Actor, director, and writer John Turturro has built a legendary career across film and television — from collaborations with Spike Lee and the Coen brothers to acclaimed turns in Severance, Monk, and The Night Of. Yet, for Turturro, his most personal project is one many audiences have never seen: his 2005 musical dramedy Romance & Cigarettes.
A Rock Opera with an A-List Cast
Premiering at the 2005 Venice Film Festival, Romance & Cigarettes was a bold, offbeat comedic rock opera about a fractured marriage and the ripple effect on friends and family. The film featured:
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James Gandolfini as the conflicted husband
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Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, and Christopher Walken
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With appearances from Steve Buscemi, Bobby Cannavale, Mandy Moore, Mary-Louise Parker, and Aida Turturro
The soundtrack included songs from Bruce Springsteen, James Brown, Elvis Presley, Cyndi Lauper, Tom Jones, and Janis Joplin, with musical performances by the cast themselves.
The Venice jury embraced the film, shortlisting it for the Golden Lion, and it later screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. But soon after, it vanished from the mainstream release calendar.
Studio Politics and a Lost Release
According to Turturro, the film was a casualty of corporate reshuffling. Originally backed by United Artists, the studio was absorbed into MGM, which disrupted its release plans. Despite critical acclaim, the movie only saw a limited art-house release months later. Legendary critic Roger Ebert gave it a glowing four-star review, calling it “Unfiltered Joy.”
“It was a heartbreak,” Turturro recalled. “We had a wonderful studio and a big release planned. Everyone loved the movie. But when UA merged with MGM, they didn’t know what to do with it.”
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Deeply Personal Origins
Turturro began writing the screenplay during the filming of the Coen brothers’ Barton Fink, loosely inspired by his parents’ relationship. For him, Romance & Cigarettes became a reflection of love, music, and imperfection.
“We all have our private soundtracks, and that is what the movie is about,” he explained. “If someone wants to know anything about me, they can watch that movie.”
The Cast and Creative Bonds
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James Gandolfini’s performance stood out: “Jimmy was shy, but he loved music. He was a beautiful guy, beautiful actor.”
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Kate Winslet impressed Turturro with her comedic and sensual performance: “She was as good as she’s ever been. Hilarious, sexy, and so funny.”
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His collaboration with Christopher Walken on the film blossomed into a lasting friendship, eventually leading Turturro to recommend Walken for Severance, where the two share some of the series’ most touching scenes.
20th Anniversary and Rediscovery
As Romance & Cigarettes approaches its 20th anniversary (Sept. 6, 2025), Turturro hosted a special screening at the Southampton Playhouse in New York. He encourages fans to rediscover the film, now streaming free on Tubi, Pluto TV, and the Roku Channel, and available on major platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV+.
Though it never received the wide audience it deserved, Turturro considers it the most authentic reflection of himself: “It’s something I loved making. If someone wants to know anything about me, they can watch that movie.”
