When I Love You to Death came out back in 1990, it looked like another dark comedy with a stacked cast. Kevin Kline. Tracey Ullman. River Phoenix. Even a young Keanu Reeves and the late William Hurt. All the right names were there. But here’s the kicker: the story was based on something real. And not just “loosely inspired.” We’re talking actual events from a Pennsylvania town that got truly, wildly out of hand.
A Marriage, a Pizza Shop, and a Murder Plot That Wouldn’t Stick
Let’s rewind to 1983. Frances and Tony Toto lived in Allentown, Pennsylvania. They ran a pizza joint. Business was fine, marriage… not so much. Frances found out Tony had been cheating on her, more than once, with more than one woman. And instead of throwing plates or filing divorce papers, she went another route.
She tried to have him killed.
The first attempt was quiet. She drugged his dinner with barbiturates. But Tony was sick with a cold and chalked up the dizziness and fatigue to that. He brushed it off, took a nap, and lived. So Frances tried again. Then again. And again.
Over time, she and a couple of sketchy teenage hitmen tried just about everything: drugs, gunshots, a car bomb, even a baseball bat. And somehow, Tony survived. Every time.
Eventually, he figured something was seriously off and went to the police. Frances and her team of part-time assassins were arrested. You’d expect divorce. Restraining orders. Maybe a courtroom brawl.
But nope.
Tony Chose Forgiveness Over Everything
Against all odds and logic, Tony forgave her. He even bailed her out of jail. When she served her four-year sentence, he was there. Waiting. They stayed married.
As of 2025, they’re still together. That’s nearly 59 years of marriage, counting the ones where she tried to erase him from the planet. When people ask why, Tony says it was a rough chapter, but that he understood she’d hit a breaking point. Frances, for her part, has called it a “love-hate storm” that spun out of control. She wasn’t proud of it. But she owns it.
And somehow, they’re still living in Allentown, doing life together like it’s just another Wednesday.
Hollywood Got Wind of the Story and Ran With It
Director Lawrence Kasdan heard about the whole bizarre mess and knew it was something special. He’d done The Big Chill, Silverado, The Accidental Tourist. But this? This was something else. He teamed up with screenwriter John Kostmayer, and they turned the Totos’ trainwreck of a marriage into a comedy.
The movie changed names. Frances became Rosalie. Tony became Joey. In I Love You to Death, Rosalie finds out Joey’s been cheating and ropes in her mom and a pair of very stoned, very bad hitmen to take him out. Like clockwork, every plan goes sideways. Joey keeps surviving. Sound familiar?
A Cast That Made It Work
Kevin Kline played Joey like a clueless Romeo. Tracey Ullman, as Rosalie, was sharp and seething. Joan Plowright played her mother. River Phoenix showed up as a lovesick pizza employee. And Keanu Reeves and William Hurt? They stole scenes as two burnout hitmen who could barely keep their eyes open, let alone commit a murder.
Phoebe Cates and Victoria Jackson played a few of Joey’s flings. The whole thing felt unhinged, but grounded, because again, it was pulled straight from reality.
What Critics Thought Then (And What People Say Now)
Back in 1990, critics were mostly on board. Siskel and Ebert both gave it a thumbs up. Over time, the film didn’t exactly stay front and center, but it found a loyal group of fans who kept it alive.
Then something strange happened in 2025. A few clips from the movie resurfaced on TikTok. People couldn’t believe it was real. Suddenly, the movie was trending again, popping up on platforms like Tubi and Prime Video.
Where Are They Now? Cast, Crew, and the Real Couple
Kasdan went on to co-write Star Wars scripts. Kevin Kline does fewer films these days but still shows up occasionally. Tracey Ullman had a recent role in Black Doves on Netflix. Keanu is still a fan favorite, with rumors swirling about Constantine 2. Phoebe Cates runs a boutique in New York. And William Hurt, who passed away in 2022, is still remembered for both serious drama and weird, wonderful roles like this one.
As for Tony and Frances? Still married. Still in Allentown. Their story’s been featured on podcasts, YouTube channels, and TV specials. In 2024, the podcast Criminally Yours ran a full episode on them. The title said it all: “She Tried to Kill Him. Five Times. He Took Her Back.”
You Really Can’t Make This Stuff Up
A guy survives five murder attempts, all ordered by his wife. He forgives her, waits out her prison sentence, and they grow old together. It sounds like a plot from a movie. And now, it kind of is.
Only thing is, it actually happened.
Fontaine is one of the movie-loving brains behind thefilmbandit.com. She’s got a soft spot for classic rom-coms like When Harry Met Sally and Pretty in Pink, but don’t let that fool you—she’s just as hyped for the intense action in the Bourne movies. Her all-time fave? The Goonies, no contest. If it’s got 80s vibes, a killer storyline, or dreamy cinematography, Fontaine’s already got it queued up. She’s here for the feels, the thrills, and everything in between.