Taglines: What would you do with a letter that changed everything?
John Tyree (Channing Tatum) is a handsome, soft-spoken Special Forces soldier visiting his father in South Carolina while on leave. Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried) is a beautiful, idealistic college student from a wealthy Southern family, home for spring break. John and Savannah are from different worlds, but through a chance encounter at the beach, the two meet and are immediately attracted to each other.
Their meeting turns into a whirlwind two-week courtship, and their feelings quickly deepen into an all-consuming, passionate love. Each finds in the other something they’d never known they were missing. When John is forced to return to his deployment and Savannah heads back to college, the couple promises to write one another. Through a continuous stream of letters, their love continues to blossom and a deeply romantic love story unfolds.
As time passes, John and Savannah are only able to see one another sporadically. John’s deployment overseas is extended, and Savannah’s life back home continues on. As the world becomes a more complicated place, Savannah is constantly worried about John’s safety, and John is torn between his dedication to his work and his desire for a life at home with Savannah. Against steadily increasing tension between their desires and their responsibilities, the couple struggles to keep their commitment firm. But when unexpected tragedy strikes back home, John’s return provokes an emotional confrontation, and the couple is forced to discover whether their love can truly survive.
Dear John is a 2010 American romantic drama-war film starring Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum. It was made by Screen Gems and was released theatrically in North America on February 5, 2010. The film was directed by Lasse Hallström, and it is an adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ 2006 novel of the same name. It follows the life of a soldier (Channing Tatum) after he falls in love with a young woman (Amanda Seyfried). They decide to exchange letters to each other after he is deployed to the war. The movie was filmed in 2009 in Charleston, South Carolina.
Dear John has grossed $80,014,842 in North America and $34,962,262 in other territories for a worldwide total of $114,977,104. In its opening weekend, the film grossed $30,468,614, finishing first at the box office, knocking off Avatar after seven weekends in first place and making it the best debut for a film based on a Nicholas Sparks novel. The film was the second highest debut for a film opening Super Bowl weekend, just shy of Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert in 2008.
About the Production
The screen version of Dear John found its “spark” when producer Marty Bowen was given the manuscript of bestselling author Nicholas Sparks’ novel before it was even published. “I found myself completely touched by it,” says Bowen. “Sparks has a way of writing that allows you to get lost in this world, these characters, and the beautiful Carolina environment he paints. And there were certain twists in the story that I just wasn’t expecting.
“When I finished the book,” Bowen says, “my biggest concern was I just didn’t feel like there was anybody actor-wise who’d really be able to pull off this `perfect guy.’ Part masculine soldier, willing to do whatever he has to do for his country, and then also this softer somebody who can fall in love with a girl completely and possibly be heartbroken by the experience.”
Then Bowen thought of Channing Tatum. “I had seen Channing in several films, including A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints and Step Up,” he says. “In thinking about it, I was amazed to see he had both of these characteristics. I thought, `If Channing would want me to develop this, then it would be a project that would really excite me.’ We gave the book to his representatives and Channing loved it. It was perfect for him.” The film had found its dear John.
With Tatum on board, Bowen and producing partner Wyck Godfrey (the duo also shepherded the blockbuster Twilight film franchise to the big screen) knew they’d found their next project. As the book Dear John became another in an incredible string of publishing hits for Sparks, the film began to gain momentum and take shape.
The producers turned to screenwriter Jamie Linden to adapt the novel for the big screen. They’d admired Linden’s We Are Marshall and thought he’d bring great perspective to the adaptation. Interestingly, however, Linden actually initially passed on the project, not having had the experience of (and not being entirely comfortable with) writing a love story. “But I kept thinking about it,” Linden says, “and couldn’t get it out of my head.” The film is by and large a romance, but what ultimately captivated Linden and became the way into the story for him was the relationship between John and his father, Mr. Tyree. Linden thought of a different way to handle the climactic father/son scene from the book, and that made him want to tackle the entire screenplay.
The producers agreed. Here was an opportunity to share an engaging, truthful story filled with emotional and physical obstacles – a story framed by one family’s crusade to overcome great adversity. “What struck us about John is that he’s a real-life hero,” says Shamberg. “He went on a courageous journey and risked everything, along with his wife Aileen, to do what was best for their children.”
The Crowley family’s story would be perfectly at home at Double Feature Films, Shamberg and Sher’s production company. A number of successful films inspired by real life subjects adorn the company’s notable filmography including Erin Brockovich, Freedom Writers and World Trade Center.
“The best true stories read like fiction and Geeta’s book was definitely no exception,“ notes Sher. “You think, ‘Nobody would buy this if it wasn’t true or, as with our film, inspired by true events.’”
Though the Crowley family had already grown comfortable relating their story to Anand, there was some initial hesitation when Hollywood came calling. “My dad was a cop and my mom was a waitress,” says John Crowley. “I didn’t grow up in the Hollywood scene so I was a little skeptical at first. But the producers had done some wonderful films and have some very unique experiences in producing films inspired by real life stories so that made us more comfortable. And also Harrison was involved from day one which made the project all the more attractive.”
Continue Reading and View the Theatrical Trailer
Dear John (2010)
Directed by: Lasse Hallstrom
Starring: Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried, Henry Thomas, Richard Jenkins, Keith Robinson, Leslea Fisher, Mary Rachel Dudley, David Andrews, Gavin McCulley, Cullen Moss, William Howard Bowman
Screenplay by: Jamie Linden
Production Design by: Kara Lindstrom
Cinematography by: Terry Stacey
Film Editing by: Kristina Boden
Costume Design by: Dana Campbell, Kathryn Langston
Set Decoration by: Summer Eubanks
Art Direction by: Mark Garner
Music by: Deborah Lurie
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some sensuality and violence.
Distributed by: Sony ScreenGems
Release Date: February 5, 2010
