Rented Lips (1988) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A filmmaker transforms an unwanted adult production into a personal artistic opportunity while the boundary between reality and fiction becomes uncertain.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Conditional Opportunity

A filmmaker and his cinematographer friend receive an opportunity to create a musical about Indian farming techniques. They must first complete an unexpected production for an executive.

Key Events

• Documentary Filmmaking Partnership — A filmmaker works with his cinematographer friend on documentary projects. Location: Filmmaking workspace
• Home Life Tension — The filmmaker's mother becomes frustrated with his single-minded devotion to filmmaking. Location: Family home
• Passion Project Offer — The two filmmakers are offered a chance to make a musical about Indian farming techniques. Location: Production meeting
• Production Condition — They must first complete an executive's film using the same cast and crew. Location: Production meeting

Rewriting The Assignment

The filmmakers discover that the assigned film is an adult World War II production with a terrible script. They decide to improve it and reshape it as a musical exploitation film.

Key Events

• Unexpected Film Assignment — The filmmakers arrive and discover that the assigned production is an adult film. Location: Film set
• World War Script — The adult film has a poor script set during World War II. Location: Film set
• Script Improvement Plan — The two filmmakers decide to continue and improve the weak screenplay. Location: Film set
• Musical Exploitation Concept — Their revisions transform the assignment into a musical exploitation film. Location: Film set
• Eccentric Actor Disruption — An eccentric actor creates additional problems during the production. Location: Film set

Romance Enters Production

A blind date introduces Mona Lisa to the filmmaker's career, and she joins the cast. Her refusal to perform adult scenes creates conflict with an actor.

Key Events

• Religious Threats — An extreme religious organization threatens the film executive. Location: Film production
• Blind Date Arrangement — The filmmaker's mother arranges a blind date with Mona Lisa. Characters: Mona Lisa Location: Family home
• Director Conversation — Mona Lisa becomes enthusiastic after learning that her date is a director. Characters: Mona Lisa Location: Date setting
• New Cast Member — Mona Lisa joins the cast but is assigned no adult scenes. Characters: Mona Lisa Location: Film set
• Rejected Scene Proposal — An actor attempts to restore sexual scenes from the original script, but Mona Lisa refuses. Characters: Mona Lisa Location: Film set
• Production Gains Momentum — Filming proceeds successfully despite the ongoing creative and personal conflicts. Characters: Mona Lisa Location: Film set

Fire On The Set

An extreme religious organization attacks the production and attempts to burn the set. The violence stops when Mona Lisa is revealed to be the leader's daughter.

Key Events

• Set Invasion — The religious leader arrives with followers and begins setting the production on fire. Characters: Mona Lisa Location: Film set
• Daughter Recognition — The attack stops when Mona Lisa is recognized as the religious leader's daughter. Characters: Mona Lisa Location: Burning film set
• Filmmaker Walks Away — Overwhelmed by the events, the filmmaker storms away from the set. Location: Film set

Success And Uncertainty

The filmmaker learns the religious leader's connection to the original script and uses it as blackmail. He completes both films, but the final typewriter scene questions whether the success was real.

Key Events

• Hidden Script History — The filmmaker learns that the religious leader once made pornography and wrote the original script. Location: Production setting
• Blackmail Leverage — The filmmaker uses the script's history as blackmail. Location: Production setting
• Decision To Return — The filmmaker changes his mind and decides to complete both films. Location: Film production
• Dual Film Completion — Both films are completed, leading to professional success. Location: Film production
• Typewriter Awakening — The film cuts to the filmmaker waking after sleeping on his typewriter. Location: Writing space
• Reality Or Script — He continues writing while professional success appears again, leaving reality uncertain. Location: Writing space

Story Breakdown

• Filmmaking Foundations — The filmmaker's documentary career and family situation establish his creative priorities.
  • Documentary Partnership — He works with his cinematographer friend on documentary films.
  • Maternal Pressure — His mother wants him to focus less exclusively on filmmaking and meet a woman.
• Conditional Opportunity — A production offer promises access to a desired passion project.
  • Farming Musical — The proposed passion project concerns Indian farming techniques.
  • Executive Requirement — The filmmakers must first complete another film with the same cast and crew.
• Unwanted Production — The assigned project proves radically different from what the filmmakers expected.
  • Adult Film Discovery — They find that the assignment is an adult film with a poor World War II script.
  • Creative Rewriting — They reshape the material into a musical exploitation film.
• Mona Lisa Joins — A blind date becomes part of the production after showing enthusiasm for directing.
  • Blind Date — Mona Lisa meets the filmmaker through his mother's arrangement.
  • Casting Boundary — She joins the cast but refuses the adult scenes from the original script.
• Religious Attack — Threats against the production escalate into a direct assault on the film set.
  • Organizational Threats — An extreme religious organization threatens the film executive.
  • Set Fire — The leader and followers arrive and begin setting the production on fire.
• Unexpected Recognition — Mona Lisa's family connection abruptly changes the confrontation.
  • Daughter Revelation — The religious leader recognizes Mona Lisa as his daughter.
  • Attack Halted — The attempted destruction of the set stops after the recognition.
• Scripted Resolution — Hidden information gives the filmmaker leverage and leads to completion of both films.
  • Author Exposed — The religious leader is revealed to have made pornography and written the original script.
  • Ambiguous Success — The filmmaker completes both films, then continues writing as the film questions what really happened.

Directed by

Robert Downey Sr.

Key Cast

• Martin Mull — Archie Powell
• Dick Shawn — Charlie Slater
• Jennifer Tilly — Mona Lisa
• Kenneth Mars — Reverend Farrell
• Robert Downey Jr. — Wolf Dangler