Romance & Cigarettes, the down-and-dirty love story featuring actors James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet and Christopher Walken draws its inspiration from The Honeymooners with "common man" themes about life and dashed hopes. The romantic adventure shows characters pushed to their breaking points (and beyond), and responding by breaking into song, singing along—sometimes lip-synching, sometimes in full voice—with the music lodged in their subconscious. James Brown, Janis Joplin, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones, Bruce Springsteen offer some of the well-known tunes that illuminate the characters' hopes and dreams.

The story is about a New York ironworker, Nick, who is married to Kitty, a strong but gentle woman. The couple has three grown daughters. Carrying on a torrid affair with the flame-haired Tula (Kate Winslet), his wife catches him and Tula wants a commitment. Nick becomes a prisoner of his primal urges, but has a heart, and must find his way back to his family before he runs of out chances.

John Turturro, Writer/Director, said the idea for this movie was born during the filming of Barton Fink. The fantasy that we all have, being able to express ourselves musically, in whatever mood we’re in, was the inspiration for this  working class opera. When people don’t have money, they escape through song, much like prayer. Turturro loves Fellini, Powell and Pressburger, and Buñuel, and was inspired by their efforts.