In the concluding chapter of a two-part episode about Madonna and movies, we talk about her mutually beneficial professional and personal involvement with Warren Beatty. In 1989, Beatty, the self-described “president of Hollywood,” was coming off the disaster of Ishtar, and decided to star in and direct Dick Tracy as a way to prove that he still had his finger on the pulse of the culture. Madonna, who was still reeling from the end of her marriage to Sean Penn, saw Beatty and Dick Tracy as her avenue to legit Hollywood movie stardom — but she hedged her bets by producing her own cinematic showcase, Truth or Dare.
Show notes!
This episode was originally supposed to be one part, but there was simply too much to say, so I split it in two. So all of the sources cited in Part One’s show notes apply to this one, too. Also: Star: The Life and Wild Times of Warren Beatty by Peter Biskind, and the following articles/magazines:
“Tracymania,” by David Ansen and Pamela Abramson, Newsweek, 6/25/1990
“He Still Leaves Them Breathless,” by Elizabeth Sporkin, People, 7/02/1990
Peter Biskind’s cover story in the June 1990 issue of Premiere
Mediography:
Clips from Truth or Dare, directed by Alek Keshishian
Discography:
“Born to be Blue” by Chet Baker
“Exchange” by Massive Attack
“Fiery Yellow” by Stereolab
“Laserdisc” by Chris Zabriskie
“Big Deal” by Everything But the Girl
“Down the Depths” performed by Blossom Dearie
“Roughcut” by Tripwire
“5:00 AM” by Peter Rudenko
“I’d Rather Be Your Lover” by Madonna
“The Simple Complex” by Uncle Bibby
“Sooner or Later” by Stephen Sondheim, performed by Madonna
“43 Days” Kemi Helwa
“Hanky Panky” by Madonna
“Out of the Skies, Under the Earth” by Chris Zabriskie
“Something to Remember” by Madonna
“Divider” by Chris Zabriskie
“snake eyes” by off key
“For Better or Worse” by Kai Engel
“Vogue” by Madonna
“Still” by DNTEL
“Batdance” by Prince
“Make it Drums” by Daedelus
“Pots and Pans” by The Kills
“9 Mile” by Naram
“(Pray For) Spanish Eyes” by Madonna
“Promise to Try” by Madonna
“Live to Tell” by Madonna
“Love Like a Sunset” by Phoenix
“Last Songs” by DNTEL
“Money” by Jahzzar
“Justify my Love” by Madonna
“Love Don’t Live Here Anymore,” performed by Madonna