Before Hollywood, New Jersey was the centre of film in the U.S. Thomas Edison owned a majority of the patents on motion picture cameras and, through these patents, controlled who could make films. Independent filmmakers found the restrictions stifled innovation so they fled to Hollywood in the early 1900s. The physical distance from the Edison Trust in NJ enabled them to work without tight control and patent enforcement. Movies — motion pictures — have offered an affordable source of entertainment ever since. Following are a dozen bits of trivia about familiar movies:
- To accommodate new scenery in Gone with the Wind (1939), the filmmakers had to get rid of old sets on the MGM lot. Burning them and filming the scene of “Atlanta” going down in flames accomplished both.
- Psycho (1960) was the first movie to show a toilet flushing, a shot banned by the Motion Picture Production Code at the time. Alfred Hitchcock added extra shock to his already shocking film; he presented a scrap of paper — which proves an important clue — failing to flush in a toilet.
- William Goldman’s script for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) was originally titled The Sundance Kid and Butch Cassidy. It flipped when Paul Newman, a huge star at the time of production, took the role of Butch.
- The original script of Jaws (1975) did not include the famous line “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” It was an inside joke to tease the stingy producers for picking a boat too small to hold the equipment.
- Gene Hackman bought the rights to The Silence of the Lambs (1991), intending to direct the film and play the lead. He backed off the project after deciding the role was too dark for his taste. Anthony Hopkins turned serial killer Hannibal Lecter into an unforgettable character, ending the film with another memorable line in film history: “I’m having an old friend for dinner.”
- The big scene in Pulp Fiction (1994) — Vincent stabs Mia in the heart with a needle — was shot in reverse. In fact John Travolta pulls the needle out of Uma Thurman.
- In Titanic (1997), Kate Winslet found out she had to be naked in front of Leonardo DiCaprio so chose to break the ice; when they first met, she flashed him.
- The real Frank Abagnale Jr. appears in Catch Me If You Can (2002) as the French policeman who arrests Leo.
- In 2002 Steven Spielberg completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at the film school of California State University — after a 33-year hiatus from his academic studies.
- Marfa TX was the location for filming two pseudo-westerns at the same time. There Will Be Blood (2007) created a huge smoke cloud that got into a shot in No Country For Old Men (2007); Joel and Ethan Coen had to wait for it to dissipate before they could resume shooting.
- Sandra Bullock attended two ceremonies on the same weekend for The Blind Side (2010). She collected an Oscar for Best Actress and a Golden Raspberry (Razzie) Award for worst film.
- The budget of Dallas Buyers Club (2013) allocated $250 only to makeup. The film’s artists, however, worked with the measly amount, and Makeup and Hairstyling went on to win an Oscar.
Please add your favourite facts about movies in the comments below. •
Glen Wickens says
Facts are even more fun when they are about movies. Here are a few more. One of the most famous scenes in American film, the cab scene in On the Waterfront, was shot in a peculiar way. Because the producer, Sam Spiegel, did not provide rear projection to give the effect of the cab moving, a blind was hung over the rear window. As part of his contract, Marlon Brando worked only to 4pm each day so he could leave to see his analyst. Most of the shots of Rod Steiger in the back seat of the cab were filmed with Brando absent and the director, Elia Kazan, sitting in for him. Frank Sinatra thought he had been promised the part of Terry Malloy but Spiegel wanted Brando, then a bigger box office draw. Eva Marie Saint won for best supporting actress but she was not the first choice to play Edie Doyle in Waterfront: Grace Kelly turned down the role, deciding to be in Rear Window instead.
Pam McPhail says
Love your facts, Glen. You could probably write an entire post of facts about Brando or films featuring him. I might call upon your movie memories in the future.
Tim McPhail says
Wow Pam, I’m curious as to how you found out those Fun Facts. You are tres au courant !
My addition to the Facts is a personal one. Our Dad would drive Rick and me to the Morley Indian Reserve, Morley, Alberta, Canada in the mid 50’s. He served once a week as the medical doctor to the residents there. The next time I saw the spectacular scenery was in The Revenant in 2015. 60 years later. Not a really great movie, but well worth seeing on the big screen for those who last saw the location at 6 years of age. Does that qualify as trivia ?
Pam McPhail says
Oh, the powers of the Internet! Your fact qualifies as trivia — and is not trivial. Thanks for adding it, Tim.
Glen Wickens says
Let’s add a bit of trivia to your filmed-in-Alberta story, Tim. Although supposedly set in the Texas Panhandle, Terrence Malick’s Days of Heaven (1978), perhaps the most beautiful film ever made, was shot about 50 miles south of Lethbridge at Whiskey Gap, Alberta.
Tim McPhail says
Cinematographer Néstor Almendros was going blind during production. Before each shot, he would have his assistant take a picture with a Polaroid camera and then would view it under a high-powered magnifying glass.
Linda W says
I have no movie facts to share but love reading your Friday posts.