Random Movie Trivia

Duggy747

One thing I like to do when I'm bored is read up details on movies that sometimes show how different they could've been had it not been for a small / major decision from someone.

Utterly pointless but something I like reading up on, completely regardless of the type of film as some have great stories to them.

For example, John McTiernan was going to make Commando 2. Arnie decided not to do it and thus the project was turned into Die Hard. Arnie was given the role but he turned it down as did Sylvester Stallone, Burt Reynolds, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson and Richard Gere. Only then did Bruce Willis get the gig that gave him the popularity he has now.

Minority Report was originally concieved as a sequel to Total Recall 2. It was set on Mars with the Precogs being mutants from the atmosphere like the 1st film, Douglas Quaid was set to return too before the project fell apart. Everything was scrapped from the early script bar the car factory scene. Probably a good thing this didn't happen as it would've removed the mystery towards Total Recall's ending.

For Fight Club, just a few days after it was released, sour-pus hag Rosie O'Donnell went onto her TV show telling her audience how terrible of a film it was, how she couldn't sleep after watching it and not to go see it. She was so dead-set on convincing her audience not to see it that she gave the twist away. Fincher, Pitt, & Norton acknowledged this on the DVD commentary as an unforgiveable thing to do.

Beverly Hills Cop was going to have Stallone as Axel Foley. He took some of the ideas of the film and used them for Cobra. Al Pacino was also considered to play him before Eddie Murphy...........Hooo-ha!!

In The Dark Knight, some people wonder what happened to The Joker after he crashed Harvey Dent's party. There was a scene with him and his goons in a car afterwards that Nolan cut out of the film. I remember this picture being one of the early shots of The Joker released in 2007:



Face/Off was originally supposed to star Arnie and Stallone until John Woo came on board where he decided to go with Travolta & Cage.

While not taking away from the finished product of a film, I like to imagine how things like these could have altered the layout of the film itsels as well as perhaps it's cultural impact, especially on some of the ones above.

Anyone have other interesting movie trivia, no matter what the film is?

mikemac1

I love this film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qacLXkyRtIQ

Even back then Brando was a difficult bastard to work with
He spent only four hours a day with the crew and then left

The closeups of Rod Steiger in this scence were done without Brando and a crew member read out the lines as they filmed his closeups

Frank Sinatra was the original choice for Terry Molloy but the producer overruled the director and went for Brando. Thank God

Grace Kelly was the original choice for Edie Doyle. Yves Marie Saint took the role and while she was experienced in TV, this was her first film role and she won Best supporting actress Oscar. Grace Kelly made Rear Window instead, another fine film

Many of the extras were real life longshoremen. Before the film was released their union was expelled from the overall union federation as they realy was mob control in it.

There are loads more, just off the top of my head

Mickeroo

I think this is a pretty well known one(and possibly a myth?), but the bit in Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indy is confronted with the guys with swords in the street and he just shoots them. Originally a longer fight scene was scripted but Harrison Ford had the flu so didn't feel up to it, he suggested just shooting them since he had a gun. Spielberg thought it was funny so went with it. Its parodied in Temple of doom where it happens again, Indy grins and goes for his gun but this time its not there and he has to leg it.

Tipsy McSwagger

Mickeroo wrote: »

I think this is a pretty well known one(and possibly a myth?), but the bit in Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indy is confronted with the guys with swords in the street and he just shoots them. Originally a longer fight scene was scripted but Harrison Ford had the flu so didn't feel up to it, he suggested just shooting them since he had a gun. Spielberg thought it was funny so went with it. Its parodied in Temple of doom where it happens again, Indy grins and goes for his gun but this time its not there and he has to leg it.

He had a stomach bug which gave him a bad dose of the trots;)

Goldstein

Duggy747 wrote: »

Minority Report was originally concieved as a sequel to Total Recall 2. It was set on Mars with the Precogs being mutants from the atmosphere like the 1st film, Douglas Quaid was set to return too before the project fell apart. Everything was scrapped from the early script bar the car factory scene. Probably a good thing this didn't happen as it would've removed the mystery towards Total Recall's ending.

The Minority Report is a short story by Philip K. Dick from 1956.

Nolanger

The 'Yank knows a bit about politics' line in Hasty heart and then Ronald Reagan appears.

Ellian

I was told once that Spielberg had the rights to Wiseguys but swapped it with Scorcese who had the rights to Schindler's Ark. What the Spielberg version of Goodfellas would have looked like I cannot even imagine.

Ellian

"Oh Brother, Where Art Thou." is the title of the imaginary film in Sullivans Travels.

A made up film See You Next Thursday is referenced in most of John Landis' movies.

Duggy747

Goldstein wrote: »

The Minority Report is a short story by Philip K. Dick from 1956.

I meant to say when the screenplay was being written, not the actual short story being created.

Corholio

Ellian wrote: »

I was told once that Spielberg had the rights to Wiseguys but swapped it with Scorcese who had the rights to Schindler's Ark. What the Spielberg version of Goodfellas would have looked like I cannot even imagine.

He wasn't happy enough with writing them down, he had to bring them out on a boat as well :pac:

Nolanger

Destination moon and Plainsman used those scrolling into the distance opening credits years before Star wars.

clusk007

Amazing Movie and incredible performance from Brando. That scene in the car - Kazan wasn't sure about the back window so they dressed it up with living room blinds as you can see.
Studied the movie for the leaving cert and detail in this film is incredible. Evil is represented by light colours, all the gangsters wear quite or lighter colours for example. Good is represented by dark colours, i.e. the priest. The beginning of the movie Terry is given a chequered jacket representing both shades so he's partly good, partly bad and could go either way. This was the first film my eyes were opened to different levels film can represent..

mikemac1 wrote: »

I love this film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qacLXkyRtIQ

Even back then Brando was a difficult bastard to work with
He spent only four hours a day with the crew and then left

The closeups of Rod Steiger in this scence were done without Brando and a crew member read out the lines as they filmed his closeups

Frank Sinatra was the original choice for Terry Molloy but the producer overruled the director and went for Brando. Thank God

Grace Kelly was the original choice for Edie Doyle. Yves Marie Saint took the role and while she was experienced in TV, this was her first film role and she won Best supporting actress Oscar. Grace Kelly made Rear Window instead, another fine film

Many of the extras were real life longshoremen. Before the film was released their union was expelled from the overall union federation as they realy was mob control in it.

There are loads more, just off the top of my head

WatchWolf

Ellian wrote: »

I was told once that Spielberg had the rights to Wiseguys but swapped it with Scorcese who had the rights to Schindler's Ark. What the Spielberg version of Goodfellas would have looked like I cannot even imagine.

?

tricky D

Ellian wrote: »

A made up film See You Next Thursday is referenced in most of John Landis' movies.

You're a day late, it's actually Wednesday. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/See_You_Next_Wednesday

Nolanger

It was also said in Saturday night and Sunday morning back in 1960.

goose2005

Nolanger wrote: »

It was also said in Saturday night and Sunday morning back in 1960.

As was "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not".

Ellian

tricky D wrote: »

You're a day late, it's actually Wednesday. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/See_You_Next_Wednesday

You are correct - I bow to your superior knowledge.

Ellian

WatchWolf wrote: »

?

The original book by Thomas Keneally (sp?) was called Schinder's Ark.

WatchWolf

Ellian wrote: »

The original book by Thomas Keneally (sp?) was called Schinder's Ark.

Aw. I was hoping for a Schindler's List-Raiders Of The Lost Ark hybrid

OldeCinemaSoz

dirty harry was orginally conceived as a star vehicle for the legendary frank sinatra...

that guy was class and lady in cement is brill but i just don't think that he could've done anything better than clint...?

kraggy

27 actors from Goodfellas have appeared in The Sopranos at one stage or another.

Midnight Cowboy is the only X-rated movie to win Best Picture at the Oscars.

Also, just heard this one yesterday, Paul Bettany was due to star in the King's Speech but turned it down as he wanted to spend more time Jennifer and the kids.

Who could blame him really?

grohlisagod

kraggy wrote: »

27 actors from Goodfellas have appeared in The Sopranos at one stage or another.

I'm working my way through The Sopranos at the moment. I've noticed the massive overlap between the two alright.

James Gandolfini was offered an audition for the role of Tony because Chase saw his 10 min appearance in True Romance.

Al Pacino turned down the role of Dave Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) in The Usual Suspects because he had just played a cop in Heat. Pacino sees it as one of the biggest regrets of his career.

Another one from The Usual Suspects:

Gabriel Byrne didn't realise he wasn't Keyser Sose until after he first saw the film.

Mellor

grohlisagod wrote: »

Another one from The Usual Suspects:

Gabriel Byrne didn't realise he wasn't Keyser Sose until after he first saw the film.

I think most of the cast didn't know those details during filming.

Ellian

grohlisagod wrote: »

Al Pacino turned down the role of Dave Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) in The Usual Suspects because he had just played a cop in Heat. Pacino sees it as one of the biggest regrets of his career.

Another one from The Usual Suspects:

Gabriel Byrne didn't realise he wasn't Keyser Sose until after he first saw the film.

This possibly belongs in the unpoular movie opinions thread but I am still convinced that Gabriel Byrne is Keyser Soze - it is the only way I can make the movie make sense.

grohlisagod

Mellor wrote: »

I think most of the cast didn't know those details during filming.

You're right about that. I looked it up again after posting.

Sasquatch76

One a lot of you probably already know; Lee Marvin was Spielberg's first choice to play Quint in Jaws... Just can't imagine how different the film would have been without Shaw's input on and off screen.

plastic glass

Ellian wrote: »

I was told once that Spielberg had the rights to Wiseguys but swapped it with Scorcese who had the rights to Schindler's Ark. What the Spielberg version of Goodfellas would have looked like I cannot even imagine.

I always thought it was Cape Fear that Speilberg had the rights/option on?

Mellor

Ellian wrote: »

This possibly belongs in the unpoular movie opinions thread but I am still convinced that Gabriel Byrne is Keyser Soze - it is the only way I can make the movie make sense.

The GB is KS theory ignores two massive bits of info at the end. The sketch, and the "walk" (this being important)

Mister Jingles

If it wasn't for Robert De Niro involvement into casting Toby/Jack in This Boy's Life Leonardo De Caprio wouldn't be where he is today.

OldeCinemaSoz

didn't i post one here earlier with christopher walken...

:eek:

Underdraft

Ellian wrote: »

I was told once that Spielberg had the rights to Wiseguys but swapped it with Scorcese who had the rights to Schindler's Ark. What the Spielberg version of Goodfellas would have looked like I cannot even imagine.

Steven Spielberg's Goodfamilies

[new yawk accent] "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a child of stable married parents"

Mister Jingles

OldeCinemaSoz wrote: »

didn't i post one here earlier with christopher walken...

:eek:

Nope :P

But relating to my last post didn't De Niro bring in Walkin for The Dear Hunter as well as Meryl Streep ?

OldeCinemaSoz

Mister Jingles wrote: »

Nope :P

But relating to my last post didn't De Niro bring in Walkin for The Dear Hunter as well as Meryl Streep ?

no gunshots..no walken...no cronenberg...no classic...


"what the hell's goin' on...???"!!!

moltisanti

Mister Jingles wrote: »

Nope :P

But relating to my last post didn't De Niro bring in Walkin for The Dear Hunter as well as Meryl Streep ?

John Cazale too aparently He was also uninsurable, and according to Streep, De Niro paid for his insurance because he wanted him in the film.

This was Cazale's last film, as he died shortly after filming wrapped. Cazale never saw the finished film.

Mellor

Yeah the insurance company wouldn't cover him because of his illness so DeNrio cover it himself.
The director even re-arranged filming so that he could get his scenes shot first. He died before it even wrapped

Ellian

plastic glass wrote: »

I always thought it was Cape Fear that Speilberg had the rights/option on?

Do you know, I think you might be right.:)

Ellian

Mellor wrote: »

The GB is KS theory ignores two massive bits of info at the end. The sketch, and the "walk" (this being important)

As far as I can make out (and bear in mind it has been a decade since I last saw this film - there is a bit at the start Keaton is shot followed by a slow zoom up to a pile of stuff on the dock - which I always took to be the hiding spot of the guy in the hospital bed at the end who saw the devil on the pier killing many men. So that definitely happened as it was not narrated by Verbal. But as there was no 93 million dollars of coke, the only reason I can see to stage the whole exercise was to kill the one guy who could positvely identify what Keyser Soze looked like. So what would be the point of doing all that only to go to an interview and tell a bull**** story that Agent Kujan would figure out was a bull**** story the very second that he turned around. Made no sense to me. Except that the whole way through the story Kujan was saying "keaton is alive, I know he is, he faked his own death once before" - it is only when he turned around and he pieced the bits of Verbals tale together that he mentally pictured keaton being shot for real - he believed at that point Keaton was dead - or if you like that he did not exist (anymore) - i.e the greatest trick the devil ever played. Verbal was the guy on the boat who "shot" Keaton - Keaton was the only one who knew who he was at the start - and therefore was the guy who was described as Keyser to the sketch artist. So my take on it was that Keaton was Keyser and that verbal was in his employ along with Kobiashi

I don't expect to win a lot of people over with this theory, but as I said, it was the only way I could get the whole movie to make sense in my head..

allanb49

Bill Murrays character is stuck in limbo in groundhog day for about 34 years

Cardinal Richelieu

The explorer Ranulp Fiennes military career in the SAS ended when he was caught helping an old school friend to blow up the Dr Doolittle film set in protest over 20th Century Fox treatment of the picturesque village of Castle Combe.

Mellor

Ellian wrote: »

As far as I can make out (and bear in mind it has been a decade since I last saw this film - there is a bit at the start Keaton is shot followed by a slow zoom up to a pile of stuff on the dock - which I always took to be the hiding spot of the guy in the hospital bed at the end who saw the devil on the pier killing many men. So that definitely happened as it was not narrated by Verbal. But as there was no 93 million dollars of coke, the only reason I can see to stage the whole exercise was to kill the one guy who could positvely identify what Keyser Soze looked like. So what would be the point of doing all that only to go to an interview and tell a bull**** story that Agent Kujan would figure out was a bull**** story the very second that he turned around. Made no sense to me. Except that the whole way through the story Kujan was saying "keaton is alive, I know he is, he faked his own death once before" - it is only when he turned around and he pieced the bits of Verbals tale together that he mentally pictured keaton being shot for real - he believed at that point Keaton was dead - or if you like that he did not exist (anymore) - i.e the greatest trick the devil ever played. Verbal was the guy on the boat who "shot" Keaton - Keaton was the only one who knew who he was at the start - and therefore was the guy who was described as Keyser to the sketch artist. So my take on it was that Keaton was Keyser and that verbal was in his employ along with Kobiashi

I don't expect to win a lot of people over with this theory, but as I said, it was the only way I could get the whole movie to make sense in my head..

You pretty much have the story right, except I don't see why you make the jump that Keaton was Soze. Verbal did shoot Keaton. The point of the attack was to kill the guy who could ID Soze. The convuluted story was to pin the blame of Keaton. He couldn't just out and blame him, so it was told so that Kujan could see through it and know Keaton faked his death and fooled even verbal. And his story worked. Soze was a gohst again. It was only when it was announced that there was a survivor that it fell apart. The ID guy survived, and id Verbal. And Verbals limp disappears as he walks away - that the biggest cvlue that it isn't keaton. Along with the fact that Verbal shot Keaton.

Ellian

Mellor wrote: »

You pretty much have the story right, except I don't see why you make the jump that Keaton was Soze. Verbal did shoot Keaton. The point of the attack was to kill the guy who could ID Soze. The convuluted story was to pin the blame of Keaton. He couldn't just out and blame him, so it was told so that Kujan could see through it and know Keaton faked his death and fooled even verbal. And his story worked. Soze was a gohst again. It was only when it was announced that there was a survivor that it fell apart. The ID guy survived, and id Verbal. And Verbals limp disappears as he walks away - that the biggest cvlue that it isn't keaton. Along with the fact that Verbal shot Keaton.

As you said point of the attack was to kill the one guy who could identify Soze. So then why tell a bull**** story that Kujan would know was a bull**** story the very second he turned around - i.e. create ANOTHER guy who could indentify Soze? It defeats the purpose of the exercise. (The usual answer I get to this was that Soze was going to dissapear after this job, but then why even bother pulling the job)???

phil1nj

Every photograph of Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) featured in the movie, his eyes are closed.

Mellor

Ellian wrote: »

As you said point of the attack was to kill the one guy who could identify Soze. So then why tell a bull**** story that Kujan would know was a bull**** story the very second he turned around - i.e. create ANOTHER guy who could indentify Soze? It defeats the purpose of the exercise. (The usual answer I get to this was that Soze was going to dissapear after this job, but then why even bother pulling the job)???

Because he never planned on getting caught. Hense why he ad-libbed the whole story, using words from the wall as cues.
The agent wasn't suppose to figure it out, and he might not have if he didn't see the mug, or other things on the walls

Ellian

Mellor wrote: »

Because he never planned on getting caught. Hense why he ad-libbed the whole story, using words from the wall as cues.
The agent wasn't suppose to figure it out, and he might not have if he didn't see the mug, or other things on the walls

So his whole plan hinged on a federal agent - a guy who is supposed to notice things for a living - not noticing a myriad of clues that are literally hanging of the walls a couple of feet behind his head? Possibly - but I'm still a little skeptical.

Hart

OldeCinemaSoz wrote: »

dirty harry was orginally conceived as a star vehicle for the legendary frank sinatra...

that guy was class and lady in cement is brill but i just don't think that he could've done anything better than clint...?

Beveral Hills Cop was written for Stallone to play Axel Foley. If that had happened where would Eddie Murphy be now?

Mellor

Ellian wrote: »

So his whole plan hinged on a federal agent - a guy who is supposed to notice things for a living - not noticing a myriad of clues that are literally hanging of the walls a couple of feet behind his head? Possibly - but I'm still a little skeptical.

I've already said that his plan did contain getting caught. So I don't see why you are hung up in that part. It's not difficult to grasp really.

Ellian

Mellor wrote: »

I've already said that his plan did contain getting caught. So I don't see why you are hung up in that part. It's not difficult to grasp really.

Which does not cover my point above. His plan to kill the one guy who can identify him does not include getting caught. Great. He is in the room with Kujan. He has to make up a story to get out. Still with you. And then he tells a story based on items in the room wherein it is extremely likely that Kujan will suss as bull**** just by the simple act of turning around. Why not make up a story with no clues in the room? If not that he wanted Kujan to suss out as bull**** at some point in the future?

Mellor

Cos it's a movie. Not everything has to be the optimum move. You'll find that happens a lot.
It's needs a climatic twist. If verbal just told a story and left and nobody finds out, it's a bit meh. I dont see how non concrete story = Keaton is soze.
You've ignored things like the walk repeatedly. If you don't accept it thats fine.
But this is completely off topic (trivia) so, I'm gonna have to bow out here.

OldeCinemaSoz

After DIRTY HARRY, Clint swore he'd never work with Andy Robinson again...

No wonder! Andy had all the BEST LINES! :cool:

spankmaster2000

Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »

The explorer Ranulp Fiennes military career in the SAS ended when he was caught helping an old school friend to blow up the Dr Doolittle film set in protest over 20th Century Fox treatment of the picturesque village of Castle Combe.

The very same man was actually considered for the role of one Mr. James Bond.
Making it down to the final 6 apparently.

Duggy747

spankmaster2000 wrote: »

The very same man was actually considered for the role of one Mr. James Bond.
Making it down to the final 6 apparently.

As he put it, he was turned down because he was told he looked too much like a farmer.

Ironic thing is he'd be more of a James Bond than any actor that played him :pac:

Oh, and since I watched Con Air last night the plane in the film was destroyed when it crashed in 2010, killing all three of the crew onboard. Certainly wasn't the same plane that tore up the Las Vegas strip :P

It was also nominated for 2 Oscars, Best Original Song & Best Sound which it lost thanks to Titanic.