Each day I want to bring you a snapshot from a movie and a little trivia you may or may not know about the movie or it's actors or director. You just never know when you will be on Jeopardy or playing Trivial Pursuit with friends.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979)
Director: Stuart Rosenberg
Starring: Josh Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Producers turned down a script by Jay Anson who was the author of the book the film is based on.
#2 Kidder and Brolin have admitted they don’t believe the Amityville story the film is based on is actually real.
#3 The studio made up stories of weird occurrences on the set in order to drum up publicity.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 McDowell cracked his ribs and scratched his cornea during filming.
#2 Some of the slang language McDowell’s character uses was created by author Anthony Burgess. The book uses it quite extensively, but Kubrick did not want to use too much of it in the film as he thought it would be inaccessible to audiences.
#3 The use of “Singing in the Rain” was not originally in the script. Once Kubrick found out that was the only song McDowell knew, he bought the rights to it.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
BOOGIE NIGHTS (1997)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The opening scene is filmed as one three minute single camera shot.
#2 The film uses the real porn industry as the basis for some of the characters. Dirk Diggler is modeled after late actor John Holmes. Amber Waves custodial problems are based on porn-star Veronica Hart who plays the judge in the scene.
#3 Burt Reynolds did not get along with director Paul Thomas Anderson during filming and later regretted making the movie and ended up firing his agent.
Monday, July 8, 2013
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S ANIMAL HOUSE (1978)
Director: John Landis
Starring: John Belushi, Karen Allen, Donald Sutherland, Kevin Bacon
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The president of University of Oregon allowed filming on campus because he did not want to miss out on another movie being shot on campus. He turned down the offer to have The Graduate film there and did not want to miss another opportunity.
#2 John Belushi flew back and forth between New York and Oregon due to his “Saturday Night Live” commitments.
#3 Harold Ramis wrote the role of Boon for himself to play, but director John Landis decided he was too old to play it. He was only three years older than Peter Riegert who went on to play the role.
Monday, June 10, 2013
WAITING FOR GUFFMAN (1996)
Director: Christopher Guest
Starring: Fred Willard, Christopher Guest, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Guest spent over a year editing the film from nearly 60 hours worth of footage. The musical alone ran 40 minutes.
#2 Like many of Guest's films, the movie is almost all ad-libbed except for the musical within the movie, "Red, White, and Blaine"
#3 When Guest is teaching the cast dance moves, Levy was purposefully moved to the back as he was often breaking character and laughing during each take.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
UP (2009)
Director: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
Starring: Jordan Nagai, Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 This was the first animated film and first 3D film to open the Cannes film festival.
#2 Dug’s “point” pose that forms a completely straight line and his overall coloring is modeled after the legendary Disney character Pluto.
#3 The animation style of the “good” characters are based off circles and squares, while the villians are modeled after triangles.
Monday, June 3, 2013
TOP GUN(1986)
Director: Tony Scott
Starring: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Director Tony Scott was fired three times throughout the production process.
#2 The love scene between Cruise and McGillis was filmed after reactions from a test screening who demanded a love scene be put in the film.
#3 Kilmer was forced to be in the movie due to contract obligations.
Friday, May 31, 2013
STEEL MAGNOLIAS (1989)
Director: Herbert Ross
Starring: Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Robert Harling based the original play on the life of his sister who had also passed away at a young age.
#2 Meg Ryan was originally cast as Shelby but the producers let her out of her contract so she could appear in When Harry Met Sally.
#3 After a bad take, director Herbert Ross asked Parton if she could act. Parton had the best response stating, “No, but it’s your job to make me look like I can!”
Thursday, May 30, 2013
RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983)
Director: Richard Marquand
Starring: Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 George Lucas wanted Steven Spielberg to direct the film, but Spielberg had to turn it down as he is a member of the Director’s Guild. Lucas cuts his ties with the Guild during Empire Strikes Back so he had to hire the non-union Richard Marquand for the job.
#2 Most of the Ewok lines are inspired by the Kalmuck language which is spoken by a nomadic tribe in Central China.
#3 The filming of the movie was kept in secret under the disguise name of “Blue Harvest”.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
PRIMAL FEAR (1996)
Director: Gregory Hoblit
Starring: Richard Gere, Edward Norton, Laura Linney, Frances McDormand
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Wil Wheaton and Leonardo DiCaprio both turned down the role of Aaron Stempler. Wheaton has since regretted this move and has claimed that this is why his career hasn’t taken off like it could have.
#2 The original cut of the movie was over 3 hours long.
#3 Norton went into the audition completely in character with the stuttering and other characteristic traits associated with that role..
Saturday, May 25, 2013
ORDINARY PEOPLE (1980)
Director: Robert Redford
Starring: Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Judd Hirsch stepped in for Gene Hackman only under the condition that he finished filming his scenes in eight days to adhere to his schedule for "Taxi".
#2 Redford bought the film rights to the Judith Guest novel before it was even published.
#3 Elizabeth McGovern was a student at Juilliard at the time of filming. This was the first time they ever allowed a student to film a movie while they were in school.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (1993)
Director: Henry Selick
Starring: Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Writer Tim Burton has said that the idea for the story stemmed from being in a department store and watching them take down the Halloween decorations of ghosts and goblins and switching them with happy Christmas decorations.
#2 Many people assume Burton directed the movie when in fact he handed over the director’s duties to Henry Selick. Burton was too busy with Batman Returns and Ed Wood to direct the film and was only on set a few times during filming.
#3 Composer Danny Elfman is the singing voice for Jack Skellington even though Sarandon does his speaking voice.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS(2011)
Director: Woody Allen
Starring: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Adrien Brody, Kathy Bates
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Allen originally planned on making the film in 2006 with David Krumholtz in the lead role. Allen rewrote the role once Wilson was cast.
#2 The woman playing the tour guide at the Rodin Museum is Carla Bruni who was the First Lady of France at the time of filming.
#3 Allen won his fourth Academy Award for his screenplay. He continued his tradition of skipping the ceremony despite the nomination and eventual win.
Sunday, May 18, 2013
LOVE ACTUALLY (2003)
Director: Richard Curtis
Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The footage of airport greetings used at the beginning and ending of the movie is of real footage shot at Heathrow Airport.
#2 Emma Thompson wore a fat suit in order to make her appear heavier.
#3 Director Richard Curtis had to edit Olivia Olson's voice as it was too good and didn't sound child-like.
Friday, May 17, 2013
KING KONG (1933)
Director: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack
Starring: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Many credit the success of the film for saving RKO Studios from bankruptcy.
#2 Fay Wray insisted that her hair be blonde and personally chose her own wig to wear.
#3 The film came in at 13 reels which director Cooper found very superstitious, so he went back and shot the train sequence in order to have 14 reels.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
JERRY MAGUIRE (1996)
Director: Cameron Crowe
Starring: Tom Cruise, Renee Zellweger, Jonathan Lipnicki, Cuba Gooding, Jr.
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Crowe wanted iconic film director Billy Wilder to play the part of Dicky Fox. On the first day of filming, Wilder refused and dropped out. Crowe brought Cruise in to help sway his decision, but he still refused to be in it.
#2 Crowe wrote the title character with Tom Hanks in mind, but he was already committed to That Thing You Do!
#3 The scene with Cruise and Lipnicki talking in the living was completely adlibbed on purpose. Crowe wanted an authentic feel for the scene.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
INTO THE WILD (2007)
Director: Sean Penn
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Kristen Stewart, Hal Holbrook, Marcia Gay Harden
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Hirsch lost over forty pounds for the role and performed all of his own stunts.
#2 Penn waited for ten years to make the film until he got approval and permission from the McCandless family.
#3 The film was shot on location except for the bus scene. They did not want to use the real bus out of respect for the family, so they build a set out in the wilderness.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (2001)
Director: Chris Columbus
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Robbie Coltrane
DID YOU KNOW...
#1 The flashbacks of Voldemort killing Harry's parents were written by author J.K. Rowling
#2 Rowling personally picked Coltrane and Alan Rickman for the roles of Hagrid and Snape, respectively.
#3 Rowling insisted that the principal cast be comprised of British actors.
Monday, May 13, 2013
GHOSTBUSTERS (1984)
Director: Ivan Reitman
Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 In Aykroyd’s original script, the story was going to take place in the future where ghostbusters were as common as firefighters and paramedics.
#2 The demonic voice of Zuul was performed by Reitman.
#3 The roles of Louis, Venkman, and Winston were all written with John Candy, John Belushi, and Eddie Murphy, respectively, in mind. After Candy and Murphy dropped out and Belushi’s death, the script went through major rewrites.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
FRIDAY THE 13TH (1980)
Director: Sean S. Cunningham
Starring: Betsy Palmer, Kevin Bacon, Adrienne King, Jeannine Taylor
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Betsy Palmer was so desperate to buy a new car she decided to take the role of Mrs. Vorhees despite the fact she thought the script was terrible.
#2 Victor Miller admitted to writing the movie based off the success Halloween had a couple of years prior.
#3 The movie was shot on a real campground in New Jersey that is still in operation today.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
THE EVIL DEAD (1981)
Director: Sam Raimi
Starring: Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Theresa Tilly, Richard DeManincor
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Many of the actors left filming after principal photography was done even though the film was not completed at the time. Much of the second half of the film is Bruce Campbell with stand-ins to replace those actors.
#2 Joel Coen was an assistant editor on the film. The Coens turned to Campbell and Raimi to assist in funding for their film Blood Simple.
#3 Campbell twisted his ankle on the root of a tree. Raimi thought he was joking and started poking and prodding at him.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
DOG DAY AFTERNOON (1975)
Director: Sidney Lumet
Starring: Al Pacino, John Cazale, Chris Sarandon, Charles Durning
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The real Sal was only 18 at the time of the events. John Cazale was cast in the role despite being 38 at the time.
#2 Much of the film is improvised either during filming itself or dialogue from the rehearsals. The phone conversation between Pacino and Chris Sarandon is one specific example.
#3 Cinematographer Victor J. Kemper chose to keep the lightening practical and realistic throughout the film by using the fluorescents inside the bank.
Monday, May 6, 2013
CAPE FEAR (1991)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Jessica Lange, Nick Nolte, Juliette Lewis
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The school auditorium scene between DeNiro and Lewis was ad-libbed and done in three takes, the first of which is used in the film.
#2 Steven Spielberg was attached to direct but brought it to Scorsese’s attention for him to make it. It took over a year of convincing before Scorsese accepted the job.
#3 Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck, and Martin Balsam who all appeared in the original 1962 version all have roles in the remake.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
BLAZING SADDLES (1974)
Director: Mel Brooks
Starring: Gene Wilder, Cleavon Little, Madeline Khan, Harvey Korman
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Richard Pryor was the original choice for Bart, but the studio could not get financing for him due to the the controversial nature of his stand-up routines.
#2 Possible titles for the film were "Black Bart" and "Tex X" before Brooks came up with "Blazing Saddles" while in the shower.
#3 Actress Hedy Lamarr sued Mel Brooks for the use of the name Hedley Lamarr for Harvey Korman's character.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
AMERICAN BEAUTY(1999)
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari, Wes Bentley
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Paula Abdul choreographed all of the Spartanette's dance routines.
#2 Due to the fact that Thora Birch was 17 at the time of filming, child labor representatives had to be on set during her nude scene.
#3 The original opening had Spacey's character, Lester Burnham, floating over the houses and landing in bed.
Friday, May 3, 2013
ZOMBIELAND(2009)
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Starring: Woody Harrelson, Emma stone, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The original script was intended as a TV pilot but was significantly reworked to make it a feature film.
#2 Emma Stone was originally cast as “406” but Amber Heard went on to play that role.
#3 Special Twinkies made out of cornmeal had to be made for Harrelson as he is a strict vegan who does not real Twinkies as they are made with eggs and beef fat.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967)
Director: Lewis Gilbert
Starring: Sean Connery, Akiko Wakabayashi, Mie Hama, Donald Pleasance
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The screenplay was written by notable children’s author Roald Dahl.
#2 Blofeld does not appear until an hour into the movie.
#3 This is the first time we see the face of Blofeld, even though he has made appearances in the previous movies.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
X-MEN (2000)
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Dougray Scott was originally cast as Wolverine but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with Mission:Impossible II.
#2 The script went three twenty-eight drafts and versions by various writers including: Joss Whedon, James Schamus, Christopher McQuarrie to name a few.
#3 Rebecca Romign's full body make-up consisted of over 100 prostheses which took nine hours to apply each day.
Monday, April 29, 2013
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY...(1989)
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The classic line "I'll have what she's having." was suggested by Billy Crystal and delivered with perfection by Rob Reiner's mom.
#2 Ephron has credited Meg Ryan with the idea of having Sally perform the fake orgasm at the restaurant table.
#3 The segments featuring stories of how couples met are based are based on real stories Reiner collected for the movie.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA(2008)
Director: Woody Allen
Starring: Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz, Rebecca Hall
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Woody Allen had Javier Bardem in mind when he wrote that character. Bardem was the only actor Allen wanted in the role.
#2 Penelope Cruz is the third actress to win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in a Woody Allen movie.
#3 Despite a long career of filming his movies in New York, this was the fourth movie in a year shot outside the city.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
UP IN THE AIR (2009)
Director: Jason Reitman
Starring: George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Many of the extras seen losing their jobs are not actors, but people that had actually been laid off from their job.
#2 American Airlines does not have any special rewards perks for people that reach 10 million miles. This idea was an artistic choice made by the screenwriters.
#3 Clooney's entire wardrobe in the movie can fit into one carry-on suitcase.
Friday, April 26, 2013
THIS IS SPINAL TAP (1984)
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Some of the gags and bits are parodies taken from antics and stories from bands like: Whitesnake, Led Zeppelin, Venom.
#2 Rob Reiner named his character Marty DiBergi as an homage to fellow directors: Martin Scorsese, Brian DiPalma and Steven Spielberg.
#3 The film is considered one of the greatest cult movies of all time.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
SCREAM (1996)
Director: Wes Craven
Starring: Drew Barrymore, Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Barrymore was initially cast as Sidney but wanted to play Casey instead knowing that it would throw the audience completely off if the movie’s biggest star died within the first twelve minutes of the movie.
#2 All of the killer’s phone calls were done live on set with a cell phone.
#3 The movie was sent to the MPAA ratings board over nine times in order to stay away from the dreaded NC-17 rating. Producer Bob Weinstein stepped in and the board gave in to the R rating.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
REAR WINDOW (1954)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Hitchcock only worked in the piece of the set used as Stewart’s apartment. The actors in the other apartments had to wear ear pieces to hear his direction.
#2 The film was shot all on one set and was the largest indoor set ever built at the time.
#3 Kelly refused to smoke on camera but made her one and only exception for this film.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008)
Director: Marc Forster
Starring: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Gemma Arterton, Judi Dench
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Daniel Craig picked fashion designer Tom Ford to design all of his suits used in the movie.
#2 Screenwriter Paul Haggis turned down the chance to direct the film as he was already writing the screenplay.
#3 This is the only Bond film that is a direct sequel to the previous film (Casino Royale) in the series long history.
Monday, April 22, 2013
PSYCHO(1960)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Hitchcock bought numerous copies of the Robert Bloch novel in order to keep the ending a secret.
#2 Psycho is the first film to ever show a toilet flushing.
#3 There are disputes and rumors that graphic designer Saul Bass directed some of the more infamous scenes including the deaths of Marion and Arbogast.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
Director: Milos Forman
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Brad Dourif, Will Sampson
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Many of the extras were real mental patients.
#2 Author Ken Kesey has vowed to never watch the movie as he thought it butchered his book. He even sued the producers because the movie was not told through the perspective of Chief Bromden, which is how he wrote the book.
#3 This was the second film in Oscar history to win all top five categories: Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Adapted Screenplay. It Happened One Night was the first winner back in 1934
Saturday, April 20, 2013
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)
Director: Wes Craven
Starring: Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Ron Saxon, Ronee Blakely
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Craven's idea behind the Freddy Krueger character was inspired by a few different sources from his childhood. Fred Krueger was a classmate of Craven's who often bullied him. The ratty appearance was based off a drifter he saw staring at him through a window when he was ten.
#2 The melting staircase scene was actually directed by producer Robert Shaye. Craven let him direct it as it was based on one of his own dreams.
#3 Englund has state that he based Freddy Krueger's physicality on Klaus Kinski's performance in Werner Herzog's Nosferatu the Vampyre.
Friday, April 19, 2013
THE MUPPET MOVIE (1979)
Director: James Frawley
Starring: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Charles Durning
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 John Landis revealed in 2004 that he was the puppeteer for Grover in the final sequence as Frank Oz was too busy operating Miss Piggy. In the same interview, he mentioned that Tim Burton was also one of the puppeteers used for the sequence.
#2 Madeline Kahn, Steve Martin, and Bob Hope are just some of the many celebrity cameos in the film.
#3 Austin Pendelton initially turned down the role of Max. Director James Frawley expanded the role as he was desperate to have him in the movie.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
LIFEBOAT (1944)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Tallulah Bankhead, Hume Cronyn, William Bendix, Walter Slezak
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The entire cast suffered from seasickness and some of them caught pneumonia after dealing with the cold water. Cronyn suffered from cracked ribs during filming that halted production
#2 It was widely known that Bankhead never wore underwear while filming. Hitchcock hilariously stated, “"I don't know if this is a matter for the costume department, makeup, or hairdressing."
#3 Author John Steinbeck wrote the story at Hitchcock’s request.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
THE KARATE KID(1984)
Director: John G. Avildsen
Starring: Ralph Maccio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, William Zabka
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The character of Mr. Miyagi is named after Chogun Miyagi who was the forerunner of the “hard and soft style” karate-jutsu movement in Okinawa, Japan.
#2 Director John G. Avildsen fought the studio to keep the “Drunken Miyagi” scene in the movie. He believes that scene led to Pat Morita’s Oscar nomination.
#3 Toshirô Mifune, of Akira Kurosawa fame, auditioned for the role of Miyagi. Avildsen has stated that while he had a great audition, his take on the character was way too serious and similar to his Kurosawa roles.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
JARHEAD (2005)
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard, Chris Cooper
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The majority of the film was shot in sequence and much of the dialogue was improvised to give it a more realistic and organic approach.
#2 Many of Swofford’s stories are based on real urban legends he heard while in the Marine Corp.
#3 Jarhead is the first major studio film to tackle the first Gulf War.
Monday, April 15, 2013
INCEPTION (2010)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Jospeh Gordon-Levitt performed most of his own stunts in the spinning hallway sequence.
#2 Edith Piaf’s “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” is used as a plot device and many of the special effects are inspired by M.C. Escher.
#3 When Nolan designed the roles of the team, he looked at the roles in filmmaking to build the team. Cobbs is the director, Arthur the producer, Ariadne the production designer, Eames the actor, Saito the studio, and Fischer the audience.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
HALLOWEEN (1978)
Director: John Carpenter
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasance, P.J. Soles, Nancy Loomis
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 If you look closely enough you can see cigarette smoke in the shot when Annie and Laurie first see Michael Myers by the bushes. John Carpenter was smoking off camera and the smoke wafted into the shot.
#2 Due to the low budget, the actors provided their own wardrobe.
#3 The script was originally entitled "The Babysitter Murders". Debra Hill wrote most of the dialogue between the female characters while Carpenter wrote many of Donald Pleasance's speeches.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
GREY GARDENS (1975)
Director: Ellen Hovde, Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Muffie Meyer
Starring: Edith "Big Edie" Beale, Edith "Little Edie" Beale, Lois Wright
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The Maysles were originally going to be making a documentary about Jacqueline Kennedy and her sister, Lee Radziwill. After interviewing the Beales, they switched the focus of the film.
#2 You would never realize it when looking at the state of Grey Gardens, but filming came after Jacqueline Kennedy spent thousands of dollars cleaning up the estate.
#3 Little Edie was suffering from alocpecia which is why she is always seen wearing a turban or head wrap.
Friday, April 12, 2013
FIELD OF DREAMS (1989)
Director: Phil Alden Robinson
Starring: Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, Burt Lancaster
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are among the thousands of extras in the Fenway Park Scene. Affleck later appeared in the Robinson directed The Sum of All Fears.
#2 The film was originally titled “Shoeless Joe” but after test audiences’ negative reaction, they changed it to Field of Dreams.
#3 The character of Terence Mann is based on J.D. Salinger. Salinger’s name was used in the novel, but he was unhappy with the characterization. The studio agreed to change the name of the character for the movie.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
THE EXORICST (1973)
Director: William Friedkin
Starring: Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Burstyn received a spinal injury while filming the scene where Regan throws her away from the bed. Her harness jerked her harder than expected and she landed on her coccyx.
#2 William Peter Blattey who wrote the novel the film is based on based the character of Chris MacNeil on his good friend, actress Shirley MacLaine. Burstyn played the role in the movie.
#3 The image of Father Merrin stepping out of the cab and stands in the light was inspired by the painitng "L'Empire des lumières" by René Magritte.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
DR. NO (1962)
Director: Terence Young
Starring: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman
DID YOU KNOW...
#1 “Bond. James Bond” is the first line spoken by Sean Connery as James Bond.
#2 Dr. No is the first movie, but it was not the first book in Ian Fleming’s series
#3 Producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli insisted that the film had to be directed by an Englishman who understood the world and culture of Bond.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
CARRIE (1976)
Director: Brian DePalma
Starring: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, John Travolta, Amy Irving
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The high school is named Bates High as an ode to Norman Bates from Psycho. Hermann’s violin theme can be heard over and over in the film.
#2 As revealed in the movie Scream, the pig’s blood dumped over Carrie is actually corn syrup dyed with red food coloring.
#3 Brian De Palma was going to use more split screen shots during the prom sequence. During the editing process, many of them did not turn out and he only kept the few that worked.
Monday, April 8 2013
THE BIG CHILL (1983)
Director: Lawrence Kasdan
Starring: Kevin Kline, JoBethWilliams, Glenn Close, Mary Kay Place, Jeff Goldblum
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The body being dressed for the funeral belongs to Kevin Costner. He shots scenes as the character but they were all edited out.
#2 Kasdan wrote both of the Williams and Close characters with them in mind even though they were more interested in playing the Meg character.
#3 Kasdan based these characters off friends he had lived with in college while they were all attending University of Michigan.
Sunday, April 7 2013
ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Starring: Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Celeste Holm, George Sanders
DID YOU KNOW...
#1 Claudette Colbert was originally cast as Margo Channing but had to leave production after she ruptured a disc filming Three Came Home.
#2 Bette Davis considers this movie as the one that saved her career after appearing in numerous flops beforehand.
#3 The movie is tied with Titanic with the most Academy Award nominations with 14 apiece.
#4 Bette Davis was going through a nasty divorce at the time and her raspy voice is attributed to the amount of time she spent screaming at her husband.
Saturday, April 6 2013
ZODIAC (2007)
Director: David Fincher
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards
DID YOU KNOW...
#1 Robert Downey Jr. was so frustrated with the movie being shot digitally that he grew exhausted and would leave mason jars of urine around the set in protest.
#2 Bijou Phillips originally shot scenes as Linda. When reshoots were needed, she was unable and Clea DuVall took over in the role.
#3 The friendship between Robert Graysmith (Gyllenhaal) and Paul Avery (Downey Jr.) was fictionalized for the film.
Friday, April 5 2013
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974)
Director: Mel Brooks
Starring: Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The original cut of the film was twice as long and thought to be a failure at that point. Brooks obviously went on a huge editing purge. He and Wilder were much happier with the final product
#2 Igor’s shifting hump was an on-set gag by Feldman which took the cast a few days to realize what was going on.
#3 The film used many of the same props and lab equipment as the original Frankenstein used.
Thursday, April 4 2013
WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT (1988)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Kathleen Turner, Charles Fleischer
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Even though it was a voice-over role, Fleischer delivered Roger’s line off camera in full Roger Rabbit costume. Unknowing staff around the studio were confused and thought the movie had horrible special effects.
#2 Mae Questel, who did the voice of Betty Boop from 1930-1939, makes a cameo here and does the voice again. She is one of many legendary cartoon voice actors who make cameos as their old counterparts.
#3 This is the first time where Disney and Warner Bros. cartoon characters appear on screen together.
Wednesday, April 3 2013
VACATION (1983)
Director: Harold Ramis
Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The Walley World scenes were filmed at a Six Flags Magic Mountain and caused the cast members to get sick after riding the roller coasters repeated times.
#2 The ending of the movie was shot four months after post-production as the original ending failed with the test-audiences. The original ending had the Griswolds holding the Walley family hostage.
#3 This is the only movie in the Vacation series with an R-rating.
Tuesday, April 2 2013
THE USUAL SUSPECTS (1995)
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Kevin Pollack, Kevin Spacey, Chazz Palminteri, Gabriel Bryne
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Bryne originally turned down his role, but later accepted it after meeting with Singer and screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie. When filming was about to start, he was going to back out again due to personal issues. Singer rearranged the whole shooting schedule to accommodate Bryne and have him stay in the lead.
#2 Kevin Spacey was the only actor they had in mind to play Verbal Kint
#3 Al Pacino turned down the offer to play Kujan and has since noted it as one of the biggest regrets in his career. Chazz Palminteri went on to play the role.
Monday, April 1 2013
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991)
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick, Edward Furlong
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Linda Hamilton’s twin sister plays the Sarah Conner double during the end sequence.
#2 Edward Furlong had to re-record most of his dialogue in post-production as his voice kept changing during shooting.
#3 The movie is often thought as being a rare case where the sequel is better than the original. It is the only movie sequel to win an Academy Award when the previous movie was not even nominated.
Sunday, March 31 2013
THE SHINING (1980)
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers
DID YOU KNOW...
#1 The exterior shots of the hotel were filmed at the Timberline Lodge in Mt.Hood Oregon while the interiors were built in a studio in England. The Timberline requested Kubrick change the infamous room 217 in the book to a different number that is not an actual room in the Timberline.
#2 Kubrick rejected a script that Stephen King wrote as it was too literal of an adaptation of the book. King has expressed his dislike of the final film for many reasons particularly the casting of Nicholson and Duvall as well as the changes from the book.
#3 Kubrick wanted the pages reading "All work and no play make Jack a dull boy" individually typed out so the sounds of the typewriter were authentic to these words actually being typed out.
Saturday, March 30 2013
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott
DID YOU KNOW...
#1 When Rhys-Davis auditioned, he was concerned when he read that Sallah was described as ""5-foot-2, skinny, Egyptian digger". Clearly, Spielberg chose him to portray Sallah over sticking to the original description of the character.
#2 Harrison Ford had three different stunt men who filled in for him depending on the needs of the sequence.
#3 During the scene were Indy threatens the Nazis with a bazooka, you can see a fly going into Paul Freeman's mouth which he swallows.
#4 The snakes in the Well of Souls are a combination of snakes, legless lizards, and hoses cut into shorter lengths.
Friday, March 29 2013
THE QUEEN (2006)
Director: Stephen Frears
Starring: Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Helen Mirren wanted the actors playing the royal family to spend time together off-camera to build their relationship together to better their portrayals on-camera.
#2 Queen Elizabeth II refuses to watch the movie.
#3 Michael Sheen has played Tony Blair in three movies: The Special Relationship, The Deal, and The Queen.
Thursday, March 28 2013
POLTERGEIST (1982)
Director: Tobe Hooper
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams, Heather O’Rourke, Zelda Rubinstein
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The film was originally granted the R-rating, but the filmmakers campaigned for the PG rating instead. PG-13 was not used at the time.
#2 Even though Tobe Hooper directed the movie, many members of the cast and crew have stated that it was Spielberg who cast the film, created the storyboards, and made most of the directorial choices.
#3 Drew Barrymore auditioned for the role of Carol Anne, but Spielberg decided to cast as Gertie in E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial instead which was shot after Poltergeist.
Wednesday, March 27 2013
THE OMEN (1976)
Director: Richard Donner
Starring: Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, Harvey Stephens, Billie Whitelaw
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The movie was determined to be cursed after multiple car crashes, airplane accidents, animal attacks, and injuries happened to the cast and crew during pre and post production
#2 Harvey Stephens is actually a blonde, but Richard Donner made him dye his hair black to make him look more sinister and creepy.
#3 Sardines were painted orange to look like goldfish during the fishbowl scene as Richard Donner did not want to kill or harm any real goldfish.
Tuesday, March 26 2013
THE NEVERENDING STORY (1984)
Director: Wolfgang Peterson
Starring: Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway, Gerald McRaney, Deep Roy
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Michael Ende who is the author of the actual book “The Neverending Story” was displeased with the final cut of the movie and wanted his name removed from the credits.
#2 The movie only encompasses the first half of the book.
#3 This was the most expensive movie shot and produced in Germany at the time of filming.
Monday, March 25 2013
MAGNOLIA (1999)
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Tom Cruise
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The music of Aimee Mann is used prominently throughout the film and some of the dialogue is taken straight from her lyrics.
#2 The word “fuck” is used 190 times.
#3 The bible verse Exodus 8:2 is referenced numerous times throughout the fill. The verse reads, “And if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your borders with frogs”.
Sunday, March 24 2013
THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (1971)
Director: Peter Bogdanovich
Starring: Cybill Sheperd, Jeff Bridges, Timothy Bottoms, Cloris Leachman, Ben Johnson
DID YOU KNOW...
#1 Ellen Burstyn read for all three of the adult female roles. After the auditions, Bogdanovich wanted her to play Ruth but told her she could play whatever role she wanted. She chose Lois as that was the role she wanted from the beginning.
#2 Cloris Leachman and Ben Johnson won the Supporting Actor/Actress Oscars for their work.
#3 The movie boasts the film debuts of Cybill Sheperd, Randy Quaid, and Sam Bottoms.
Saturday, March 23 2013
KILL BILL: Vol.1 (2003)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Lucy Liu
DID YOU KNOW...
#1 Warren Beatty was originally offered the role of Bill, but turned it down and suggested David Carradine.
#2 The Bride's real name is usually bleeped out throughout the film, but it is seen on her plane tickets to Okinawa and Tokyo.
#3 Tarantino and Thurman started coming up with the idea and concept of Kill Bill during the filming of Pulp Fiction.
Friday, March 22 2013
JURASSIC PARK (1993)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Richard Attenborough, Jeff Goldblum
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The dinosaurs are a mix of Stan Winston’s animatronics and ILM’s CGI
#2 The Tyrannosaurus Rex sounds were made from a combination of dog, penguin, elephant, tiger, and alligator sounds
#3 Universal bought the rights to Michael Crichton’s book for $2 million before it was even published based solely on his manuscript.
Thursday, March 21 2013
THE ICE STORM (1997)
Director: Ang Lee
Starring: Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Christina Ricci, Tobey Maguire
DID YOU KNOW...
#1 According to Sigourney Weaver, the actors were given a huge binder of research including magazine clippings regarding the style and period.
#2 The film was shot during spring despite it being set in November during an ice storm.
#3 The movie is based on the book by Rick Moody who was very pleased with the way the movie turned out.
Wednesday, March 20 2013
THE HOURS (2002)
Director: Stephan Daltry
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, Meryl Streep, Ed Harris
DID YOU KNOW...
#1 In order to achieve the effect of Laura Brown's hotel being submerged in water, the set was lowered down into a tank of water.
#2 Even though Nicole Kidman won the Oscar for Best Actress, she has the shortest screen time of the three leads. Julianne Moore, however, was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Meryl Streep was nominated for her work in Adaptation instead.
#3 Nicole Kidman learned to write right-handed as Virginia Woolf was right-handed.
Tuesday, March 19 2013
GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997)
Director: Gus van Sant
Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams, Minnie Driver
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 The scene where Sean tells Will about his dead wife’s farting in bed was completely ad-libbed by Williams causing Damon’s laugh to be authentic and in the moment. Some say you can notice the camera shaking due to the cameraman laughing.
#2 Gus Van Sant asked Damon and Affleck to write a scene to kill Affleck’s character off due to a construction accident. They eventually gave in and wrote the scene. After he read it, Van Sant realized it was a horrible idea.
#3 Screenwriter William Goldman has denied the frequent rumors that he was the one who actually wrote the movie. He admits to only reading it and giving advice to Damon and Affleck about cutting an F.B.I. subplot.
Monday, March 18 2013
FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982)
Director: Amy Heckerling
Starring: Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold, Jennifer Jason Lee, Phoebe Cates, Ray Walston
DID YOU KNOW…
#1 Three of the actors who got their early start in Fast Times at Ridgemont High later went on to win Oscars: Sean Penn, Nicolas Cage, and Forest Whitaker.
#2 A sex scene between Mike and Stacy originally had full front nudity by Robert Romanus but it was left out to avoid the X-Rating. Jennifer Jason Leigh’s nudity stayed in the final cut.
#3 Cameron Crowe adapted the screenplay from his book of the same name.
Sunday, March 17 2013
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (2004)
Director: Michel Gondry
Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kristen Dunst, Mark Ruffalo
DID YOU KNOW...
#1 All of the train shots were filmed on a real moving train
#2 The story is based on a line from an Alexander Pope poem, "Eloisa to Abelard"
#3 Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet grew close during rehearsals for the film which led to improvisations during filming that stayed in the final product.
Saturday, March 16 2013
THE DEPARTED(2006)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg
DID YOU KNOW
#1 Robert DeNiro turned down the role of Queenan in order to appear in The Good Sheperd. The role was later played by Martin Sheen.
#2 The film is inspired by the Hong Kong film, Infernal Affairs.
Friday, March 15 2013
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon, Francois Truffaut, Cary Guffey
DID YOU KNOW...
#1 Cary Guffey's work was so good that Spielberg only needed one or two takes from the young actor. He became known as "One-Take Cary" on the set
#2 This is only only film that Truffaut acted in that he did not direct. He was so self-conscious of his English that he had his lines written on hidden pieces of paper in order to help him get through some of the scenes.
Thursday, March 14 2013
THE BIRDS (1963)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Starring: Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor, Suzanne Pleschette
DID YOU KNOW...
#1 Hitchcock wanted his Strangers on a Train star Farley Granger to star in the role of Mitch Brenner, but he was unavailable at the time. The role eventually went to Rod Taylor.
#2 Even though Bernard Hermann composed the score for many of Hitchcock’s films, it was his idea not to have music in the movie.
#3 The infamous Hitchcock cameo comes when he is walking his two dogs out of the pet store.
Wednesday, March 13 2013
ANNIE HALL (1977)
Director: Woody Allen
Starring: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts, Carol Kane
DID YOU KNOW...
#1 This Best Picture Oscar winner for Woody Allen was originally conceived as a murder mystery. I'm glad he scrapped that idea and chose the romantic angle instead.
#2 Diane Keaton's real name is Diane Hall and her nickname was Annie. I highly recommend her memoir "Then Again". It's a lovely tribute to her mother and her career.
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