Dead Poets Society is a film whose legacy has only grown with time, so stand on your desk, pay your respects and learn some fun facts about the making of this classic coming-of-age drama.
1. While Welton Academy is a fictional institution, writer Tom Schulman based the film on his own experiences at Tennessee’s Montgomery Bell Academy. Keating himself is inspired by Schulman’s former teacher, University of Connecticut professor Samuel F. Pickering, Jr.
2. The movie was filmed on location at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Delaware. Simon Mein, who plays the vicar at Welton Academy, was actually the vicar of St. Andrew’s at the time of filming.
20th Century Fox
3. Liam Neeson was originally expected to star, but the role instead went to Robin Williams after original director Jeff Kanew was replaced by Peter Weir.
4.Dustin Hoffman was once attached to both direct and star in the film, but Hoffman eventually dropped out of the project.
Touchstone Pictures
5. Other actors considered for the John Keating role include Mel Gibson, Alec Baldwin, Bill Murray and Mickey Rourke.
6. The original screenplay includes a death scene where Keating succumbs to leukemia in a hospital, but Weir opted not to include it in the film, wanting the focus to remain on Keating’s students.
Touchstone Pictures
7. The scene featuring Ethan Hawke‘s Todd crying outside in the snow had to be done in one take. This is because the scene was originally meant to be shot indoors, but Weir decided to take advantage of a fleeting snowstorm outside the set.
8. In order to help get his young actors into character, Weir had them all board together during filming and shoot in chronological order, so that their relationships would develop naturally over the course of production.
Touchstone Pictures
9.Lara Flynn Boyle originally had a role in the film, but her character was cut from the final version. According to Boyle, she didn’t find out about being cut until the day the film premiered.
10. The film turned out to be an unexpected success for Disney. It became the first film released under the Touchstone Pictures label to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, and it also out-grossed “The Little Mermaid” and “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” on the global box office in 1989.
Disney
11. A stage adaptation of “Dead Poets Society” ran off-Broadway from October through December 2016. Jason Sudeikis starred as John Keating.
“Phantasm” is turning 40 years old. Despite its old age and low budget origins, this cult horror film has managed to spawn an enduring franchise and a lasting fan base. Celebrate this horror movie milestone by learning more about the making and legacy of “Phantasm.”
1. “Phantasm” was filmed on a minuscule $300,000 budget, with director Don Coscarelli saving money by renting equipment on Fridays, shooting on the weekend and returning it the following Monday so as to only pay for one day’s rental.
2. Actor Angus Scrimm is 6 foot 4, and he wore undersized costumes and modified boots to make him appear even taller during filming.
AVCO Embassy Pictures
3. Coscarelli also saved money by casting both his and actor Reggie Bannister‘s parents as extras during the funeral scene.
5. “Phantasm” contains multiple homages to the sci-fi novel “Dune,” including the scene where Mike is forced to put his hand inside the fortune teller’s pain-inducing black box.
6. According to Coscarelli, the original cut of “Phantasm” clocked in at over three hours. Some of the unused footage made its way into 1998’s “Phantasm IV: Oblivion,” while the rest may have been lost or destroyed.
AVCO Embassy Pictures
7. “Phantasm” was originally given an X rating by the MPAA, largely because of the iconic silver sphere scene. The rating was changed after LA Times critic Charles Champlin intervened on the film’s behalf.
8. Director JJ Abrams is a huge fan of “Phantasm” and even helped arrange the film’s 2016 restoration. Abrams chose the Captain Phasma name in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” as an homage to the film.
Lucasfilm
9. A popular rumor suggests that “Phantasm” was the inspiration for Motörhead’s iconic 1980 song “Ace of Spades.” Reportedly, songwriter Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister was inspired by the look of main character Mike Pearson and wrote out the lyrics during a screening.
10. There are currently four sequels in the “Phantasm” series, with the most recent of them being 2016’s “Phantasm: Ravager.”
11. Filmmaker Roger Avary pitched his own idea for a “Phantasm” sequel, which would have been titled “Phantasm 1999 A.D.” and featured Bruce Campbell in a major role. Unfortunately, the project was abandoned due to a lack of funding.
Hollywood clearly loves its musical biopics. These movies are real crowd-pleasers, combining some of our favorite songs with a satisfying story about artists achieving fame and fortune, hitting rock bottom and bouncing back for the sake of the music. Recent releases like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Rocketman” prove that the rock biopic is as popular as ever. But Hollywood still has a lot of rock stars to get to. Here are 13 more rock icons (including both solo musicians and bands) that still need a good biopic.
Syd Barrett
Harvest
While a general Pink Floyd biopic would be great, we’re especially keen on seeing a movie devoted to the tragic life of original frontman Syd Barrett. The film could focus on the band’s original rise to prominence in the psychedelic era and the struggles Barrett faced as drug abuse exacerbated his mental problems. We’d love to see the film take a crack at replicating Barrett’s live renditions of early Floyd hits like “Interstellar Overdrive.”
David Bowie
RCA
David Bowie was among the most unique voices in rock — a true artist who helped popularize the glam rock genre even as he constantly reinvented himself with every new album. Bowie as legions of fans, but how many of them truly have a sense of the man behind iconic characters like Aladdin Sane, Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke?
Eric Clapton
Reprise
Eric Clapton is one of the true titans of rock, giving us countless hits and even managing to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three separate times. His career has certainly taken many interesting twists and turns. The sad backstory behind his hit song “Tears in Heaven” alone may be a great foundation for a biopic.
Kurt Cobain
DGC
Kurt Cobain will probably always be one of the most fascinating figures in rock. He lived out the quintessential rock star life — achieving massive fame, battling addiction and psychological problems and ultimately flaming out long before his time. The trick is to chronicle his life in a respectful way that doesn’t glamorize or fall victim to the usual tropes. Cobain himself would have hated that more than anyone.
Fleetwood Mac
Warner Bros.
As a group, Fleetwood Mac is responsible for some of the most popular rock albums ever created. But the story behind those albums is almost as fascinating as the music itself. This is a band notorious for behind-the-scenes drama and romantic intrigue. Maybe the time has finally come to explore that drama in the form of a biopic.
Michael Jackson
Epic
Michael Jackson truly earned the title “The King of Pop,” with charisma and dance moves every bit as impressive as his voice. Unfortunately, he was also a very damaged individual, and allegations of sexual abuse continue to swirl even years after his death. Any MJ biopic faces the difficult task of both finding someone to portray an inimitable icon and acknowledging the more unsavory aspects of his life. We’d love to see someone try, though.
Janis Joplin
Columbia
Janis Joplin is a prime biopic candidate for all sorts of reasons. She’s one of the figureheads of the late ’60s rock movement, as well as being one of the first female rock stars ever. She’s also a part of the tragic “27 Club” – artists who died long before their time at the young age of 27. There’s surely a fascinating story to be told about her life and legacy.
Madonna
Sire
As the undisputed Queen of Pop, one of the biggest superstars of the ’80s and the best-selling female recording artist in history, it pretty much goes without saying that Madonna deserves a biopic. She’s led a very interesting life and courted more than her share of controversy. The only question is how to narrow down that life into manageable movie.
Prince
Warner Bros.
Prince Rogers Nelson was a fascinating study in contrasts. He was one of the greatest guitar players in the world and a truly electrifying stage presence, yet he also took great pains to keep his personal life (including his chronic medical issues) behind closed doors. The result being that, like David Bowie, few fans have a good sense of who Prince truly was off the stage. A good biopic could fix that.
The Rolling Stones
Decca
The Rolling Stones have been one of the few constant fixtures on the ever-changing rock scene. They made their reputation during the British Invasion of the 1960’s, and they’ve kept churning out hits in the decades the followed. Members like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards rank among the most colorful and controversial figures in the industry. This is one band that could easily support an entire series of biopics.
Bruce Springsteen
Columbia
Bruce Springsteen appeals to wide swaths of music fans thanks to his strong musicianship and poetic songwriting. His life may not be as marked by controversy as many of his rock star peers, but we still think he’s prime candidate for the biopic treatment. How did he earn his reputation as “The Boss,” and what inspired him to create some of the most enduring works of American music?
Stevie Wonder
Tamia
Stevie Wonder‘s life and career practically call out for a biopic. He was a true child prodigy, establishing his career at the tender age of 11 despite being born blind. In the decades since, Wonder has become one of the biggest stars in the world, raked in countless awards and won over generations with his incredible talent and stage presence. He’s perfect for a feel-good rock biopic.
Frank Zappa
Zappa Records
There was no one else quite like Frank Zappa. This rock star always followed his own muse, creating genre-defying works that might not have always been commercially successful, but won him the admiration of musicians and music lovers the world over. He was also superhumanly prolific, crafting no fewer than 60 albums before his death at 52. That impressive career deserves a biopic.
While director Sam Raimi will probably always be best remembered for franchises like “Spider-Man” and “Evil Dead,” he also gave us one of the best horror movies of the 21st Century thanks to “Drag Me to Hell.” That modern classic is now ten years old, so celebrate the occasion by learning a little more about the background and making of “Drag Me to Hell.”
1. The film is partly inspired by 1957’s “Night of the Demon,” which itself was based on the M.R. James story “Casting the Runes.”
2. Raimi and his brother Ivan originally wrote “Drag Me to Hell” after completing “Army of Darkness” in 1992. The film sat dormant until Raimi completed work on the “Spider-Man” trilogy.
Sony Pictures
3. Raimi actually offered Edgar Wright the chance to direct “Drag Me to Hell,” but Wright opted to focus on “Hot Fuzz” instead.
4. The 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 seen in the film is the same one that’s appeared in nearly every one of Raimi’s movies.
Universal Pictures
5.Ellen Page was originally cast in the lead role, but she had to drop out due to scheduling issues caused by an impending SAG strike.
6. Raimi and several of his family members have cameo roles in the film. Raimi himself appears as a ghost, while his younger brother Ted plays a doctor.
Universal Pictures
7. “Drag Me to Hell” is the first Raimi movie not to include actor Bruce Campbell. Campbell was unable to participate due to his commitment to the TV series “Burn Notice.”
8. The Greek letters seen in the Great Room scene quote a biblical passage from Chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation.
Starz
9. The film includes multiple references to the “Evil Dead” series, including Sylvia’s line “I’m going to get some,” and Clay’s mention of his parents’ remote cabin in the woods.
It’s now been 40 years since “Alien” hit theaters and kicked off one of the most popular sci-fi movie franchises of all time. From the unexpected downsides of the Xenomorph costume to the Hollywood stars who almost appeared in the movie, here are 15 things you might not have known about the making of “Alien.”
1. The original screenplay featured the title “Star Beast,” but writer Dan O’Bannon decided “Alien” was more effective and direct.
2. Harrison Ford was originally offered the role of Captain Dallas but turned down the part.
Warner Bros.
3. According to director Ridley Scott, Meryl Streep was also strongly considered for the role of Ripley and may well have been cast if not for the sudden death of her partner, John Cazale.
4. Jon Finch was originally cast as Kane, but had to drop out on the first day of filming due to complications from diabetes.
20th Century Fox
5.H.R. Giger‘s original Xenomorph design included visible eyes, but this was removed in order to give the creature a more inhuman appearance. Scott also purposely avoided filming the Xenomorph straight-on, in order to emphasize its terrifying nature.
6. In order to create the set for the Xenomorph egg chamber, the crew borrowed a set of laser lights from The Who, who were rehearsing on a nearby sound stage.
20th Century Fox
7. The facehugger was originally meant to be painted green, but O’Bannon liked the stark, humanoid look of the unpainted puppet and chose to leave it as-is.
8. Many of the gore effects were achieved by using raw animal parts, including cattle hearts and sheep intestines. That helped fuel the actors’ genuine reaction of fear during the infamous chestburster scene.
20th Century Fox
9. The names for the Nostromo crew members were chosen in part because they’re gender-neutral. None of the characters have a specified gender in the screenplay.
10. The crew had to design a special swing for actor Bolaji Badejo because his Xenomorph costume made it impossible to sit down in between takes.
20th Century Fox
11. One of the early shots of the interior of the Nostromo features a coffee grinder hanging on a wall. That prop was later used to create the Mr. Fusion engine in “Back to the Future.”
12. Most of the creatures models had to be repainted every single day due to the corrosive effects of the slime used to coat them.
13. The Space Jockey prop measured a full 26 feet tall. Unfortunately, it was accidentally destroyed when a discarded cigarette set it on fire.
20th Century Fox
14. One of the many deleted scenes from “Alien” features Ripley and Dallas having casual sex as a way of relieving the boredom of their journey. Scott eventually re-purposed that idea for 2012’s “Prometheus.”
15. The Xenomorph only appears on-screen for a total of four minutes in the theatrical cut.
It’s been 30 years since “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” hit theaters. Or as some fans refer to it, “The only good Indiana Jones sequel.” Wherever this blockbuster hit falls on your Indy rankings, celebrate this big anniversary by learning more about the making of “The Last Crusade.”
1. When Steven Spielberg and George Lucas first began discussing ideas for a third Indiana Jones movie, Lucas suggested using a haunted mansion as a major set piece. However, Spielberg rejected the idea, having recently completed work on 1982’s “Poltergeist.”
2.Chris Columbus wrote a very different sequel screenplay in 1985 called “Indiana Jones and the Monkey King,” which revolved around Chinese folk hero Sun Wukong and the fabled Garden of Immortal Peaches.
20th Century Fox
3. Spielberg was once slated to direct both “Big” and “Rain Man” but had to drop out of both projects due to his work on “The Last Crusade.”
4.River Phoenix was Harrison Ford’s personal choice to play the young Indy, as Ford had previously worked with Phoenix on 1986’s “The Mosquito Coast.”
Lucasfilm
5. Similarly, Spielberg always envisioned Sean Connery playing Henry Jones, Sr. Spielberg has long held a desire to direct a James Bond movie, and casting Connery as the elder Jones was a way of reflecting the Bond franchise’s influence on Indiana Jones.
6. In another Bond tribute, the gun used to shoot Henry Sr. in the temple is a Walther PPK, Bond’s trademark weapon.
EON
7. Connery didn’t play Henry Sr. in the prologue sequence. The character was instead played by Alex Hyde-White, with Connery later dubbing over his lines.
8. Spielberg also wanted legendary British actor Laurence Olivier to play the Grail Knight, but Olivier had become too ill by the time of filming and passed away not long after “The Last Crusade” hit theaters.
Lucasfilm
9. While the treasure hunter who gives Indy his trademark fedora is only listed as “Fedora” in the credits, the original screenplay reveals him to be Abner Ravenwood, father of Karen Allen’s character Marion Ravenwood.
10. The Nazi uniforms used in the book-burning sequence are actually authentic WWII relics. Designer Joanna Johnston discovered a cache of old uniforms while scouting in Eastern Europe.
Lucasfilm
11. The thousands of rats used in catacombs scene are a mix of live creatures and animatronic props. The production team had to specially breed the live rats in order to ensure none of them would be carrying communicable diseases.
12. In the scene where Donovan’s wife appears and reminds him he’s neglecting his guests, a character can be heard in the background playing “The Imperial March” from “The Empire Strikes Back” on the piano.
13. Donovan’s iconic death sequence is the very first all-digital composite sequence in film.
Lucasfilm
14. The horses used in the final scenes outside the temple were loaned by none other than King Hussein of Jordan.
15. While Spielberg admitted he made “The Last Crusade” for less than glamorous reasons (including the need to complete a three-picture deal with Lucas), he’s also named the sequel as his favorite movie in the series.
When it first hit theaters, “Terminator Salvation” provided a grim view of humanity’s future. Now that the movie has been out for ten years, it instead showcases a past that never came to be. That’s the funny thing about this time travel-obsessed franchise. Celebrate the tenth anniversary of this reboot with some interesting facts you might not know about the making of “Terminator Salvation.”
1. While he wasn’t directly involved with the reboot, James Cameron consulted with director McG about “Salvation,” recommending both actor Sam Worthington and art director Martin Laing.
2. The plot was much different in earlier drafts of the screenplay, with John Connor himself not appearing until late in the film. Christian Bale was initially approached to play Marcus Wright, but after he expressed more interest in the John Connor role, the story was altered to focus more heavily on him.
3. “Salvation” proved to be the final film legendary special effects artist Stan Winston worked on before his death in 2008.
4. According to Bale, “The Dark Knight” co-writer Jonathan Nolan was called in to significantly rework the script. Unfortunately, because of the 2007 WGA strike, most of Nolan’s ideas never made it into the final version.
Warner Bros.
5. This is the only “Terminator” movie not to feature Arnold Schwarzenegger as the iconic T-800. Schwarzengger’s likeness was digitally recreated for the T-800’s debut scene, but Schwarzenegger himself (then serving as governor of California) declined to participate in the film.
6. Salvation is also the first “Terminator” movie to not use time travel as a plot device and the first to feature John Connor and his father Kyle Reese in the same scene together.
Warner Bros.
7. There’s a reason Michael Ironside’s character General Ashdown never sits down in the movie. Ironside broke several vertebrae in an accident shortly before filming and was in intense pain.
8. While the audio recordings of Sarah Connor feature the same dialogue from the original “The Terminator,” the recordings themselves were done specifically for “Salvation.” Linda Hamilton re-recorded the lines in an uncredited cameo role.
9. “Salvation” was intended to serve as the start of a new trilogy of “Terminator” movies. However, those plans were cut short after The Halcyon Company filed for bankruptcy and the franchise rights were sold to Pacificor.
Warner Bros.
10. At the time of release, “Salvation” was the most expensive independently financed film ever released, with a budget of nearly $200 million.
11. A leaked early draft of the screenplay featured a very different ending. Rather than Marcus sacrificing his life and giving John his cybernetic heart, that version ended with John dying and the Resistance transplanting his skin onto Marcus’ body, allowing Marcus to trick the world into believing the leader of the Resistance is still alive.
Warner Bros.
12. In response to that leak, McG revealed an even darker alternate ending that very nearly wound up in the final version. This version of the movie ended with John’s body being taken over by Skynet after his heart transplant, forcing him to murder his fellow Resistance members.
13. Though “Salvation” never got any film sequels, its story was expanded upon in several comic books, novels and even an animated web series. Most notably, the comic book series “Terminator Salvation: The Final Battle” serves as a direct sequel to the movie.
“Maverick” may not be the most critically acclaimed Western released in the ’90s, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable trip back to the Wild West and the days of rascals, card sharks and lawmen. Celebrate the 25th anniversary of this it Western by learning some fun facts about the making of “Maverick.”
1. “Maverick” is an adaptation of the 1957-1962 TV series of the same name, which starred James Garner as Bret Maverick.
Warner Bros.
2. Garner played a very different role in this remake as Marshal Zane Cooper. The name is an homage to influential Western writer Zane Grey and actor Gary Cooper.
3. The film includes cameo appearances from many popular country music singers, including Reba McEntire, Waylon Jennings, Hal Ketchum, Carlene Carter and Vince Gill.
Warner Bros.
4.Paul Newman was originally offered the role of Bret Maverick, but ultimately turned it down when the producers failed to meet his salary requirements.
5. The steamboat is named “Lauren Belle” in tribute to director Richard Donner‘s wife, producer Lauren Shuler Donner. She also has a cameo in the film as “Mrs. D,” one of the maids in the bath house.
6. The ship used for the Lauren Belle was a fully functional stern-wheel tugboat borrowed from the Oregon Maritime Museum.
8. Annabelle’s clumsiness wasn’t actually written in the original screenplay. Donner was inspired to add that element to the character after Jodie Foster fell out of a stagecoach when co-star Mel Gibson failed to help her down.
Warner Bros.
9. “Maverick” includes numerous callbacks to the “Lethal Weapon” series, including Danny Glover‘s cameo appearance and the scene where Mel Gibson’s character discovers his shirt has shrunk in the wash.
10. The film includes a deleted sequence where Maverick attempts to demonstrate his supposedly magical card-playing abilities to a hermit played by Linda Hunt. Donner opted to cut this material because he felt it didn’t mesh with the rest of the film.
Warner Bros.
11. Another deleted scene features musician Alice Cooper in a cameo role as the town drunk. Rock on!
It’s been 30 years since “Road House” arrived in theaters and made being a “cooler” seem like the greatest job in the world. This campy action movie’s appeal has only grown over the years, so celebrate this big milestone by learning more about the making and legacy of “Road House.”
1.Patrick Swayze injured his knee while filming “Road House,” which forced him to turn down starring roles in both “Predator 2” and “Tango & Cash.”
2. On the plus side, Swayze’s injury did motivate him to take on a less physically demanding role in “Ghost,” resulting in one of his most iconic movie roles.
Paramount Pictures
3. All the actors were trained by accomplished martial artist and stuntman Benny “The Jet” Urquidez. Urquidez was so impressed by Swayze’s natural talent that he tried to convince him to take up a new career as a professional kickboxer.
4. Though it’s never spoken in the film, Dalton’s first name is James. His full name can be glimpsed on a medical chart in the hospital.
MGM/UA
5. The film originally featured the tagline “The dancing’s over. Now it gets dirty.”, a clear callback to 1987’s “Dirty Dancing.”
6. According to Sam Elliott, the original cut of the film was well over three hours long. Some of the many deleted scenes were included in the theatrical trailers, including a sequence where Dalton trains his bouncers by forcing them to wear ballerina costumes.
20th Television
7. The “Family Guy” episode “Brian’s Got a Brand New Bag” features an homage to “Road House,” as Peter Griffin rekindles his obsession with the film. That episode is also dedicated to Swayze, who passed away a few weeks before it aired.
8. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton earned the nickname “Road House” because he shares a last name with Swayze’s character.
9. The film received a belated direct-to-video sequel in 2006. “Road House 2” stars Johnathon Schaech as Dalton’s son Shane, an undercover DEA agent posing as a bar bouncer.
Sony Pictures
10. The “Road House 2” character Nate Tanner was originally written to be Swayze’s James Dalton. When Swayze declined to appear in the film, the part was changed and the film was rewritten to reveal that Dalton was gunned down at some point after the events of the first movie.
11. News broke in 2015 that a “Road House” remake was in the works, with Nick Cassavetes attached to write and direct and Ronda Rousey expected to star. However, the project was later canceled the following year.
A lot of “Star Wars” fans must be feeling their age right about now. It’s been 20 years since “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” roared into theaters and ushered in a brand new era for the franchise. It may have its share of detractors, but you can celebrate your love for the first chapter in the prequel trilogy by learning some fun behind-the-scenes facts.
1. Theaters were under struct orders not to show the teaser trailer before a certain date. When one Canadian theater broke the embargo, it lost the right to screen “The Phantom Menace” at all.
2.Ewan McGregor happens to be the nephew of Denis Lawson, who played Wedge Antilles in the original trilogy.
Lucasfilm Ltd.
3. An early draft of the screenplay depicted Obi-Wan Kenobi as an older, full-fledged Jedi, with Qui-Gon Jinn not appearing until the Coruscant scenes. Another version had Jar Jar becoming a Jedi (gulp).
4. “The Phantom Menace” is the only pre-Disney “Star Wars” movie where the word “lightsaber” is never spoken.
5.Benicio Del Toro was originally cast as Darth Maul, but he quit the project after George Lucas cut most of Maul’s lines from the final script. Maul actually only speaks three lines and has a mere six minutes of screen time across the entire film.
Lucasfilm Ltd.
6. Actor Peter Serafinowicz was hired to dub over Ray Park’s dialogue for Darth Maul. When Maul returned in “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” Serafinowicz was replaced by Sam Witwer, who voiced Maul in the animated series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”
7. In order to conserve money, sets were only built as high as the actors’ heads, with the remaining details filled in digitally. Unfortunately, because Liam Neeson is so tall he wound up costing the crew an extra $150,000.
Lucasfilm Ltd.
8. Fortunately, Neeson saved the crew a bit of money in other areas. His advanced communicator device is actually just a modified Gillette shaving razor.
9.Tupac Shakur was an avid “Star Wars” fan and campaigned for a role in “The Phantom Menace,” with some speculating that he may have played Mace Windu had he not died in 1996.
10.Michael Jackson also campaigned for a part in the movie, specifically appealing to Lucas to let him play Jar Jar Binks. Lucas was reluctant to cast such a famous and recognizable actor in the role, but he did take actor Ahmed Best to one of Jackson’s concerts in order to get the singer’s approval.
Lucasfilm Ltd.
11. Best plays another small role in the film, appearing as a Jedi Knight when Chancellor Palpatine arrives on Naboo.
12. This movie established that “Star Wars” and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” exist in the same universe. One of the numerous platforms in the Galactic Senate chamber features several of E.T.’s alien brethren, referred to in the novel “Star Wars: Cloak of Deception” as the Brodo Asogi.
Universal Pictures
13. Actor Jake Lloyd claims that Lucas’ original cut ran a full six hours, and that only a handful of people have ever been allowed to see this version.
14. Among the many items in Watto’s junk shop is one of the space pods from “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
MGM
15. This is the only live-action “Star Wars” movie where Anthony Daniels voices C-3PO but doesn’t perform his movements. Because the droid lacks an outer shell at this stage in his existence, he was instead controlled by puppeteer Michael Lynch.
