The 1991 film ‘The Marrying Man‘ made headlines long before it reached theaters. But all for the wrong reasons. Reports of major delays, rising costs, and constant tension quickly spread. Crew members struggled to keep things running as problems kept piling up behind the scenes.
And, the reason behind it all was Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger, whose real-life romance brought both excitement and chaos to the set. Their relationship, along with repeated clashes, unusual demands, and emotional outbursts, turned the film into one of the most talked-about troubled productions in Hollywood history.
How Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger’s Romance Took Over The Set Of ‘The Marrying Man’
Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger met just three weeks before filming began, and their off-screen chemistry was off the charts. They were later spotted having dinner at Morton’s in Los Angeles, and before long, their relationship moved to the next level. Even though that connection eventually led to their marriage in 1993, it reportedly caused constant disruption during filming.
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The film started with a budget of $15 million, but costs rose to $26 million as delays and reschedules became frequent. And on top of that, the couple’s behavior didn’t help. Eventually, it became very hard for the crew to stay on schedule and complete scenes on time.
Many crew members later spoke about their frustration. One senior staff member said he would not agree to work with them again, even if someone offered him a million dollars. He described their actions as “vile, deplorable, despicable.” The experience became so stressful that some crew members got T-shirts that said, “I survived the reshoot of The Marrying Man both.”
Baldwin’s Temper And Basinger’s Demands Led to the Film’s Downfall
Alec Baldwin became quite popular on the set for his temper during the shoot. For example, if his phone stopped working, he smashed it against the wall. Things went out of control when he threw a director’s chair, and it almost hit an electrician. Even though he later apologized, the crew was reportedly left shocked and uncomfortable by the incident.
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However, his frustration was not only directed at the crew. Baldwin also blamed Disney for many of the production’s problems. At different points, he reportedly called the studio “cheap” and dismissed the negative stories surrounding the film as false and exaggerated.
Kim Basinger made several demands as well that slowed down filming. She often asked for her makeup to be removed and applied again in between takes. She also requested special treatment, such as washing her hair with Evian water. At one point, she asked to replace the director of photography because she did not like how she looked in test footage.
That’s not the end of it. She also strongly disagreed with Neil Simon’s script. In fact, she told him directly, “This isn’t funny. Whoever wrote this doesn’t understand comedy.” After that, Simon stayed away from the set for most of the shoot. Once, Basinger even asked to pause filming so she could travel to Brazil to speak to a psychic. The list was never-ending, and incidents like this only added to the delays and increased tension on the set.
Apart from constant demands and temper issues, the situation became quite uncomfortable for the crew due to the couple’s behavior toward each other. Their interactions between takes often crossed professional boundaries. One crew member even said people heard things that were “as dirty as you can imagine.”
The production ran almost a month longer than its planned 52-day schedule. The pressure affected everyone, including the director, who became seriously ill and spent two weeks in the hospital due to pneumonia and dehydration. Later, he said the problems stemmed from politics, financial issues, and time pressure.
Ultimately, ‘The Marrying Man’ failed at the box office. The film earned only $12.5 million worldwide, far below its $26 million budget.
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