In Detroit, a pop-culture enthusiast steals cocaine from his new wife's pimp and tries to sell it in Hollywood, prompting the mobsters who own the drugs to pursue the couple.
Six Flags Magic Mountain, 26101, Magic Mountain Parkway, Entrada South, Valencia, Los Angeles County, California, 91355, United States of America
Scene: (Roller Coaster Scene)
The Athenaeum, 401, East Michigan Street, Massachusetts Avenue Commercial District, Lockerbie Square, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, 46204, United States of America
Capitol Records Building, 1750, Vine Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, 90028, United States of America
Scene: (Clarence Worley and is wife Alabama arrive to vist Clarence's friend Dick Ritchie in Hollywood California on the Hollywood Freeway with this iconic location building in the background)
Tony Scott’s cult crime romance, written by Quentin Tarantino, runs from a snowy Detroit to sun-baked Los Angeles – and filmed in both. The Motor City supplies Clarence and Alabama’s beginnings; LA supplies the neon motels, the diner and the chaos of the finale.
Where was True Romance filmed?
True Romance was shot in Detroit and Los Angeles. Detroit’s Greektown provides the story’s wintry Michigan opening, while LA – Burbank motels, a Santa Monica diner, a Koreatown hotel – supplies the sun-bleached second half.
Every True Romance location, explained
1
Detroit – the Michigan opening
Clarence and Alabama’s Motor City scenes were shot in Detroit, around Greektown and the Athenaeum, grounding the couple’s origins in a real, snowy city.
2
The Safari Inn, Burbank
The motel where Clarence and Alabama hole up is the Safari Inn on West Olive Avenue in Burbank, a genuine mid-century motor court and a favourite Los Angeles film location.
3
Rae’s diner, Santa Monica
The classic diner scenes used Rae’s Restaurant on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, an unchanged old-school LA diner.
4
Koreatown and Magic Mountain
The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles supplied the hotel lobby, and the roller-coaster scene was shot at Six Flags Magic Mountain north of the city.
Planning a visit
In Los Angeles, the Safari Inn in Burbank still trades on its film fame and Rae’s diner in Santa Monica remains a working greasy spoon – both easy to visit. In Detroit, Greektown is a lively downtown district.
True Romance Fun Facts
1
Detroit and LA share the film The wintry opening was shot in Detroit; the sun-drenched rest in Los Angeles.
2
The Safari Inn is a film regular The Burbank motel where the couple stay has appeared in many films and music videos.
3
Rae's diner plays itself The diner scenes use Rae’s Restaurant, a classic old diner in Santa Monica.
4
Tarantino wrote it The screenplay is an early Quentin Tarantino script, directed by Tony Scott.
5
A stacked cast The film packs in Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Safari Inn a real motel?
Yes – it’s a genuine motel on West Olive Avenue in Burbank, a well-known film location.
Where is the diner in True Romance?
Rae’s Restaurant on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica.
Who wrote True Romance?
Quentin Tarantino wrote the screenplay; Tony Scott directed.
Can you visit the True Romance locations?
Yes – the Safari Inn and Rae’s diner in the LA area are both still open.
