TRIVIA TIDBITS
Welcome back to Trivia Tidbits. For those of you out of the loop, this is a little compilation of 10 movie related facts that I always find interesting. So without further ado, this weeks are…
1: “Toy Story” and “Galaxy Quest” star Tim Allen was once a coke dealer. Tim was busted at an airport with reportedly over a pound of cocaine in his possession. He would have received the maximum sentence of life but volunteered to snitch on other dealers as compensation for a shorter sentence. He still spent two years in a federal prison.
2: In the Stephen King novella for “The Shawshank Redemption“, Morgan Freeman’s character Red is described as a white Irishman. The film has Red sarcastically quip, “Maybe it’s cause I’m Irish” as a nod to the change.
3: According to John Carpenter and Kurt Russell in the DVD Commentary of “Big Trouble In Little China“, the story was originally written as a western but Carpenter decided to set it during modern times. They even mention that instead of Jack Burton’s truck being stolen, it was originally his horse.
4: While playing Al Capone in “The Untouchables“, Robert De Niro insisted on wearing the same style of silk underwear that Capone wore, even though it would never be seen on camera. The producers, knowing DeNiro’s reputation as a Method actor, gave in. De Niro tracked down Capone’s original tailors and had them make him some identical clothing for the movie.
5: Robert Downey Jr. and Keanu Reeves tested for the role of Brian McCaffrey in “Backdraft” before it eventually went to William Baldwin.
Val Kilmer and Johnny Depp actually turned it down.
6: Author Lorenzo Carcaterra has claimed that his book on which the film “Sleepers” is based was a true story of his childhood. When the New York legal community went on record stating that no cases resembling the events of his book could be found in any court records, Carcaterra refused to discuss the discrepancy. His claims have been neither proven nor disproven.
7: When filming “Chinatown” Jack Nicholson was dating Anjelica Huston, the daughter of his screen nemesis John Huston. She visited the set on the day that her father’s character asked Nicolson’s Jake Gittes, “Did you sleep with my daughter?”.
8: In the casino scene in “Swingers“, sirens can be heard in the background. This was actually the police on their way to stop the filmmakers who were shooting without a permit.
9: [Spoiler]
When Alan Rickman was filming his death scene in “Die Hard“, he was dropped a second early to get his true reaction to falling from the Nakatomi Plaza.
10: Among Patrick Bateman’s neighbours in the novel of “American Psycho” is one Tom Cruise. Added to which, Christian Bale based elements of his performance as Bateman on Cruise after seeing an interview with the star. According to director Mary Harron, Bale said he saw “this very intense friendliness with nothing behind the eyes”.
So there you have it. 10 esoteric Tidbits to masticate on. Some you may know. Some you may not. If you have any thoughts, stick your donations in the comment box…
(For earlier editions of Trivia Tidbits click here.)
MARKED MOVIES 
October 8, 2013 at 9:25 am
I truly always enjoy these, fun, fun, fun. I am one of those people that love a lot of random trivia.
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October 8, 2013 at 5:49 pm
Glad to hear it Zoe. I seem to running a little niche in the market here. Who can refuse a slice of trivia or ten? 😉
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October 8, 2013 at 7:25 pm
I spend so much time reading all these extra things and bringing them out at the most random times. I love it. Saw you have a whole gallery I have yet to go through. When the audit concludes here I am going to have so much fun 😀 I thank you in advance for the entertainment you will be providing!
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October 8, 2013 at 8:39 pm
Haha! That’s quite a compliment to this little piece of work I’ve been doing over the years Zoe. I always hoped that it would touch a nerve with something. It would seem that that very someone is yourself. 😉
You’re more than welcome.
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October 9, 2013 at 5:33 am
😀 It is but the truth!
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October 8, 2013 at 11:15 am
Great trivia as always. I never knew number one before, not sure if I can look at Tim Allen the same way again.
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October 8, 2013 at 5:52 pm
Thanks as always my friend. I knew about Tim Allen years ago and still can’t see him the same way either. I don’t judge him or anything but I don’t see him as squeaky clean as he makes out.
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October 8, 2013 at 11:18 am
I have a friend who has that exact tattoo of Christian Bale from American Psycho. Bad ass.
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October 8, 2013 at 5:53 pm
Bad ass, indeed, Dave. That would make a great tattoo. A Tom cruise one, on the other hand, would be a bit creepy. 😉
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October 8, 2013 at 12:14 pm
Good stuff as always champ. Swingers is such a great film, made me want to go watch it now! 🙂
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October 8, 2013 at 5:54 pm
Thank you boss! Make sure you listen out for that siren now 😉
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October 8, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Great ones Mark. Several of these stand out. I knew Tim Allen had a shady past but I had never heard about that. I also love the bit about Morgan Freeman in Shawshank. And isn’t it interesting hearing about the different roles Val Kilmer has turned down especially considering where his career has ended up?
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October 8, 2013 at 5:55 pm
Cheers bro. Yeah, Tim Allen, eh? Up to no good in younger years.
If Val Kilmer had a dime for every decent role he turned down, he wouldn’t have to act all. 😉
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October 8, 2013 at 12:45 pm
#6 is interesting to me. I loved the film ‘Sleepers’ and am sorry it is based on a true story–even more that its truth “never happened”. It would be awkward to want to prove those heinous events occurred. this was the Robert DeNiro film I wanted to blog about in your upcoming blogathon. How is that going? When are they due?
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October 8, 2013 at 5:56 pm
Thanks Cindy. Yeah, the Sleepers one has a few folks baffled it would seem. As for the Blogathon. We’re hoping to have everyone pieces done by this time next week. Tyson will be doing reminder post on it.
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October 8, 2013 at 1:08 pm
I knew the bit about Tim Allen before, but it never fails to surprise me. I did not know about the Hans Gruber death scene though and that is awesome. I’ve always thought he had kind of an off-guard look on his face when falling.
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October 8, 2013 at 5:58 pm
Haha! Yeah, Rickman’s face does have a genuine element of surprise doesn’t it? Perfect technique to achieve that.
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October 8, 2013 at 2:01 pm
Boat Drinks!
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October 8, 2013 at 5:58 pm
Boat Drinks!
It is was it is! 🙂
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October 8, 2013 at 6:01 pm
Give it a name!
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October 8, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Buckwheets!
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October 8, 2013 at 6:05 pm
Buckwheets for all of us…
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October 8, 2013 at 8:38 pm
Up the ass Jimmy….
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October 8, 2013 at 2:23 pm
Stellar work sir. I love the De Niro fact. The lengths he goes to for a role never cease to amaze me.
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October 8, 2013 at 5:59 pm
Thank you sir! I’m totally with you there. Who cares if he’s wearing the same pants? Still, that’s DeNiro for you. 🙂
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October 8, 2013 at 2:58 pm
Great list, I like those little differences between books and film, as highlighted with the Shawshank Redemption bit..
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October 8, 2013 at 6:00 pm
Yeah, it’s always nice to hear of these little changes. Doesn’t change the movie overall but still nice to know. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
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October 8, 2013 at 3:11 pm
I could get that Tom Cruise-ish feeling from Bale. Pretty interesting stuff, as always!
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October 8, 2013 at 6:01 pm
I never gave that much thought, Dan, but it’ll be hard to see Bale’s performance otherwise. Thanks man.
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October 8, 2013 at 4:20 pm
Awesome trivia once again Mark!! WOW, I had no idea about Tim Allen, coke dealer, ahahaha!
I knew that about Alan Rickman, great idea to achieve a genuine surprise look from the actors, ahah.
Ahah, Keanu er Chuch & RDJ losing a role to Billy Baldwin is a hoot, I mean look at the career trajectory of those three. Where’s Billy Baldwin now? 😉
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October 8, 2013 at 6:02 pm
Haha! Yup! Tim Allen a convicted felon for dope pedalling. He doesn’t even look the type.
Yeah, interesting to see our man, Chuck chatting with Ron Howard in that little photo. 😉
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October 8, 2013 at 4:24 pm
9 & 10 made my day 😀
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October 8, 2013 at 6:03 pm
Wow! I think you’re now tied with Nick on that Tim. Great work, my man. Well done.
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October 8, 2013 at 5:33 pm
I didn’t find these tidbits to be erotic at all.
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October 8, 2013 at 6:03 pm
Damn! I knew I was missing something out here. More eroticism, I hear you say? 😉
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October 8, 2013 at 10:47 pm
Huh, didn’t know that about Tim Allen. Pretty interesting. And #10 is just golden, haha! XD
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October 9, 2013 at 8:15 am
Yeah, Tim Allen the dope fiend, Chris. I had heard of this years ago but it always brings a surprise considering the family movies he delivers. #10 is great as well isn’t it? Bateman is really The Cruiser? Ha!
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October 9, 2013 at 1:41 am
Love The Untouchables bit. So cool he was able to track the tailors down.
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October 9, 2013 at 8:16 am
Method acting at its most extreme, Nick. Still, he must have been very comfortable in the role 😉
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October 9, 2013 at 1:58 am
Love these! Can’t believe about Tim Allen! That is craaazy!
Really loved 7, 8 and 9 😉
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October 9, 2013 at 8:17 am
Glad to still serve Fernando! Tim Allen, eh? Hard to believe, man.
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October 9, 2013 at 2:36 pm
I know!
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October 9, 2013 at 9:27 am
Woah. Number one here broke my universe a little. Crazy mugshots. I would not have picked that. He seems like such a bland bloke in many ways.
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October 9, 2013 at 9:31 am
Haha! Broke your universe? I like that term. Yeah, he seems quite straight laced doesn’t he? Ol’ Tim is not as innocent as he looks.
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October 9, 2013 at 12:49 pm
Great stuff as always Mark. Number 8 is priceless – guerrilla filmmaking!
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October 9, 2013 at 9:41 pm
Cheers Stu! Guerrilla filmmaking indeed. Love that little piece of info.
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October 9, 2013 at 6:49 pm
Great stuff, Mark. I’ve always liked the Alan Rickman one from Die Hard. Apparently, the stuntman was holding Rickman’s hand and said he would let go on the count of three, but did it on the count of two instead. I bet Rickman was cursing that stuntman when he finally landed on the air bag! 😀 Made for a great shot though.
Never knew that about Tim Allen. Funny how in Hollywood, prison time is no real barrier to a career, unlike in other walks of life.
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October 10, 2013 at 10:00 am
Cheers Monkey! Yeah that technique in capturing Rickman’s reaction is priceless. You can see it in the photo provided. Top quality.
As for prison sentences, it seems to matter not a jot in the film industry. Might go and get me locked up, to realise my career in the movies. 😉
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October 9, 2013 at 9:40 pm
Great post, Mark, this may be your best Trivia Tidbits yet. 😀 Loved the ones about Swingers and Rickman especially.
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October 10, 2013 at 10:02 am
Thanks a lot Eric. It’s always nice to hear that so far down the line of posting these Trivia facts, that some still find a favourite one of them all. I’m always worried that the material is getting weaker.
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October 10, 2013 at 8:25 am
Snitches Get Stitches Tim Allen. I love that fact that Bale based his American Psycho portrayal on Cruise… that made my night. 🙂
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October 10, 2013 at 10:03 am
Haha! Glad to be of service Adam. That Bale/Cruise one brought great delight to me also. 🙂
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October 10, 2013 at 11:43 pm
1. Oh my god, I had no idea Tim Allen used to peddle blow. That’s insane.
4. Of course he did.
6. I’ve always wondered if there is truth to it or not. Levinson thinks it’s true.
Great stuff here!
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October 11, 2013 at 6:48 am
Yup! Tim Allen was indeed a coke peddler. I already knew this bit it’s still hard to process. He just looks too innocent for that sort of thing.
Cheers Alex.
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October 13, 2013 at 1:06 pm
Tim Allen a coke dealer? Looks more like a 70s porn star.
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October 15, 2013 at 6:38 am
Haha! He’s certainly got that whole porn stache thing going on. 🙂
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January 18, 2014 at 5:00 pm
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a certaines questions qui se chevauchent. J’ai simplement voulu vous fournir un têtes rapides vers le
haut! Autre que cela , excellente le blog !
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February 17, 2014 at 2:58 pm
1 is shocking. Ricky Gervais could have caused him embarassment by mentioning that too ha. 8 makes me chuckle loads.
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