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: The “Alien” series has a continuing obsession with alphabetising their androids chronologically. In “Alien“, Ian Holm was Ash. “Aliens” had Lance Henriksen as Bishop. “Alien Ressurection” had Winona Ryder as Call and “Prometheus” had Michael Fassbender as David.
2: [Spoiler]
An original ending for the classic serial killer film “Se7en” saw Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) shooting John Doe (Kevin Spacey). This was followed with the cringeworthy kiss off line, “I’m retiring”. The scene was storyboarded but never filmed.
3: In 1986, a sequel to the Arnold Schwarzenegger film “Commando” was written by Steven E. de Souza, and revised by Frank Darabont, with an eye to having John McTiernan direct. The script was based on the book “Nothing Lasts Forever” by Roderick Thorp, but Schwarzenegger wasn’t interested in reprising the role. The script was then reworked with a new central character, eventually played by Bruce Willis, and became “Die Hard“.
4: Michael Fassbender was cast as Franck in Danny Boyle’s “Trance” but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Colin Firth was briefly considered for the part before Vincent Cassel was cast.
While Scarlett Johansson, Mélanie Thierry, Eva Green and Zoe Saldana were considered for the role that went to Rosario Dawson.
5: In “Velvet Goldmine“, when Christian Bale and Ewan McGregor were filming their gay sex scene, the director cut without letting them know. As a result, the two continued to simulate the act until they realised the trick that had been played on them.
6: Producer Sam Spiegel sent the script of “On The Waterfront” to Marlon Brando and it came back with a refusal. Spiegel however had inserted small pieces of paper between the pages which were still in place when the script was returned to him, indicating that it hadn’t been read. While Spiegel continued to work on Brando, Frank Sinatra agreed to take on the role of Terry Malloy.
7: The brown Fedora worn by Henry Fonda in “On Golden Pond” belonged to Spencer Tracy and was given to Fonda by Katharine Hepburn on the first day on the set. Fonda, overwhelmed with the gesture, painted a still life watercolor of the three hats he wore in the film and gave the original to Hepburn as a gift. He had 200 lithographs made of the painting and sent one to every person who worked on the film. Each copy was numbered and personally signed by Fonda thanking each person by name. In her autobiography, Hepburn wrote that she gave the painting to screenwriter Ernest Thompson. After Fonda’s death, she found the painting to be a sad reminder of him and Spencer Tracy.
8: In “Ghostbusters“, the role of Louis Tully (played by Rick Moranis) was originally written for John Candy. The role of Peter Venkman (played by Bill Murray) was originally written for John Belushi and the role of Winston (played Ernie Hudson) was originally written for Eddie Murphy.
9: Robert De Niro lobbied for the role of Vincent Mancini (Andy Garcia’s role) in “The Godfather part III“. Director Francis Ford Coppola considered it, which would have included aging Al Pacino’s Michael Corleone even more, but eventually decided against the idea.
10: While vacationing in Ireland with then-girlfriend Jennifer Grey (“Dirty Dancing“) back in 1987, Matthew Broderick accidentally drove his BMW rental head-on into a Volvo, leaving its passengers – a mother and daughter – dead. Broderick had a broken leg while Grey was left with some of his blood stains on her clothes. This could have contributed to the disappearance of Jennifer Grey from cinema as she said “The juxtaposition of that deep sorrow, the survivor’s guilt, and then being celebrated as the new big thing just didn’t jibe. It didn’t feel good to be the toast of the town”.
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 15, 2013 at 11:29 am
Oh man I’m so glad they didn’t use that alternate ending for Seven, that would have been horrendous!
Regarding #9, so De Niro wanted Garcia’s part? But De Niro was in Part 2, that wouldn’t have worked, surely?!
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October 15, 2013 at 12:25 pm
Same here on Se7en. The ending to that is perfect as it is. That would have been a disaster.
As for DeNiro is Part III. Apparently it was considered. The characters were related after all, so a resemblance wouldn’t have been out of the question. I think they made the wise decision to go against it, though.
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October 15, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Ah yeah I suppose it could have worked but I reckon that Bobby is such a big name and recognisable face that it would have been distracting. A wise decision as you say.
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October 15, 2013 at 2:02 pm
It would have been distracting without a doubt. Garcia as great in role anyway. Oscar nominated I believe.
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October 15, 2013 at 12:35 pm
Never forget: Matthew Broderick is a murderer.
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October 15, 2013 at 2:01 pm
My thoughts exactly! 😉
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October 15, 2013 at 1:30 pm
I knew that about Alien, cool trivia! Damn I’m glad that they didn’t do that in Se7en, that sounds awful
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October 15, 2013 at 2:02 pm
With an ending like that, Se7en could well have undone all it’s good work. So glad that never happened.
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October 15, 2013 at 2:05 pm
That’s very interesting about Alien – good shit!!
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October 15, 2013 at 2:06 pm
Thought most folk knew that but I threw it anyway for those that might not have.
Boat drinks!
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October 15, 2013 at 2:30 pm
#7 is my favorite. What touching stories and glad you put it in. I think of #6, and can’t imagine anyone, including Sinatra, as Terry Malone.
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October 15, 2013 at 2:39 pm
It’s quite a nice little story Cindy, isn’t it? Such a great little film On Golden Pond too.
Have to agree on Sinatra as Malloy, I can’t quite picture that either.
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October 15, 2013 at 2:56 pm
Amazing post Mark, some cool stuff here. Thank god they didn’t go with that ending for Seven!
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October 15, 2013 at 3:16 pm
Couldn’t agree more Joseph! That ending would have been a disaster. The ending to Se7en is one of the tightest I’ve ever seen in the genre. Just perfect. Cheers buddy!
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October 15, 2013 at 5:57 pm
Awesome tidbits as always. Loved all.
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October 15, 2013 at 6:03 pm
I love that you loved them all. 😉
Cheers Fernando.
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October 15, 2013 at 7:57 pm
Always look forward to these features. Great titbits! Tidbits.. Tid..
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October 16, 2013 at 8:56 am
Did you say, Tits? 😉
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October 17, 2013 at 11:53 am
*typical drunk, deep Weegie accent*
TIIIIIIIITS!
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October 17, 2013 at 10:06 pm
Geez a swatch ae yer Boobies!!! 😉
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October 17, 2013 at 10:50 pm
Am too shy. Go to Jellybaby, buy a birthday girl a shot and you’ll get all the boobies you desire!
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October 18, 2013 at 8:40 pm
Sounds like sound advice. 😉 dae they dae upper decker’s or hellicopters there? If they dae teebaggin’ then I’m assuming anything goes?
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October 18, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Anything mate. Some of them just lift up the bottom of thur troosers and you kin see nips.
But maybe am getting confused wi the auld folks home..
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October 19, 2013 at 10:31 am
Lol. Gravity mate. It’s a bummer!
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October 15, 2013 at 11:12 pm
Damn, had Michael Fassbender stuck with Trance, that movie coulda been SOOOOO much better.
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October 16, 2013 at 8:57 am
I actually liked Trance and really like Vincent Cassel. Still, having the Fass in there wouldn’t have done any harm, that’s for sure.
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October 16, 2013 at 1:27 am
Great tidbits as always. Number nine is quite an interesting one, but I think Coppola made the right choice with Garcia since aging Michael further would have probably not turned out well.
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October 16, 2013 at 8:58 am
Cheers man! Totally agree on Coppola’s decision. It’s an interesting one but Garcia was great in that role anyway.
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October 16, 2013 at 6:47 am
Think I have heard number 10 before, but not Jennifer Grey’s reaction. Tis pretty full on.
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October 16, 2013 at 8:59 am
Yeah, pretty shocking, man. This was new to me and it’s hard to see Broderick in the same light.
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October 16, 2013 at 2:59 pm
The Alien one is very interesting.
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October 17, 2013 at 10:01 pm
Yep! It’ll be interesting to see what comes next in that franchise. Cheers Vinnie.
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October 25, 2013 at 3:03 pm
Another nice installment. Happy Rosario Dawson ended up in Trance though…doubt the other woman would have done “that scene” the way she did 😉
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October 27, 2013 at 7:09 pm
Thanks Nostra. I’m not normally a fan of Rosario Dawson but she was great in Trance. “That scene” being a particular standout 😉
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October 26, 2013 at 4:30 pm
I love me some Ghostbusters and Bill Murray but that original casting sounds pretty amazing. Would love to have seen how that would have turned out.
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October 27, 2013 at 7:02 pm
I’m happy with the way Ghostbusters is myself Adam, but I totally agree. That cast does sound like something special.
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