The Bodyguard is one of those films that stays with you, no matter how much time passes.
Kevin Costner played his role flawlessly, without a doubt. And Whitney? Whitney was simply amazing.
I will never forget the first time I saw this film in the early 90s, and it was all about the music, the drama and the undeniable chemistry between them.
To be honest, The Bodyguard was the talk of the town in 1992, and for good reason. Both Kevin and Whitney were at the peak of their careers, and it was magical to watch them at that moment.
But, of course, not everyone agreed. Critics may have panned the film, but honestly, they had no idea what they were talking about. The film became a cultural phenomenon, a snapshot of that perfect era.
Whitney was a force to be reckoned with in her first film. She shone like a rare diamond, and watching her sing those unforgettable songs, she seemed untouchable. Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Madonna — they all had their moment, but Whitney really took super stardom to a new level with this film. Who can deny that ‘I Will Always Love You’ became her song?
Now let’s talk about some behind-the-scenes stuff — the bloopers, hidden mistakes, and deleted scenes that made the film even more cult-worthy in a strange but charming way. You know the kind of bloopers I’m talking about — the ones that don’t detract from the film’s greatness but make you say, ‘Hey, wait a minute!’
17 years from script to screen
The film Bodyguard was released on 25 November 1992, but did you know that the script was first written by Lawrence Kasdan back in 1975?
At the time, Kasdan envisioned Diana Ross and Steve McQueen in the lead roles. That would have been a rather unusual version of the film!
The funeral
I don’t know how many people noticed this, but here’s one of the mistakes in The Bodyguard that many may have missed.
When Frank and Rachel return from the funeral, there is a sign on the left side of the windscreen that says ‘FUNERAL’. But just two seconds later, the sign magically appears on the right side.
Dolls on the bed
Here’s another funny mistake you may have missed! When Frank puts Rachel to bed, he moves all the dolls to one side.
But when she is lying down, one doll is still sitting next to her. It’s not a big deal, but who pays attention to dolls when they are immersed in the emotional atmosphere of the film and the chemistry between Costner and Whitney?
Factual error
There is a moment in the film during the Oscar scene that just doesn’t add up. Rachel Marron (played by Whitney Houston) is announced as the winner for Best Actress, and when she gets up to go on stage, she is sitting much further back than you would expect — somewhere in the 20th row. Traditionally, the nominees for Best Actor and Best Actress sit in the front rows, so this seems a little strange.
Then the scene slows down as Rachel walks down the aisle, shaking hands with guests who congratulate her. But here’s the thing: the camera lingers on her for dramatic effect. This gives the directors enough time to focus on a mysterious figure in the crowd, a potential assassin who is trying to shoot her. All of this is done to create tension — and we understand that — but it also doesn’t quite match the reality of how the Oscars actually unfold.
The shooting scene
You probably remember the tense scene when Kevin Costner rushes towards Whitney Houston at the Oscars to save her from a fatal shot, right?
After Frank (Kevin Costner) is shot, he is wheeled out of the hospital on a stretcher, and if you look closely, you can notice a strange detail: he is not wearing an oxygen mask, even though he is on an IV drip.
You might think this is just a minor detail, but it’s actually a pretty glaring factual error. In real life, after a gunshot wound, especially one that causes significant blood loss, a person would definitely wear an oxygen mask to help them breathe and stabilise their condition.
Perhaps the filmmakers deliberately decided to omit this detail so that viewers could get a better look at Costner’s face during this dramatic moment. It’s one of those mistakes that doesn’t ruin the film, but if you look closely, it’s hard not to notice.
Pink bandage on the arm
If you look closely at the scene where Kevin Costner’s character, Frank, gets shot, you will notice a detail that may escape your attention on first viewing.
Frank is wearing a pink bandage on his arm. This may seem like a random detail, but it is actually related to another mistake that occurred earlier in the film. When Frank and Rachel enter the Oscar ceremony, there are two shots in which the pink bandages are scanned.
In the first shot, you can see that the barcode is scanned correctly, which makes sense. But in the second shot, only the perforated part of the bandage is scanned — which doesn’t actually register anything.
Dolly Parton wrote the song
I almost forgot that Dolly Parton was the one who wrote and originally performed the song ‘I Will Always Love You.’ To be honest, I don’t think I would have guessed that if this question had been in a music quiz. But it’s easy to understand why, because Whitney Houston’s iconic cover version of this song completely elevated it to classic status.
In fact, there’s a pretty interesting story behind how this song became immortal. In an interview on The Graham Norton Show, Dolly Parton said that when she was first offered to use the song in a film, she sent it and then somehow forgot about it.
But one day, while driving home from the office in Nashville, she heard Whitney Houston’s version on the radio. Dolly had to pull over to the side of the road to listen to the song in its entirety because she was so moved by how beautifully it was performed.
Kevin Costner faced negative reactions for choosing Whitney Houston
Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston formed an unbreakable bond during the filming of The Bodyguard.
It was Whitney Houston’s first film role, and Kevin Costner, who was also one of the producers, fought to get her approved for the part.
‘When I wanted Whitney to be in The Bodyguard, I didn’t realise it was such a bold move,’ Costner said. ‘It didn’t seem like a bold move at all. I thought she was the sweetest girl I had ever seen.’
For Costner, it was a special film for many reasons.
He was criticised for choosing Whitney Houston for the film; cynical studio executives felt there was something odd about a romantic relationship between an African American woman and his character, Frank Farmer.
‘I just thought she was the best choice,’ he explained. “I didn’t feel like I was trying to cross a line. I couldn’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t want to kiss her.”
The Last Kiss
The Bodyguard was released in 1992. It became an international success and the second highest-grossing film of the year worldwide, although critics were not particularly impressed.
Nevertheless, at that point, it became the 10th highest-grossing film of all time.
‘I don’t know what the secret of this film is,’ Costner told the Beach Palm Post.
“Maybe it was the relationship, which was very realistic, as described by Lawrence Kasdan. Maybe it was that (his character, the bodyguard) wasn’t into her bulls. She was a diva, and as he tells her: ‘I’m here to protect you, not to help you shop.’ And there are some good moments in the relationship between the man and the woman that are really very healthy. The idea that someone is willing to protect you is something special that we all want to know in our lives.”
‘And maybe it’s the last kiss,’ Costner says.
Yes, the last kiss. The legendary ending of the film, where Costner and Houston kiss at the airport, with her iconic version of ‘If I Will Always Love You’ playing in the background. It was a touching and beautiful moment that also changed Whitney Houston’s career.
Several love scenes were cut
Ah, we all remember that famous kiss between Whitney and Kevin at the end, right? But did you know that there were actually more passionate scenes that were left on the cutting room floor?
Yes, Costner and Houston filmed several additional love scenes, but they didn’t make it into the final cut of the film. In one of them, Frank even undressed Rachel after carrying her out of the club — definitely not a typical moment for a film.
But here’s the thing: Whitney didn’t want that. She wasn’t going to strip in front of the cameras. In a 1992 interview with Vanity Fair, she made herself quite clear: ‘They’re not going to tell me to take my clothes off. I wasn’t hired to show my ass. I don’t think that’s my best asset.’ Now that’s confidence!
One person died on set
Unfortunately, accidents are a sad reality during film shoots, but what happened on the set of The Bodyguard was truly tragic and should not have happened.
On 3 January 1992, while filming a scene in downtown Los Angeles, a truck driver named William Vitaliano was crushed between two colliding cranes carrying lighting equipment. The accident was horrific, and Vitaliano tragically died shortly after being taken to the hospital.
This incident deeply shocked everyone involved in the film. Warner Bros. conducted an investigation into the accident, and in 1994, a lawsuit filed against the equipment manufacturers was settled for an undisclosed amount.
Not Whitney on the poster
Those who remember the poster for the film The Bodyguard (perhaps it even hung on your wall back then?) know that it is a rather dramatic image designed to attract the attention of moviegoers. It shows Kevin Costner’s bodyguard carrying Whitney Houston’s character, Rachel, out of a club after she was surrounded by an overly enthusiastic crowd.
But did you know that this poster caused some controversy? Some people thought that the studio deliberately hid Houston’s face to downplay the interracial romance at the heart of the film. Houston quickly refuted this in a 1993 interview with Rolling Stone, saying, “I mean, people know who Whitney Houston is — I’m black. You can’t hide that fact.”
However, Costner said that the studio actually wanted Houston to appear on screen more often because she attracted a lot of attention from viewers. The shot where she rests her head on his shoulder was actually his idea. He told Entertainment Weekly: ‘I chose this photo because it was taken by my friend Ben Glass… it was very expressive.’ And here’s a little secret: ‘It wasn’t even Whitney. She had gone home, and it was her body double.’ That’s the magic of cinema!
Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. Despite its flaws and imperfections, this film will always hold a special place in my heart. Whitney, you will always be my girl. Rest in peace, we miss you. And Kevin, you are a true professional. Together, you made The Bodyguard an eternal classic that I will never forget.
