me' - Joe Cocker featuring Sass Jordan
'Theme from the Bodyguard'

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Written material copyrighted to Sarah
1997.