‘A Love Story in Hell’: David Lynch on Wild at Heart

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When I learned that David Lynch had died, I thought of fire.

In the films “Blue Velvet,” “Lost Highway,” and especially “Wild at Heart” (1990), Isabella Rossellini, Kyle MacLachlan, and Nicolas Cage & Laura Dern are immersed in a world where flames frequently appear. The dancing flames that illuminate the screen in “Blue Velvet” when Isabella Rossellini orders Kyle MacLachlan to strike her, the haunting burning shack in “Lost Highway,” and the recurring visions of flames and matches in “Wild at Heart” are not mere background details. Instead, they are powerful symbols that permeate the characters’ feverish dreams, creating an atmosphere where the world appears perpetually ablaze. The fiery imagery in these films is so intense that it even dominates the opening credits, which unfold amidst a blazing inferno of Halloween-orange flames. For these fugitive lovers, the world they inhabit is consistently engulfed in flames.

For Lynch, known for his films brimming with intense fires and delightful cigarette moments, to depart from this world as the real flames consumed his cherished Los Angeles – it felt like an unbelievable dream.

Frequently, Lynch referred to “Wild at Heart” as a “love story set in hell” – a passionate romance unfolding amidst ruthless antagonists and unsavory characters. During my interview with him in 2021 for my book on Nicolas Cage’s early years, I discovered that their first encounter happened during another significant Los Angeles fire: the May 1989 blaze that destroyed the Pan-Pacific Auditorium. Following this meeting, the movie, which Lynch chose to direct after reading Barry Gifford’s novel of the same name, began production at an astonishing pace.

About three decades after, Lynch still took pride in the zany road trip movie, despite the fact that it was often eclipsed in his body of work. This can be partly attributed to its divisive critical reviews and lack of availability on streaming services. What other reasons could convince him to discuss it?

For my book, I spent several months delving into the production of “Wild at Heart,” an endeavor I never anticipated would lead to a conversation with the director himself, a man not often seen in press interviews. However, I was fortunate enough to secure an interview with Johanna Ray, a seasoned casting director who worked with him. She shared that Lynch seldom watched films and instead relied on his instinctive feelings towards individuals when meeting them. According to her, Nicolas Cage had already been chosen for the role before she joined the project.

Ray caught me off guard when she mentioned that she had chatted with “David” the day prior, reminding her of ‘Wild at Heart’. I paused and asked for confirmation. “Hold on,” I inquired. “Did you actually speak with David Lynch yesterday?” She affirmed this. “Lynch is aware of my book? May I attempt to contact him directly?” She agreed.

Ray cautioned, “It’s quite challenging,” as he explained that the person had withdrawn completely and was savoring solitude while pouring all their energy into their art.

As a movie enthusiast, I managed to uncover an address linked to Lynch’s Transcendental Meditation foundation and promptly sent a courteous letter expressing my interest. Additionally, I shot an email to the foundation. To my delight, I received a response from Lynch’s assistant on the same day! “David has agreed to arrange a 15-minute phone call for Nick,” the assistant explained in their message. Needless to say, I was thoroughly surprised and excited by this unexpected turn of events.

A week later, when I managed to reach Lynch over the phone, he appeared genuinely joyful as we delved into reminiscing about “Wild at Heart”, a production that held a special place in his heart and which he believed captured a certain madness prevalent in the world during its time. It could also be that he was glad to discuss this film rather than “Dune”, given that it was fall 2021, and conversations around that movie were quite common.

Regardless of the context, I vividly remember being surprised by the man’s cheerful demeanor during our phone conversation, mirroring his lively persona in his weather videos. He exuded a warm, grandfatherly charm; as Steve Golin, a late producer, put it, when Lynch spoke, he sounded as if he had just disembarked from a Greyhound bus in Iowa. I soon came to understand that he channeled all the gloom and violence into his artistic expression.

During our short yet enlightening conversation, Lynch expressed his heartfelt desire to collaborate with Cage once more, stating “it might occur as soon as tomorrow.” Up until this past month, I’ve held onto the belief that it could happen.

For me, there’s something unique about Nicolas Cage as Sailor Ripley that resonates strongly, much like Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet. Among all actors, he alone embodies the role perfectly – I can’t quite put my finger on why this is the case. Just as Zach must play Zach.

Was it primarily his overall impression from both his on-screen and off-screen persona that made you certain about Nick? Or was it specifically due to an exceptional performance in a past movie of his?

Discussing an occasion: The first time I encountered Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern was during dinner in Los Angeles. We dined at a restaurant named Muse, located on or near Beverly Boulevard. Not far from it, a well-known theater was unfortunately ablaze.

Is that referring to the Pan-Pacific Auditorium? Absolutely, that’s the place. Last night, Nick, Laura, and I shared a meal together, and I had this feeling that everything would turn out well. Guess what? It did!

At what point did you decide for Nick to perform Elvis songs in the film? How does Elvis relate to Wild at Heart in your perspective? Well, the character Nick became associated with Elvis Presley. Similarly, Laura’s character had a Marilyn Monroe-inspired bubblegum charm. As the story progressed, Elvis’ influence grew stronger, making it necessary for Nick to learn and perform these songs. He was connected with individuals who had worked with Elvis, not the original Scotty and Bill, but highly skilled musicians. Together, they entered a recording studio where Nick delivered an exceptional performance, capturing the essence of Elvis so perfectly that it was almost as if he were channeling him. It was truly remarkable!

Was Nick not daunted by the prospect of performing Elvis’ songs? Absolutely not! Nick exudes courage. Make sure to note that in your write-up. Nick is a brave soul. He is also an exceptional actor with a deep comprehension of the human psyche.

The Elvis tunes aren’t the only things he did. In fact, he spoke every line in “Wild at Heart” with an Elvis-like accent. Was he already delivering his lines like that from the start, or was it something you refined together during rehearsals? I can’t quite remember, but I believe the term is ‘method acting’. Now, if only I could recall the name of that movie… it starts with “Follow the yellow brick road”… Can’t think of it right now!

Both of them found a common bond in “The Wizard of Oz”. This classic story seemed to resonate with them on a personal level. The fact that they shared this affection for “The Wizard of Oz” suggested a deep connection between them. They admired the moral lessons and the entire concept behind “The Wizard of Oz”, making them an ideal match.

Indeed! It’s quite likely that the information you have is correct. And when the topic comes up, Jack says something along those lines: “It represents my uniqueness and my commitment to personal liberty.” This idea of individuality and freedom resonates deeply with Sailor as well.

Indeed, did Nick persuade you to include the jacket in the movie? Yes, definitely! After discovering it, everything associated with that discovery was indeed authentic.

Is there a particular memorable experience or funny story you recall from collaborating with Nicolas Cage on Wild at Heart?
Collaborating with him was an absolute blast and we’d often come up with wacky, spontaneous ideas. He was always game for those types of adventures. I remember asking him if he could perform opera, and I believe he did. We also stumbled upon cotton balls under a peculiar motel bed in a scene that wasn’t part of the movie – it was just one of the many unusual things we concocted on the fly.

As a film enthusiast, I often wonder why certain scenes get cut from movies. Some ideas may seem brilliant when they first pop into your mind, but they might not align with the current storyline or vision for the project. So, these creative detours are set aside until they can find their perfect fit in another production.

In “Wild at Heart,” there’s an undeniable darkness, but it also features a bold portrayal of sexuality, characterized by passionate love scenes. The emotions we aimed to convey with these intimate moments in the film were joy and intense passion.

How did it feel to arrange those scenes alongside Nick and Laura? It was simply amazing. We utilized a color box for our work. I can’t recall the exact name, but we obtained it from the cinematographer of The Elephant Man, Freddie Francis. Additionally, we employed another device, which is similar to pre-flashing the film. This tool allows you to see into the shadows.

The reason those love scenes are colored psychedelically is because they incorporated the hues from the movie itself. It added an interesting element, giving each romantic scene a vibrant and intense color palette.

As a cinephile, let me clarify: While Nick and Laura embodied the characters of Sailor and Lula during filming, they weren’t entirely in character all the time off-set. They were still very much themselves, but there was a blend of their personalities with those of their characters, making for an interesting dynamic on set.

What do you think is something about the movie that many viewers may overlook? One aspect to consider: When you gather a crowd of a thousand individuals, each will have their unique perspective on the film. That’s what makes it fascinating and challenging at the same time.

In your productive phase of work, you created this movie rather swiftly according to the book by Barry. Was this a stressful or inspiring experience for you?

I wrote the screenplay in just two weeks, followed by another rewrite in the same time frame, and we immediately started filming. I viewed it as a love story set in hell. It was a contemporary love story because both characters, the man and woman, mutually respected each other and shared a deep love. At that point in time, I found the world to be chaotic, but it has only grown more so since then.

It seems that many critics have made comparisons between the violence depicted in Wild at Heart and the Los Angeles riots that occurred some years afterwards. To me, however, there was no connection whatsoever. All I can say is that we live in a world that has grown increasingly violent and unpredictable!

To be honest, I didn’t want to, but I had to tone down some of the violence in Wild at Heart. If we hadn’t, there wouldn’t have been any audience left to watch it. Only one particular scene gave me pause.

Is the scene where Harry Dean Stanton’s character, Johnnie Farragut, is subjected to torture accurate? Yes, that’s right.

It’s clear that the spectators expressed a strong feeling of revulsion or distaste towards such intense violence… But in my opinion, it could have been eliminated without any significant impact on the narrative flow.

You previously referred to Cage as “the acting equivalent of a jazz musician.” In other words, just like a jazz musician who improvises and explores different melodies within a song, Cage has the ability to delve deeply into a role and continually develop it, much like an improvisational performance.

There’s an improvisational element to it.
Because he’s turned into the character.

Have there been any lasting impacts on your career path after the release of “Wild at Heart”? Did it spark changes or influence subsequent films? Did it serve as an inspiration for future works following its release?

In essence, the movies that followed seemed to have been influenced by “Wild at Heart” in some way. It was almost as if a new type of cinema was introduced, characterized by a certain level of madness and a specific attitude towards it. The world at that time was ready for such a film, making it timely and relevant. David Lynch’s novel, along with the movie adaptation, were quite pertinent to the era.

You collaborated with Nicolas Cage once more in the short film known as “Industrial Symphony No. 1,” which actually took place at the conclusion of the movie “Wild at Heart.

How did it occur to you to involve Nick and Laura in that scenario, given it’s a tale of a shattered heart? Since their relationship was ending, I made the Industrial Symphony No. 1 reflect this breakup.

After the movie “Wild at Heart,” there hasn’t been another feature film where I collaborated with Nicolas Cage, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to or won’t in the future. It was simply not meant to be for some unknown reasons, yet opportunities can always arise unexpectedly!

That sounds absolutely thrilling! I’d jump at the chance to collaborate with Nick once more. In my opinion, he’s an extraordinary talent, and I don’t doubt that he’s one of the greatest in the field.

What sets Nick apart from other actors of his generation is that he stands out uniquely and with great distinction.

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2025-01-31 18:56