Fun facts about the seventh art

Well, the title pretty much says it all; if you happen to have any trivia, a random anecdote, or just some deep dive into film history you want to share with the rest of us, this is the spot. 🙂

I'll get us started:

Munch's expressionist masterpiece; Scream actually served as the inspiration for the cult classic Scream. That iconic mask from the movie was basically a literal attempt to mimic both the physical look and the sheer psychological breakdown of the figure on the canvas.

Now this is an interesting topic!
My little contribution:
The Conjuring — back when it was playing in theaters over in the Philippines, some cinemas actually brought in priests to bless the audience before the movie even started.
Apparently, it was because some people were reporting feeling this "negative presence" after watching it.
The priests were even offering psychological support to the viewers too.
Source

Bela Lugosi, the actor who became a household name in Hollywood for his portrayal of Dracula, was actually born in Lugos, Transylvania. You have to wonder if there’s just something specific in the air or the water over there, isn't there? When he passed away in 1956, the tribute to his legendary performance was so profound that he was even laid to rest dressed as Dracula, cape and all.

Source: 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived.

Orson Welles and Herman J. Mankiewicz walked away with the Oscar for Best Screenplay back in 1942.

After making his mark with the score for Citizen Kane, Bernard Herrmann went on to compose music for several Hitchcockian films that earned massive critical acclaim, along with soundtracks for classics like Taxi Driver, Fear, Day, Stop the World, 12 Monkeys, and Kill Bill...

Perhaps the 101 most influential characters who never actually lived.

Those unsettling sounds during the famous scene where the shower curtain is pulled aside were actually created by slowing down the audio of a cat being pulled out of a basket.

Source: IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144084/trivia)

P.S. This is an excellent topic to dive into.👍

In the book Psycho: Behind the Scenes, Janet Leigh mentions that the intense shower scene actually took an entire week to film back in late December 1959.

Anthony Perkins plays Norman Bates, a role he’d go on to reprise in three sequels: Psycho II (1983), Psycho III (1986), and Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990).

He’s easily one of the 101 most influential characters to ever exist, even if he never actually lived.

I read this anecdote somewhere once—can't quite remember the specifics of when or where it actually went down.

The story goes that this happened during the early days of filmmaking, back when the Ottoman Empire was still a thing.
Some filmmakers showed up at the palace of a big shot—maybe a pasha, or perhaps even the Sultan himself.
As soon as the cameraman aimed his lens toward the Sultan, a bodyguard—likely misinterpreting what the camera was actually pointing at—stepped forward to take the cameraman's head off.
The Sultan stepped in to stop the guy, saying: "Let the kid play."

If anyone out there actually knows the details behind this anecdote, please drop a note about exactly when and where this took place.

HAL 9000 just landed at number thirteen on the American Film Institute's ranking of all-time cinematic villains.

In the short story "Moxon's Master" (which is being adapted into a short film soon), written by Ambrose Bierce back in 1894, a computer simply refuses to lose a game of chess and ends up attacking its opponent—a human being. 👍

The Canadian actor Douglas Rain provided the voice for HAL 9000.


He’s one of the 101 most influential characters that never actually lived.

Since Danny Lloyd was just a little kid and this was his big break, I guess Stanley Kubrick was actually super protective of him throughout the whole process.
While they were filming, Danny actually thought he was starring in some intense drama rather than a horror movie—can you believe that?
He didn't even get to see the unedited cut of the film until he turned 17, which was like 11 years after they finished shooting!
Source

Superman's Kryptonian name is Kal-El, and his biological father was known as Jor-El.

Making his debut back in 1938, the character was born from an idea shared by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster on a summer evening in 1932 in >. It took them six long years just to find someone willing to buy the rights, and even then, they walked away with a measly $130.

The first man to step into the suit was George Reeves, while the second—and arguably the most iconic version we've ever seen—was Christopher Reeve.

Animated Superman films produced at the Max Fleischer studio back in 1941 are still widely considered some of the finest animation of the hero, and honestly, some of the best work to ever come out of that studio.

• Carlo Pedersoli decided to go by the name Bud Spencer back in 1967, choosing it because he was a huge fan of Spencer Tracy and had a serious soft spot for his favorite American beer.
• A legal expert by trade.
• He was an Olympic swimmer back in 1952 and 1956.
• In fact, he was the first Italian to swim the 50-meter freestyle in under a minute.
• He teamed up with Terence Hill for 18 different films.
• He’s also a pilot who owns a jet, a helicopter, and even runs his own small airline, having developed a bit of a flying addiction after filming... Più forte ragazzi!
• Even Silvio Berlusconi personally recruited him into the "Forza Italia" party back in 2005.
• At 85 years old now, he's actually closing in on his 79th role.

He is Bud. Bud Spencer. 😁

A few actors who passed on roles they probably should've taken:

John Travolta turned down playing Forrest Gump, and after he passed, the role was rejected by both Bill Murray and Chevy Chase.

Matthew Broderick reportedly said no to the role of Walter White in Breaking Bad.

Hugh Jackman passed on being James Bond in Casino Royale because he didn't want a part like that to define his entire career, though apparently, he might actually consider playing Bond these days.

Michelle Pfeiffer declined roles in Silence of the Lambs, Basic Instinct, and Pretty Woman.

Will Smith turned down a part in The Matrix because he felt the role wouldn't quite suit him, opting instead to film Wild Wild West.

Tom Selleck passed on playing Indiana Jones.

Sean Connery turned down the chance to play Gandalf in LOTR.

Burt Reynolds said no to playing Han Solo in Star Wars.

Kevin Costner passed on The Shawshank Redemption and went with Waterworld instead.

You know, there's actually a pretty interesting backstory to the drama surrounding Southpaw starring Jake Gyllenhaal. It originally started its life as a sequel to Eminem's 8 Mile. But somewhere along the lines during the script rewrites, they decided to ditch the rap elements entirely and pivot toward boxing instead. Because of that shift, Eminem ended up stepping away from the project, though he did eventually come back just to record a song for the soundtrack.
Here’s another little fun fact from that movie: there’s a rumor going around—and as Hans Landa would say, "I love rumors!"—that the fights in the film weren't just staged choreography. Apparently, the hits were actually real.

It has to be a rumor; in one particular scene, you can clearly see him stroking it 👎

http://www.theguardian.com/film/film...ushima-nuclear

This is an incredibly fascinating read from 2011 detailing all the little nuances behind the making of the cult classic Stalker.

"But Stalker itself had a catastrophic history. While it's a well-known part of the film's legend that it had to be shot twice after the original film stock was ruined in the lab, it's less talked about that the entire production had by then already had to vacate its original location in northern Tajikistan after a major earthquake. Touched as such by disaster in its early life, the film would end up embraced by it. While the last month saw Tokyo's drinking water deemed unfit for children, the toxic legacy of eventually filming near a chemical plant outside the Estonian capital of Tallinn has been blamed for killing both lead actor Anatoli Solonitsyn and in 1986, just a few months after Chernobyl, Tarkovsky himself. Earlier this week it would have been his 79th birthday – there could hardly be a better moment to raise a glass."

That right there is the most compelling part.

Even though most enthusiasts probably already know the big highlights, I think it’s always worth revisiting these stories for the newer generations who are just starting to discover his work.

Here’s a little nugget of trivia for all you fans of American cinema...

Captain Mikula Mali - In Memoriam

I opened up the local paper this morning, and one tiny little article immediately grabbed my attention:
"Farewell, Captain Mikula Mali!" — Who? How? — I’m reading:
A tragic note for the community: just the day before yesterday, 77-year-old Frane Tomaš passed away at his home in Jesenice due to heart complications.
Ever wonder whose actual life inspired that legendary teen series and movie from the eighties? It’s one of those classic "based on a true story" vibes that really sticks with you.
Regarding "Captain Mikula Mali"—I’m not going to rewrite the entire article, but I would just add one tiny correction: that it was actually filmed first.
The movie came out back in the late '70s, and it wasn't until much later that they actually turned it into a series.
So, why am I even bothering to write this to you all? You might think this isn't exactly breaking news for the blogosphere.
It might not carry much weight in the massive world of macro-blogging, but for my own little micro-blogging universe? It matters a whole lot.
So, right at the very beginning of my blogging journey—let me double-check that math... yeah, exactly 40 days ago—I started "In the Mess."
I just posted a new entry in my Block—a blog post about "Captain Mikula Mali." It’s a look at the film itself, mixed with some of my own personal memories from back in the day.
I was thinking about how to present this film. My plan was to release it on Saint Nicholas Day, since Nikola and Mikula are one and the same.
I finally did it! I posted those ocean shots dedicated to sailors navigating distant waters, and I included my Sailor right there with them.
I don't feel any regret about it.
Honestly, I’ve been sitting on this entire time—keeping this post tucked away, even those scanned shots of the VHS cover—just waiting for the perfect moment to finally hit publish.
Now is the moment!
I didn't realize—or maybe I just don't remember anymore—that the movie was actually based on the stories of a real-life hero, Fran Tomaš. (Hmm? That surname sounds familiar. I know exactly who to ask if I want to dig a little deeper into that man's history.)
Let this post serve as an In Memoriam—not just for him, but for all the young actors who shared the screen in that film.
Tonći vidan, a sailor from a coastal town like San Diego, played the role of Captain Mikula Mali. Sadly, he passed away in a car accident more than twenty years ago.
Joško Pažanin, a guy from Kaštel and a school friend of my cousin—who played the role of little Ličanin cika—passed away in a motorcycle accident.
That was back on Kaštel street, nearly 25 years ago.
So many people who were truly connected to the story of Captain Mikula Mali have moved on.
Let’s make this for all of them.
Back in the day, there was this lovely tradition in our elementary schools. They used to take us kids off to the movie theater to watch films centered around revolutionary themes. Of course, they’d mix those in with all sorts of other great children's movies too—stuff like *Vuk the Hermit*, *Train in the Snow*, *Salaš u Malom Ritu*, *Družba prati kvržica*, and *Captain Mikula Mali*. It was a wonderful way to introduce us to storytelling.
Back in the mid-to-late 70s, there was this movie called Captain Mikula Mali. As soon as it hit the big screen at our local theater, "First Fighter"—which was actually located right at the base of that huge cement plant—everyone was talking about it. Our elementary school, Martin Boban, was named after that legendary local hero who fought against the fascists, and we were all buzzing. I remember the teachers gathered every single grade together. We marched out in pairs, with everyone holding hands like, "Stay close, kids!" I think I was in sixth grade at the time, though maybe it was seventh? I can't quite pin it down.
We packed that hall to the rafters. People were shuffling around, shoulder to shoulder, shouting over one another and bickering about who got to sit next to whom. Even the wooden chairs were groaning under the weight of it all. Then, suddenly, the lights went down. Total silence settled in... just a few stray whispers here and there, a little giggle over there... "Pssst!" And just like that, the movie started.

The hall was absolutely buzzing, filled with the massive sights and sounds of the big screen. We were right there in the thick of it, following the journey of Mikula Mali—you know, little Mikula (honestly, seeing those kids play him reminds me of when I used to hang out by the old factory worker housing back in the day, just playing around near the local industrial plants). We followed Komušina, the legendary Mikula the Elder, brave partisan Andre, and even that Allied aviator... It was quite the ride.
We really stuck together back then. We were constantly outrunning the Germans, diving for cover, sprinting through open fields, and hiding aviators from sight. We even helped rescue Grandpa—he was played by that incredible Mexican actor, Petre Prličko—all while navigating the waters in our small fishing boats.
They’d swing from ropes like acrobats, pulling all sorts of pranks on the Occupiers and their henchmen just to keep them on their toes. It was constant mischief.

The voices of our heroes echoed through the hall: "Let's go, guys! We have to save the pilot! We have to save Grandpa!"
Good heavens! Heavens above! Like a bolt from the blue! He’s the real deal, truly one of a kind... and he's doing just fine. You know how it is—he's my boy, through and through!
We were all moved to tears when that bullet finally hit Grandpa. He was busy playing decoys for the Americans just so our little tugboat, the "Good Father," could slip away from the coast under the cover of darkness. With Captain Mikula Mali barking orders, we managed to make a run for it toward Vis!

Suddenly, the whole screen just explodes with relief—pure salvation! My goodness, my heart is pounding so hard I feel like it might jump right out of my chest and dive straight into the monitor!
There they are, arriving at the island! My beautiful island sanctuary!
From a ship pulling out of the harbor, they call out: "Name of the vessel!"
And Captain Mikula Mali answers: "The good father—from Podgora!—Captain Mikula Mali!"
And they actually pulled it off, bringing the wounded and the refugees to this free island—an unconquerable fortress of the sea!

Let people say whatever they want, but I wouldn't trade this tiny fragment of my memory for anything in the world!

POST SCRIPTUM: An excerpt from today's article in the "Daily News":
"Even though there was war and it was easy to lose your head, for me, being a kid, games and fun were always front and center. All those battles and the strafing runs from planes we had to duck from... they felt as dangerous as smoking a cigarette. We’d dodge enemy ships by hugging the coastline, and they wouldn't dare come too close because they knew the resistance fighters were lurking there. But the planes? Those were the worst. There was nowhere to hide.
My father passed away in 1943 near the coast of the islands when the enemy attacked us at sea. My brother was still a toddler then; I dove for cover, but my father and the engineer on the boat were caught in the gunfire. Both were lost. I ended up with my five-year-old brother, and after our battered boat drifted toward the outer islands, I trekked across the terrain to get to the other side. That's where the resistance found us and brought us safely to the island." — This is what Frane Tomaš shared during an interview with reporters two years ago.
Rest in peace, Captain Frane.

Post published 01/02/2008 at 12:08 PM.

Transferred from a blog.

Heat (1995) - Al Pacino /r.1940/ & Natalie Portman /r.1981/

I don't know how much this place cares for "cinema trivia," but I find it interesting...
Sure, most people wouldn't think to look for anything out of the ordinary in that scene—but I'm not most people. 🙂

What’s the big deal here? Just reaching for some cleavage?

😲What exactly could be controversial here?

(Just leave out the "it can't be done any other way" bit and the "Al Pacino mastered the realistic scope in cases like those" stuff)

Not surprising. It’s common knowledge that most actors and directors in Hollywood are pedophiles. ☕

Even Corey says