The Bodyguard (1992) - Soundtracks - IMDb The Bodyguard (1992) Whitney Houston Appears Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc. Someday (I'm Coming Back) Written by Lisa Stansfield , Andy Morris and Ian Devaney Produced by Ian Devaney and Andy Morris Courtesy of Arista Records, U.K. Run to You Whitney Houston Appears Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc. I Will Always Love You Whitney Houston Appears Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc. Trust in Me Joe Cocker Appears Courtesy of Capitol Records By Arrangement with CEMA Special Markets Sass Jordan Appears Courtesy of Impact Records and MCA Records, Inc. Queen of the Night Whitney Houston Appears Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc. I'm Every Woman Whitney Houston Appears Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc. Even If My Heart Would Break Kenny G Appears Courtesy of Arista Records Aaron Neville Appears Courtesy of A&M Records Jesus Loves Me Whitney Houston Appears Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc.

It's Gonna Be a Lovely Day Written by Bill Withers , Skip Scarborough , Robert Clivillés (as Robert Clivilles), David Cole, Tommy Never and Michelle Visage Produced by Robert Clivillés (as Robert Clivilles) and David Cole Performed by The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M., Recording Artist Michelle Visage Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc. Theme from The Bodyguard Trumpet Solo by Gary Grant Waiting for You Written, Produced and Performed by Kenny G Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc. Melissa Performed by The Allman Brothers Band (as The Allman Brothers) Courtesy of PolyGram Special Markets, A Division of PolyGram Group Distribution I Will Always Love You Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You [Final Scene of The Bodyguard] - YouTube Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You [Final Scene of The Bodyguard] Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Feb 11, 2012 R.I.P Whitney.

This video's for you and your fans. You will be missed. All rights of this song and clip to their rightful and well-respected owners. This video is purely as a dedication to the deceased Whitney Houston. Category David Foster: 'Bodyguard' Anthem, 'I Will Always Love You,' Almost Didn't Happen - ABC News ABC News David Foster: 'Bodyguard' Anthem, 'I Will Always Love You,' Almost Didn't Happen By Lauren Effron WATCH Whitney Houston's Mysterious Death 0 Shares Email David Foster, the hit-maker who has won 16 Grammys, three of which with Whitney Houston , revealed the intricate details of how their collaboration on the ballad, "I Will Always Love You," became the epic anthem of Houston's career. In an interview with "Nightline" anchor Cynthia McFadden , the Canadian music producer-songwriter said Houston blew him away when they recorded the song, " I Will Always Love You ," in 1992. Her mother Cissy Houston was listening on the sidelines. David Foster reflects on Whitney Houston's iconic ballad, "I Will Always Love You." Credit: ABC News "It was like 'BOOM,'" Foster said.

"I was standing right beside Cissy, and she turned to me, and she said, 'I don't know who you are and why you are here or what you are to me, but you are witnessing greatness right here.' And she was right." "I don't think she just meant that her daughter was great. She meant that this was the pinnacle of what she believed what would be her daughter's success and she was right." "I Will Always Love You," written and performed by Dolly Parton in the '70s, ended up as a late addition to the score while Foster and Houston were working together on the soundtrack for the 1992 blockbuster, "The Bodyguard" -- Houston's first film. PHOTOS: Whitney Houston: Her Iconic Career Foster said actor Kevin Costner, who produced and co-starred in the film, suggested they use "I Will Always Love You" as the signature ballad after the '60s soul hit, "What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted," fell flat with Houston.

Foster said at the time he had never heard of "I Will Always Love You," but once he listened to Linda Ronstadt's cover, he said he was "immediately" struck with inspiration. I made a demo ... ran to [Houston's] trailer, because I was so excited. I said, 'Whitney, I've got it, I've got it, I've got it,' and I played it for her. And, of course her face lit up because she knew and I knew that I had got it," Foster said. When they first started going over the song, Foster said Costner suggested she sing it a capella for the movie, which the music producer scoffed at at the time. "I thought using no music at the beginning was a stupid idea," Foster said.

"And I hate being wrong, but when you're wrong you got to be wrong big because when you're wrong big, it means you get to be right big too and the song certainly ended up being very right." Foster and Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You" earned the duo three Grammys and was later listed as one of Billboard's "Greatest Songs of All Time." Mere hours after Houston's death on Sunday, the song topped iTunes charts. Foster said he first met Houston at a party thrown for her by famed record producer Clive Davis. She was "glowing," he said, and just 18 at the time. Davis had discovered Houston singing in her mother's nightclub, signed her to Arista Records in 1983 and remained her mentor. "She probably trusted [Davis] more than anyone else in the world, barring her parents," Foster said.

"He was there every step of the way even through the good times and the bad times and he never, never, ever, ever, ever gave up on her." While Houston reportedly had a rocky relationship with her other partner in life, ex-husband and R&B singer Bobby Brown, Foster painted a different picture of the couple, at least, as he saw them in the recording studio. "Bobby and Whitney were a team," Foster said. "He was incredibly supportive of her at all times." In more than three decades of producing, Foster has collaborated with other iconic female artists, including Barbara Streisand, Celine Dion, Diana Ross and Natalie Cole, but Houston, he said, was a music "genius" in her own right. Their last collaboration together was on Houston's 2009 single, "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" -- her last hit released before her death . "Celine would give me exactly what I asked for, which just thrilled me, as an egotistical record producer. Thank you, Celine," Foster said. "When I would ask Whitney to do that, she would give me something different than I asked for. And 99 percent of the time, it would be something better than what I asked for...

that was the genius, part of the genius, of Whitney Houston." 0 Shares I Will Always Love You - Dolly Parton - Song History While the song's origins may be specific to Dolly Parton , its sentiment remains universal. continue reading below our video 5 Urban Myths That Rule the Ages The woman in the song knows a relationship is over, but still values the time she spent with the person she is leaving. She still wants the best for him. These bittersweet qualities helped turn "I Will Always Love You" into a #1 hit, and it has often been listed among the best country love songs . Dolly's Second Version of "I Will Always Love You" In 1982, "I Will Always Love You" was re-recorded for the soundtrack of the musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; Parton played brothel owner Mona Stangley. The song was again released as a single and once more topped the charts. Doing so, Parton became first singer to have a #1 hit with two different recordings of the same song. Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" Whitney Houston's iconic version of the Dolly Parton song was almost never recorded.

"What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" was originally set for the finale of The Bodyguard. But when the producers of the film discovered the song was set to be used for Fried Green Tomatoes, they had to find a replacement. Co-star Kevin Costner brought "I Will Always Love You" to Houston's attention. The tune was an unparalleled success, spending 14 weeks at #1 on the Billboard pop charts. It was also extremely popular internationally, reaching #1 in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland, among other nations. It went on to sell over four million copies, making the song the second best-selling single of all time. At the 1994 Grammy Awards, "I Will Always Love You" won Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female. The Elvis Connection Elvis Presley nearly recorded "I Will Always Love You," but Dolly's foresight prevented it from happening. According to Parton, Elvis's manager Colonel Tom Parker demanded half of the publishing rights and she wouldn't give them up.

"I thought, 'Oh, no, that's already been a hit and that's what I'm leaving for my family.' It had nothing to do with Elvis, because hopefully he was disappointed too," Parton told Oprah Winfrey in 2010. "But I just wouldn't let him have the publishing." It turned out to be a wise financial decision: Houston's mega-seller reaped the country singer millions. Dolly's Response to Whitney Houston's Death "I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song," Parton told Billboard magazine after Houston's death on February 11, 2012, "and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, 'Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed.'" Other Artist Renditions of "I Will Always Love You" Dolly Parton 'Shattered' When 'I Will Always Love You' Played at Whitney Houston's Funeral | Hollywood Reporter 8:31pm PT by THR Staff Dolly Parton 'Shattered' When 'I Will Always Love You' Played at Whitney Houston's Funeral Alberto E.

Rodriguez/Getty Images ABC In an interview with "Nightline," the singer/songwriter says she feels forever connected to Houston. Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston will undoubtedly remain connected through their smash hit song “I Will Always Love You,” written by Parton and performed by Houston. But according to the country crooner, that connection runs much deeper. The song was played during Houston’s funeral service in February, which was broadcast live from coast to coast, leaving Parton feeling “shattered.” PHOTOS: Whitney Houston's Funeral “[It] just shattered me to hear that song played under those conditions,” Parton said during an interview with ABC’s Nightline to air Wednesday. “I thought my heart was gonna stop. It just pierced me like a knife. It’s just -- I can’t explain that feeling, to think that that was so final for her, and that that was my words and my feeing -- I would forever be so connected to her.” As The Hollywood Reporter previously reported, Parton has pocketed more than $70,000 in royalties since Houston’s Feb. 11 death.

“I Will Always Love You” was downloaded 195,000 times in the week following Houston’s death and played 2,137 times on the U.S. radio during the weekend of her death. PHOTOS: Iconic Singer Whitney Houston's Life and Career in Pictures “I really did feel like that song belongs to all of us,” Parton said of Houston, Kevin Costner and composer David Foster, who rearranged Parton’s original version for their film, The Bodyguard. Parton recalled the history of her iconic song, written in 1972 for her late duet and business partner Porter Wagoner. At the time, the two were fighting about Parton leaving his syndicated TV show to pursue a solo career. The track was later re-recorded for the 1982 film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with Burt Reynolds. “When Whitney did ‘I Will Always Love You,’ I mean look what a grand song she made out of that simple, heartfelt, you know, song… it was just amazing,” she said.

“Whitney is the one who took it worldwide and really made it a household word – or song, I should say – so I’ll always be thankful to her for that. Parton’s interview will air in full on Wednesday, April 4, at 11:35 p.m on ABC. The singer is currently promoting her latest project, a two-disc DVD and CD set titled An Evening With… Dolly Live. The Bodyguard (1992) - IMDb IMDb 29 December 2016 2:33 AM, UTC NEWS There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC A former Secret Service agent takes on the job of bodyguard to a pop singer, whose lifestyle is most unlike a President's.

Director: a list of 46 titles created 07 Jun 2011 a list of 42 titles created 23 May 2012 a list of 35 titles created 25 Apr 2015 a list of 21 titles created 9 months ago a list of 21 titles created 8 months ago Search for " The Bodyguard " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 18 nominations. See more awards » Videos When Robin and his Moorish companion come to England and the tyranny of the Sheriff of Nottingham, he decides to fight back as an outlaw. Director: Kevin Reynolds In a future where the polar ice-caps have melted and Earth is almost entirely submerged, a mutated mariner fights starvation and outlaw "smokers," and reluctantly helps a woman and a young girl try to find dry land.

Director: Kevin Reynolds A nameless drifter dons a postman's uniform and bag of mail as he begins a quest to inspire hope to the survivors living in post-apocalyptic America. Director: Kevin Costner A washed up golf pro working at a driving range tries to qualify for the US Open in order to win the heart of his succesful rival's girlfriend. Director: Ron Shelton After a young man is murdered, his spirit stays behind to warn his lover of impending danger, with the help of a reluctant psychic. Director: Jerry Zucker A woman discovers a tragic love letter in a bottle on a beach, and is determined to track down its author. Director: Luis Mandoki An insurance agent is sent by her employer to track down and help capture an art thief. Director: Jon Amiel Lt. John Dunbar, exiled to a remote western Civil War outpost, befriends wolves and Indians, making him an intolerable aberration in the military. Director: Kevin Costner Lancelot falls in love with Guinevere, who is due to be married to King Arthur. Meanwhile, a violent warlord tries to seize power from Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

Director: Jerry Zucker A young thief, seeking revenge for the death of his brother, is trained by the once great, but aged Zorro, who also pursues vengeance of his own. Director: Martin Campbell When a worldly singer witnesses a mob crime, the police hide her as a nun in a traditional convent where she has trouble fitting in. Director: Emile Ardolino Wyatt Earp is a movie about a man and his family. The movie shows us the good times and the bad times of one of the West's most famous individuals. Director: Lawrence Kasdan Edit Storyline A pop singer has been receiving threatening notes, and her manager hires a bodyguard known for his good work. The bodyguard ruffles the singer's feathers and most of her entourage by tightening security more than they feel is necessary. The bodyguard is haunted by the fact that he was on Reagan's secret service staff but wasn't there to prevent the attack by Hinckley. Eventually the bodyguard and the singer start an affair, and she begins to believe his precautions are necessary when the stalker strikes close to home. Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com> Never let her out of your sight. Never let your guard down. Never fall in love.

Genres: Rated R for language | See all certifications » Parents Guide: 25 November 1992 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Did You Know? Trivia Kevin Costner said that he based his portrayal of Frank Farmer on actor Steve McQueen . He even went as far as to get McQueen's trademark haircut for the role. See more » Goofs Nominees for Best Actor & Best Actress Oscars traditionally sit in the first few rows for the ceremony. When Rachel is announced as Best Actress & stands, she is seated in about the 20th row. Following the camera in slow motion, Rachel proceeds to walk down the aisle, shaking hands with many rows of people congratulating her. This was obviously done for dramatic effect, as it gives the camera time to zero in on who is trying to shoot her. See more » Quotes Rachel : [sees her son, Fletcher, getting into a boat] You know, Fletcher can't swim very well. Herb Farmer : I guess he'd better stay in the boat, then. (United States) – See all my reviews Oh my, what a wonderful movie. Hollywood is known for churning out a lot of sentimental mush that's supposed to pass for romance.

But, thankfully, this is not one of those movies. In this movie the main characters, the bodyguard and the lady he is hired to protect, are likable and have a relationship that develops into something really beautiful and special. Moreover, the story is plausible and the movie is well-acted too, with Whitney Houston turning in an outstanding performance reminiscent of Diana Ross's in Lady Sings the Blues (which is another great movie). If you want to watch a movie with good acting and an engaging story, then this is the movie to watch. 36 of 52 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes Whitney Houston: The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album - Music on Google Play Full Review Everette Witherspoon August 12, 2014 To the last drop You'll never hear a voice like this again truly spine tingling sends chills up and down my body. Made me cry before Super Bowl IX whem she sang National Anthem God Bless. Full Review Carolyn Hamilton January 3, 2015 Unhappy ~ Soundtrack, The Bodyguard I ordered 2 songs ONLY, and I was charged for the ENTIRE album.

I ordered the FIRST song "I Will Always Love You" and the 11th song "Theme Song" . PLEASE FIX AND REFUND !!!! Then, 5 stars definitely !!! Thank you. Bryan Houston July 24, 2013 @Rip You're saying could've been better? That's pathetic cause she sang the crap out of this song. Full Review Elizabeth Wheaton January 29, 2015 Unbelievable the voice no one will compare Whitney no mattet what people say about u or what they remember about your voice says it all there is no better. Laurencia Mayo December 12, 2015 First track always tears me up Loved the movie. It was an action and life movie combined. Full Review Maurine Watkins February 2, 2014 To All Of Whitney's Fans I know that Whitney'S life wasn't perfect; but whose life on this earth is...???? Although there are lots of good singer but there will never ever be another singer that will ever come close to beating her singing volume...!!!! Full Review Monique Smith August 18, 2015 RIP WHITNEY ELIZABETH HOUSTON.

I love u and miss you. You gave me good advice and never turned your back on me. True Queen now with Angel Wings Full Review Nola Boxley May 26, 2015 I will always love you OMG best song ever sometimes it makes me cry it is so BEAUTIFUL😍😍😍😍😍😍 to bad she got on drugs i was so sad to hear that i was like WHAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😱So sad😢 Full Review Sarah Future July 14, 2014 Whitney the Legend You just have to admit she is the best singer still today! Come on! She's a legend. Even though she is no longer with us, her music will forevermore br with us. This album is the best! Out of all the vocalists' songs, admit that Whitney Houston's the best! Full Review A Google User February 24, 2012 I wish kevin costner wuz her bodyguard n real life ,cuz her real ones didnt do there job. Whintey owned dis soundtack all d way! Full Review Matt M May 3, 2015 Amazing!

RIP@Whitney She had such and amazing voice, that would break through any wall that you had up. Love this album, from the moment the movie came out. Full Review Terry Likens April 12, 2015 [Silence] Listen.... No words can describe the emotion & beauty of this album. Whitney you are so loved & missed. A Google User February 27, 2012 Nippy You will be missed there is no other voice like yours. Gone too soon. Full Review Roxanne Carrell June 10, 2013 BEAUTIFUL SONG LOVE IT.... Love this song of all times one of the best one's ever miss you Whitny Houston Full Review Dean Tolentino June 26, 2014 A wonderful woman..... A loving soulful lady whom I will miss. I will always love you forever Whitney Houston. Full Review K Sales October 10, 2015 "The Bodyguard Soundtrack**[so incredible]!!!!] She has the face of a queen!!!!! and not nothing or anything living, can never possible match... nor ever try to touch this album.

She's a legendary all-star vocalist and when I listen to her, sing my song: "I have nothing!!!! It just melts my heart away she will always be # 1 in my heart. Full Review Heather Cundari January 1, 2015 Whitney...The true queen of soul music. She left us all too soon but it's said God takes the good one's. She will always be remembered. Full Review Ben Adams April 26, 2014 Whitney is my best singer of all time That is a shame she had to die of drugs A Google User October 23, 2012 R.I.P WHITNEY WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU REST IN PEACE ARE ANGEL! Full Review Felix Chavarria November 18, 2014 You just can't go wrong She did a beautiful job putting her soul into all of her songs. Full Review May 1, 2015 Oh yeah I love love love Whitney Houstons music. Its not many songs that I don't like that she made in her career. The body guard is one of the sadest and happiest albums I listen to. Rest in Peace miss Houston.

Full Review Andrew Geiger February 23, 2015 Soundtrack brings back memories... Great movie, Great music, Great acting...I was in middle school when this came out and it still is a great soundtrack now. William Jose August 28, 2014 Amazing... Words can't explain...my love for Whitney she was truly amazing.....go ahead and buy this. Full Review Wendy B June 18, 2014 Great but I wonder why the last song wasn't included? Lucky I have the CD. Kinda dumb not to include all the songs. Joe Bardwell May 13, 2014 Bad Bitxh One of the greatest female vocalist of all time!!! Full Review Josh Impinto April 28, 2016 I miss the 90's! My Dad had The Bodyguard soundtrack on CD in 1992. We use to listen to it all the time! One of my favourite soundtracks! Full Review laurel selby January 11, 2015 Timeless Lose myself everytime i listen to this album. It takes me back to a magikal time in my life.

A Google User February 23, 2012 <3 One of her best songss I Have Nothing, We Lost An Amazing Person To Drugs Smh Klyee Trice September 7, 2015 She lives forever I can't feel my face. Full Review Nyah Apple November 8, 2015 God bless you whiney I love you to my soft Hart the love is still there in my Hart love you Full Review Debora Edwards March 12, 2014 OUR BLESSING FROM GOD THE FATHER LOVE LOVE THIS ALBUM AND I WILL FOREVER AND EVER. A VOICE OF ANGEL. LOVE YOU ALWAYS! Mary Munteanu June 22, 2015 Ch de HDD took s CGI said hi s A Google User May 5, 2012 Movie is wonderful This movie is so sweet no cuzzing but love and strenght.

timmy thomas December 26, 2014 Mrs Best songs ever RIP and loved the movie two you will be missed Leyla A January 30, 2015 RIP MY SWEET IDOL YOU IN GOD'S HOME Amen ♡ ♥ Ida Mae June 4, 2014 Nobody will ever sing like Whitney Awesome Full Review Wendy Morrow January 29, 2013 Queen of The Night 01/10/12 I love that song and on The BodyGuard she played in it really good. the briannapringle January 25, 2015 Whitney I will always love you whitney may you rest in peace ♡♡♡ Dolly Parton 'Shattered' When Whitney Houston Funeral Included 'I Will Always Love You' - ABC News ABC News Dolly Parton 'Shattered' When Whitney Houston Funeral Included 'I Will Always Love You' April 2, 2012 via NIGHTLINE Dolly Parton.

Credit: James Devaney/WireImage/Getty Images Country music legend Dolly Parton said she was "shattered" when she heard Whitney Houston 's version of her song, "I Will Always Love You," played at her funeral, but felt the song has "connected" them. "[It] just shattered me to hear that song played under those conditions," Parton in an interview today with " Nightline ." "I thought my heart was gonna stop. It just pierced me like a knife. It's just- I can't explain that feeling, to think that that was so final for her, and that that was my words and my feeling- I would forever be so connected to her." "I Will Always Love You," which Parton originally wrote in 1972, has long been a chart-topping hit. It became a No. 1 hit on the country music charts after its release in 1974.

Decades later, actor Kevin Costner brought it to composer David Foster , who rearranged the song as a pop music ballad for Houston, who recorded it for the 1992 film, "The Bodyguard." The film was a blockbuster, and the song enjoyed 14 weeks at the top of Billboard's Hot 100. It became the anthem of Houston's career . Parton said she didn't know how Foster had rearranged her song until she heard it on the radio months later while driving in her car. "All of a sudden I hear this- this a capella sound, I just hear this, 'If I should stay,' and it didn't register, and I thought, 'what is that?'" Parton said. "And just still just kind of- 'That's my song,' but it still didn't register it was Whitney, because it was just this solo voice, and then all of a sudden it went into the 'I will always love you,' and I thought I was gonna wreck. It just overwhelmed me." The day after Houston's death on Feb. 11, "I Will Always Love You" was No. 1 on Billboard's music charts and was the No.

1 downloaded song on Apple's iTunes. Houston's 2000 album, "Whitney: The Greatest Hits," which includes the song, became the leading album, knocking Adele's Grammy-winning "21? from the top slot. Singer Jennifer Hudson's stirring tribute performance at the 2012 Grammys and the TV show "Glee's" rendition of "I Will Always Love You," also helped the song make a resurgence. That has reportedly meant big bucks for Parton, who still owns writer and publisher rates from sales to the song. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Parton has pocketed $70,000 from sales of the "I Will Always Love You" single alone. "I really owe a great debt to Kevin Costner and to Whitney Houston and to David Foster," Parton said. "I really feel like that song belongs to all of us… I thought God was looking out for me, that it was meant to be, because how lucky was I that that got to be such a huge song.

" Parton told "Nightline" she wrote the song in 1972 for her late duet and business partner Porter Wagoner while they were arguing about her leaving his syndicated television show to pursue a solo career. At the time, Parton was already a successful country music star, with a couple of number-one songs. She later re-recorded "I Will Always Love You" for the 1982 film, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" with Burt Reynolds. "When Whitney did 'I Will Always Love You,' I mean look what a grand song she made out of that simple, heartfelt, you know, song…it was just amazing," Parton said. "Whitney is the one who took it worldwide and really made it a household word - or song, I should say - so I'll always be thankful to her for that." Parton's latest project is "An Evening With… Dolly Live," a two-disc DVD and CD set, now available at Cracker Barrel Old Country stores and on their website .

ABC News' Victoria Thompson contributed to this report Watch the full interview with Dolly Parton on "Nightline" WEDNESDAY, April 4 at 11: 35 p.m. ET/PT Revisiting 'The Bodyguard': A Romantic Blockbuster for Adults | PopMatters A Romantic Blockbuster for Adults Tweet The legacy of the The Bodyguard, beyond the greatness of Whitney, the vision of Kasdan, and the wisdom of Costner, is that it's possible to please the public and produce profit on a massive scale by intelligently presenting the complexities of adult love. Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard (1992) The Bodyguard Cast: Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston (Warner Brothers) Amazon Since the sad and untimely death of Whitney Houston, it has been difficult to turn on the television and not hear a few seconds of her mighty and majestic rendition of “I Will Always Love You”. It’s considered her signature song for reasons made obvious by even a distracted listening to the song, and reasons well-scrutinized by the wall to wall coverage of her life that followed her death.

With the acapella opening, Houston was able to demonstrate the subtlety of her phrasing, the soulfulness of her delivery, and the emotive power contained in even the slightest suggestion of her voice. The song’s stirring conclusion allowed Whitney to demonstrate the other side of her voice – a power so overwhelming that it is nearly impossible to find peer or precedent. During the beautiful eulogy given by her Bodyguard costar, Kevin Costner, the actor explained that “I Will Always Love You”, almost wasn’t. The original choice, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”, became unworkable when Paul Young scored a big hit with it during the pre-production of the film. Costner suggested the Dolly Parton country song, and everyone, from the studio executives at Warner Brothers, to the soundtrack producer, David Foster, fought him. They were convinced that a country song, especially one that began so slowly, would never do well on radio. Then Whitney Houston sang it, and destroyed all doubt. The song that became the most enduring part of the movie is actually representative of the fight for the entire project’s existence.

Lawrence Kasdan, screenwriter of Raiders of The Lost Ark, Body Heat, and Grand Canyon, wrote The Bodyguard in the ‘70s, and originally sold it to a studio set to cast Steve McQueen and Diana Ross in starring roles. McQueen’s death brought the project to a halt, and Kasdan was unable to sell the screenplay throughout the ‘80s. Costner befriended Kasdan, read the script, and in the early ‘90s, at the peak of his powers, was able to get The Bodyguard the backing it deserved. He also worked as executive producer of the movie. The bell rang for the next round of fighting when Costner insisted that Houston play the role of Rachael Marron – the diva that hires bodyguard Frank Farmer to protect her. Warner Brothers immediately raised two objections. Houston had never acted before, and she was black. What if she couldn’t deliver and what if audiences reacted bitterly to an interracial romance? Costner and Kasdan won the argument, and when Houston swept the studio executives off their feet during her screen test, the fighting seemed to end.

Anxiety and antagonism returned, however, when the studio executives, still nervous and reticent about the casting of Houston, suggested to Costner and Kasdan that the movie now include scenes that directly address the black-white dynamic of the relationship. Both the screenwriter and leading man thought the idea ridiculous. Costner later explained in an ABC News interview, “I said ‘absolutely not.’ This is not race. This is a man and a woman. This is chemistry, romance. That’s what that kiss (the kiss that takes place in the final scene of the movie) was all about. It was two people thanking each other. I kissed her once for all of America, and I kissed her once for myself.” All of America did fall in love with Houston, before the release of The Bodyguard, and again in the darkness of the theater, while her beauty melted the big screen.

Although she didn’t have the acting ability and range that Diana Ross showed in Mahogany and Lady Sings the Blues, or that Cher showed in Moonstruck and Mask, Houston did possess a natural charm and charisma to accompany her gorgeousness that was delightful to watch and perfect for a romance, like The Bodyguard, in which the female lead seduces the male lead. She was wonderful in the feel good, Christmas movie, The Preacher’s Wife, and gave a solid performance in Waiting to Exhale. Both of those movies scored soundtrack hits, most especially The Preacher’s Wife – the soundtrack is still the highest selling Gospel record of all time. It’s her role in The Bodyguard, however, that fans and followers will most remember when they consider Houston as an actress. The movie endures not only because of its stunning soundtrack, but because it represents a style of blockbuster entertainment that’s different from what is currently fashionable. Twenty years after its theatrical release, it’s able to provide an alternative to the teenage idiocy (the Twilight series, Valentine’s Day), macho ignorance (the Hangover series, Hall Pass, The Expendables), and special effect silliness (the Transformer series, seemingly endless superhero sequels).

The Bodyguard had thrills and action, but it was not an action movie. It had great music, but the music did not overshadow the story. It was a romance of adulthood. It had the maturity and sophistication that gives adult romance the contradiction of cross-pollinated pain and joy. It’s the cross-pollination of pain and joy that gives the movie its lasting life, and gives “I Will Always Love You,” its steadfast power. “If I should stay I will only be in your way” is how the highest selling single of all time begins, and that line later leads into the promise and conviction that gives the song its memorable title. Frank Farmer and Rachel Marron are two strong, smart, and self-confident individuals, secure in their identities and dedicated to their seemingly opposite vocations. They enter each others’ lives under the auspices of a business arrangement, but soon find that the protection they are able to give each other extends far beyond Farmer’s ability to detect and vanquish physical threats. She protected him from the loneliness and isolation that threatened to overwhelm him after the loss of his wife, and he protected her from the threat that fame and image obsessed branding posed to her true self.

Their protection became affection, and he gave her the gift of seeing her and loving her as Rachel Marron, not the superstar, but the human being. She gave him the gift of intimacy, reminding him of its importance and its inspiration. The personalities of the characters, as emotively and effectively delineated by Houston and Costner, showcased exactly what they needed and what they were able to provide. She was spontaneous, improvisational, and deferent to the wild spirit of the artist. He was thorough, assiduously detailed, and reliant upon a complicated system of internal checks and balances. Her passion was the perfect anecdote for his cautiousness, while his discipline was the perfect formula for the chaos of her life. Lawrence Kasdan is a suave, sophisticated, but also sincere screenwriter. He has a particular gift for symbolism. Symbolism is a difficult tightrope to balance upon. If the writer leans too far to the left, the symbol is too subtle to have any meaning. A tilt too far rightward and the symbol is laughably obvious, forever castigated as camp. In Body Heat, characters played by William Hurt and Kathleen Turner murder the Turner character’s husband.

The disappearance of the victim’s glasses becomes a pivotal part of the plot that ruins both Hurt’s fortunes and secures Turner’s place in the gallery of film’s femme fatales. The inability to find eye glasses also comes to represent the deceptive and seductive woman’s power to blind the men in her life. Grand Canyon, perhaps Kasdan’s best work, uses the natural wonder as a symbol, in ways both obvious and surprising, to present a challenging narrative of discovery and inquiry about race, social division, and the mysterious encounters that possess the power to change lives. The first kiss in The Bodyguard comes subsequent to the smoldering of the screen by Houston’s deep stare into Costner’s intense concentration. She is waving around a model of a samurai sword that Farmer keeps on his wall. He stands up, and with the blade pressed against his chest, establishing a dangerous barrier between lovers, he grabs Rachel’s silk scarf, tosses it into the air without shifting focus from her face, and lets it fall onto the sword. They watch it softly slice in half. Farmer grabs the sword by the handle, removing the barrier, and kisses her. Romance is risky.

It invites pain, but it also invites passion, promise, and potential for joy, love, and growth. The next morning, the barrier is back. A fatal blade might as well be pressed against Farmer’s chest as he stands over Rachel while she lies in bed. He tells her that the previous night was a mistake, because he “cannot protect her like this.” She tells him he is good at making people “feel like shit”, and treats him with contempt at a benefit show that night. Rachel and Frank kiss again in the movie. They flirt, hold hands, and steal smiling glances from across the room. Their bodies, however, are never pressed against each other. Even when they kiss the night after the death of Rachel’s sister, they remain distant. Farmer sits at Rachel’s side and leans toward her mouth. She meets him halfway, but they’ve barricaded their bodies. They are no longer able to give of themselves. They cannot surrender to their passion, because they realize that their lives, and their personalities and priorities, are irreconcilably different. They cannot bypass the blade of doubt, because due to the conditions and circumstances of their lives, doubt has decimated faith. Their romance is destined for a quick and painful ending.

Its short life span does not limit its transformative power. As Bob Dylan sang, “There’s some people that you can’t forget even if you’ve only seen them one time or two.” At the end of The Bodyguard, the viewers understand that Rachel and Frank will never forget each other. They will always love each other. It all comes down to that kiss – that act of passion, drama, and intimacy that Costner explained as a gesture of gratitude. The movie ends not happily, not depressingly, but with the full conflict of the bittersweet sweep of unrealized love. The Bodyguard is not a masterpiece. There are a couple of scenes that push the limits of believability, and the climactic action sequence near the movie’s conclusion feels underwhelming. As a blockbuster, its strength, both commercially and artistically, comes from its romance, and the songs are products and servants of that romance. Whitney Houston, with whom it was impossible not to fall in love, and Kevin Costner, who because of late ‘90s flops is terribly underrated as an actor and leading man, were its perfect conduits.

The legacy of the blockbuster, beyond the greatness of Whitney, the vision of Kasdan, and the wisdom of Costner, is that it is possible to please the public and produce profit on a massive scale by intelligently presenting the complexities of adult love. The movie was written and performed by serious adults, and it was intended for serious adults. It was also socially sophisticated and racially progressive, depicting a romance between a white man and a black woman as natural and normal, rather than as pathological or peculiar. If any good can come out of the tragic loss of Houston, perhaps it can be a revisit of The Bodyguard and a return to blockbusters of mature filmmaking and storytelling. David Masciotra is the author of Working On a Dream: The Progressive Political Vision of Bruce Springsteen (Continuum Books). He is currently writing his second book, Faith That Won't Die, a work of literary journalism about life in the American rust belt. He has written for the Daily Beast, Truthout, Relevant, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. He is 27 and lives in Indiana. For more information, an article archive, and blog visit .

Share via Dolly Parton 'Shattered' When 'I Will Always Love You' Played at Whitney Houston's Funeral Dolly Parton 'Shattered' When 'I Will Always Love You' Played at Whitney Houston's Funeral Pin it Share Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston will undoubtedly remain connected through their smash hit song “I Will Always Love You,” written by Parton and performed by Houston. But according to the country crooner, that connection runs much deeper. The song was played during Houston’s funeral service in February, which was broadcast live from coast to coast, leaving Parton feeling “shattered.” PHOTOS: Whitney Houston's Funeral “[It] just shattered me to hear that song played under those conditions,” Parton said during an interview with ABC’s Nightline to air Wednesday. “I thought my heart was gonna stop. It just pierced me like a knife. It’s just -- I can’t explain that feeling, to think that that was so final for her, and that that was my words and my feeing -- I would forever be so connected to her.” As The Hollywood Reporter previously reported, Parton has pocketed more than $70,000 in royalties since Houston’s Feb. 11 death.

“I Will Always Love You” was downloaded 195,000 times in the week following Houston’s death and played 2,137 times on the U.S. radio during the weekend of her death. PHOTOS: Iconic Singer Whitney Houston's Life and Career in Pictures “I really did feel like that song belongs to all of us,” Parton said of Houston, Kevin Costner and composer David Foster, who rearranged Parton’s original version for their film, The Bodyguard. Parton recalled the history of her iconic song, written in 1972 for her late duet and business partner Porter Wagoner. At the time, the two were fighting about Parton leaving his syndicated TV show to pursue a solo career. The track was later re-recorded for the 1982 film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with Burt Reynolds. “When Whitney did ‘I Will Always Love You,’ I mean look what a grand song she made out of that simple, heartfelt, you know, song… it was just amazing,” she said.

“Whitney is the one who took it worldwide and really made it a household word – or song, I should say – so I’ll always be thankful to her for that. Parton’s interview will air in full on Wednesday, April 4, at 11:35 p.m on ABC. The singer is currently promoting her latest project, a two-disc DVD and CD set titled An Evening With… Dolly Live. Reblog

Question: Who performed "I Will Always Love You", the song played at the end of the film "The Bodyguard"?
Answer: Whitney Houston