Here are some very random yet interesting facts from an assortment of films.
- A Tom Cruise interview with Letterman inspired Christian Bale’s performance as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (2000).
- The screenplay for the fifth Bond film “You Only Live Twice” was written by Roald Dahl.
- Stephen King hated Kubricks version of The Shining (1980)
- Harrison Ford had a cameo in E.T. (1982) but it was cut out of the final edit.
- Before Ralph Macchio was cast as Daniel in The Karate Kid (1984), the role was offered to Charlie Sheen who wasn’t interested.
- Pierce Brosnan auditioned for Tim Burton’s Batman (1989).
- Billy Crystal wanted Charles Bronson to play the role of the old cowboy in City Slickers (1991). Bronson was furious that such a small role had been offered to a legend like himself. The role eventually went to Jack Palance who subsequently won an Oscar for it.
- The filming of The Abyss (1989) was arguably the most grueling movie set in modern history. Members of the cast and crew almost died, including director James Cameron.
- Clint Eastwood is allergic to horses.
- Keanu Reaves demanded no fee for the Matrix movies but instead took a percentage of box office receipts. This turned out to be a very wise decision as it made him one of the worlds richest movie stars.
- Shelly Duvall who played Wendy in The Shining (1980) was made to do the stairs baseball bat scene 127 times.
- Nightmare on Elm Street was inspired by true events.
- To prepare for his role in Taxi Driver (1976), Robert de Niro actually took a job as a cab driver in New York.
- OJ Simpson was one of the top choices to star in the title role of The Terminator (1984) but was deemed too likeable to be able to portray a killer.
Back to the Future (1985)
- In the iconic opening sequence that shows dozen of clocks ticking and tocking, all running 20 minutes fast as part of a Doc Brown experiment, there’s one clock quickly shown that depicts a man hanging off the minute-hand of a large clock, just as Doc would do later in the movie.
- As any fan knows, Eric Stoltz was the original Marty McFly but was fired for being too dark and brooding in what was supposed to be a more comedic role. The decision wasted about six weeks in shoots and nearly $4 million. But, watching the clips of Stoltz, a fine actor, it’s clear why the decision was made.
- Though editors deny Stoltz appears in any scene, fans are convinced there are at least two shots of Stoltz that still remained in the film. When Marty dives into the DeLorean upon the Libyans arrival at the mall at the beginning of the film, it’s thought to be Stoltz. And also, Thomas F. Wilson, who played Biff, insists that it’s Stoltz he’s punching in the scene in the diner because the actor, who goes unseen, is considerably taller than the diminutive Fox. (Wilson concedes it could have been a stunt double).
Falling Down
- Joel Schumacher envisioned his friend Michael Douglas in the lead role. Douglas agreed to read the script and declared it one of the best he had ever read, signing up for the role immediately. The presence of such a popular actor as the lead allowed the film to get a much higher budget. Douglas, believing the film to be important, agreed to take a lower salary than usual, allowing the film more money to be made.
- Jack Nicholson, Ed Harris, Robert De Niro, Alec Baldwin, Jeff Bridges, Nick Nolte, Mel Gibson, Michael Keaton, Robin Williams, Harrison Ford, Dustin Hoffman, and Al Pacino were considered for the lead role.
- Gene Hackman, Walter Matthau, Sidney Poitier, Paul Newman, Jason Robards, and Jack Lemmon were considered for the role of Prendergast which eventually went to Robert Duvall.
- During the Whammyburger scene, Sheila (Deedee Pfeiffer) had a hard time staying in character as Michael Douglas’ lines kept making her giggle. If one looks closely at her face as she’s handing Rick the burger, you can see that she’s smiling.
- In one scene, Foster (Michael Douglas) says golf courses are a waste of space and that golf is for old men with nothing better to do. Ironically, Douglas is an avid golfer in real life.
- The two bags that Bill Foster carry act as metaphors. The briefcase represents his responsible side, while the gym bag filled with guns represent his turn to disorganization and violence. He had the opportunity to give up one of the bags to the bum and he ultimately gives up his old life by giving up the briefcase.
- Bill Foster starts out the film dressed in a simple white shirt and tie with black pants. By the climax of the film, he’s dressed in all black, which serves as a metaphor for his declining mental state.
- It was director Joel Schumacher’s idea for the crew cut that Michael Douglas has in this movie. Combined with the glasses Douglas wore, he was almost unrecognisable.
- Although screen legends Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall are the leads, they don’t appear together until near the end of the film.
- Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest, and James Keane who all starred in this film previously appeared in Apocalypse Now (1979).
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
- Steve Martin was convinced to join the production after favoring two scenes he had read from the script: the seat adjustment-scene in the car, and the F-word tirade at the car rental desk.
- The movie ends with a freeze frame of John Candy with a tight lipped grin. Uncle Buck (1989) ends exactly the same way, a freeze frame of John Candy with the same expression.
- Dylan Baker created the Owen character himself. The snorts, facial tics, and twisted expressions are all his own making. Lulie Newcomb, who played his silent wife, said it was extremely difficult to keep a straight face while filming the scene with him.
- John Hughes originally wanted Tom Hanks for the role of Neal Page and John Travolta for the role of Del Griffith. Hanks was unavailable since he was busy shooting Big (1988). Paramount executives did not want Travolta in the movie because he was considered “box office poison” at the time.
Ferris Buellers Day Off
- Cindy Pickett and Lyman Ward, who played Ferris’s parents, married in real life after filming this movie. They later divorced in 1992.
- To produce the desired drugged-out effect for his role as the drug addict in the police station, Charlie Sheen stayed awake for more than forty-eight hours before the scene was shot.
- The shot of Ferris playing the clarinet was done on the spot. Someone spotted the instrument as part of the set, and Matthew Broderick said he could play it, which of course he couldn’t.
- When Grace tells Rooney, “He’s a righteous dude,” it was not in the original script. Edie McClurg ad-libbed it in her best Chicago accent.
- After working together on Weird Science (1985), John Hughes offered Bill Paxton the role of the garage attendant. However, Paxton turned it down, because he felt the role was too small. He admitted that he regretted turning it down, because Hughes never offered him a role again.
- Charlie Sheen was recommended by Jennifer Grey after they did Red Dawn (1984) together.
- The outfit Ferris is wearing (hat, sunglasses, and trench coat) when he picks up Sloane from school, can be seen on a mannequin in his room, behind his door, as his parents leave his room at the beginning of the movie to go to work.
- Shermer High School is the same high school in Weird Science, Sixteen Candles (1984) and The Breakfast Club (1985).
- John Hughes said that he had Matthew Broderick in mind when he wrote the screenplay, saying Broderick was the only actor who could pull off the role, calling him clever and charming.
- Ferris wears a different outfit in each scene before he and Cameron go to pick up Sloane.
- Rob Lowe, John Cusack, Jim Carrey, Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise, Robert Downey, Jr., and Michael J. Fox were all considered for the role of Ferris Bueller.
- When Ferris hacks into the school’s computer to change the number of absences he had, it is a subtle nod to WarGames (1983), when Matthew Broderick hacks into the school’s computer to change his grades.
- The number “9” was chosen for the number of Ferris’ absences because it sounded harsh when spoken by Rooney. “NINE TIMES!”
- Mia Sara almost didn’t play Sloane, because at the same time she auditioned, she was simultaneously auditioning to play Sarah in Labyrinth (1986).