Filming Rocky IV Landed Stallone in the Hospital
Rocky was Sylvester Stallone's baby, as he wrote the script and starred in what would end up being his biggest acting break. So when they shot the 4th film of the franchise, it was important to him that things looked authentic. So he asked Dolph Lundgren (a 4th dan black belt) to fight him for real. However, a blow to the chest sent him to intensive care and nearly killed the actor. "I didn’t feel (the punch) in the moment, but later that night my heart started to swell," Stallone said.
"My blood pressure went up to 260 and I was going to be talking to angels, next thing I know I’m on this emergency, low-altitude flight." Thankfully, after a few days in the hospital, the actor was good to go.
Heath Ledger Was So Good in The Dark Knight, Michael Caine Forgot His Lines
Several actors have taken on the challenge of portraying the Joker in Batman movies and TV shows, and the late Heath Ledger will always remain as one of the very best. According to reports, his rendition of the character for The Dark Knight was so intense, it managed to frighten the entire cast and crew. Even Michael Caine - a seasoned actor - was reportedly so rattled during their first scene together, he actually forgot his lines.
It takes a highly talented actor to truly lose himself in a character, but sadly, we never got to watch Ledger's career play out. Just a few months after production wrapped, he died of accidental medicine overdose.
Stanley Kubrick Ordered to Destroy the Props for 2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick's eccentric directing style has made films like A Clockwork Orange and The Shining iconic, but his greatest achievement of all might be 2001: A Space Odyssey, a sci-fi movie released back in 1968. As you may have guessed, making a sci-fi flick in the '60s wasn't exactly an easy thing to do. Since CGI wasn't an available option at the time, production had to rely solely on practical effects, having to build props especially for the film.
And apparently, Kubrick didn't want these props to be used in any future films - or exploited to make quick profits - he ordered his crew to destroy every prop, blueprint, and unseen footage used in the movie. However, some of the props survived, which made them even more valuable.
The Adorable Cat in The Godfather Wasn't Supposed to Be in It
Who can forget that scene in The Godfather, where Vito Corleone is called upon for a favor on his daughter's wedding day, and gives Bonasera a lengthy speech about friendship, while stroking a cat? Everything about it was legendary - especially the part where the cat wasn't at all in the script. A cat had just stumbled on the Paramount Studios set, and director Francis Ford Coppola decided to bring it into the scene.
He'd figured it would help show Don Corleone's softer side in that opening scene, and he was right on the money. That cat completely stole the scene.
Shrek Was Almost Portrayed by Comedy Legend Chris Farley
Shrek is undoubtedly one of the most iconic animated films, becoming a franchise that made DreamWorks billions of dollars worldwide. This is mostly thanks to how lovable the titular character actually is. Actor Mike Myers did a great job portraying the ill-tempered green ogre, who won over the hearts of the viewers - kids and adults alike. But apparently, Shrek was almost portrayed by another actor known for his comedy skills - Chris Farley.
The comedian and SNL alum was originally cast as Shrek, before he sadly passed away in 1997 of accidental overdose. His brother, Kevin, even said the character was meant to be "a little bit more like Chris - like a humble, bumbling innocent guy."
Leonardo DiCaprio Was Actually Injured in This Django Unchained Scene
Leonardo DiCaprio was snubbed for years of his well-deserved Academy Award, and this story serves as proof that he's got some real acting chops. While filming a scene with Kerry Washington for Django Unchained, DiCaprio accidentally sliced his own hand open - so the blood in this scene is a hundred percent real. He was bleeding all over, and it probably hurt like hell, but he decided to just keep acting.
In the end, his decision to power through his injury made this powerful scene all the more incredible, even if it was pretty gross for everyone else involved.
Michelle Pfeiffer's Costume in Batman Returns Was Very Untraditional
Being a star isn't always what it's cracked up to be (although most of the time it is), as things aren't always as easy as they seem. Actors have had to endure some pretty weird things regarding costumes - from having their organs shift due to wearing corsets, like Emma Stone in The Favourite, to sitting through hours and hours of makeup, like Jennifer Lawrence in X-Men: First Class. What Michelle Pfeiffer had to do, though, was pretty out there.
If you've seen Pfeiffer in Batman Returns, you probably know her Catwoman costume was very, very tight, but you probably wouldn't have guessed this little detail. According to the actress, her costume had to be vacuum-sealed onto her, which sounds pretty unpleasant, if you ask us.
The Exorcist Was a Terrifying Experience for the Cast
The Exorcist wasn't just a terrifying movie - some say the production was actually "cursed." It's not really surprising since, according to CBS News, nine people involved in the production passed away at some point during or after filming. Additionally, actress Ellen Burstyn wound up with a permanent spinal injury while shooting a scene. But perhaps the creepiest part of all was the fact that one of the actors who makes an appearance in the film turned out to be an actual murderer.
Paul Bateson, a radiology technician who appeared in one of the scenes, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing several men who belonged to the LGBT community. All these things made The Exorcist way eerier than it should've been.
The Wizard of Oz Had a Strange Coincidence Involving a Coat
Many people know the eerie stories about the production of Wizard of Oz, and the various injuries caused to cast and crew members. But this lesser-known behind-the-scenes story might be the weirdest of them all. A costume assistant for the production found a tattered coat for the character of The Wizard to wear. When the actor wore the coat, he turned the pockets inside out and found a very curious thing.
The name L. Frank Baum - the name of the author behind The Wizard of Oz books - was written inside one of the pockets. The author's widow later said the coat really did belong to her late husband, which makes it one of the weirdest coincidences in history.
Richard Gere Improvised an Iconic Pretty Woman Moment
Pretty Woman is a staple in romantic comedy history, mostly because of the undeniable chemistry between Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. That's actually why these two were later cast to co-star in another rom-com, Runaway Bride. In Pretty Woman, one scene in particular invoked positive reactions from the audience. We're talking about the one in which Edward presents Vivian with a jewelry case, and snaps it closed on her fingers, making her laugh in reaction.
The best part about this scene? Gere improvised the snap, so Julia Robert's laughter was actually genuine - which made it all the more adorable, if you ask us.
Mandy Patinkin's Father Really Died While Filming The Princess Bride
1987's The Princess Bride was an instant hit, which still remains popular to this day. In fact, we dare you to find someone who doesn't recognize the phrase: "My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die." While many people know that Mandy Patinkin's character sought revenge for his father's death, not many are aware of Patinkin's personal, real-life tragedy regarding his own father that occurred while filming.
The actor's father sadly passed away from cancer during that time. They actually shot the scene in which Montoya kills the six-fingered man right after Patinkin came back from his funeral. So if you look closely, you'll notice a real fire in his eyes when he says, "I want my father back, you son of a b****."
Apollo 13 Was Actually Shot in Real Zero Gravity
Space drama Apollo 13 depicted the story of the real-life lunar mission that was meant to be the third to land on the moon. Although it starred major actors such as Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton, director Ron Howard knew that wasn't enough to make the movie a masterpiece. He knew it also needed to be as scientifically accurate as possible. That's why the crew filmed inside NASA's "vomit comet", a plane designed to create a movement that simulates low gravity for short periods of time.
The set was built inside the plane, and the cast only had 23 seconds of low gravity to unbuckle their restraints and shoot the scene before they had to re-strap the restraints. They completed the zero gravity shoots in just 13 days, which is pretty impressive if you think about it.
Gal Gadot Really Was a Wonder Woman
When Gal Gadot was cast to play Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe, some people were pretty vocal about thinking it was the wrong choice. Not only did some fans think she didn't look the part, but they thought casting someone with a non-American accent was a pretty weird choice for someone like Wonder Woman. As it turned out, Gadot proved everyone wrong, and became one of the most beloved female superheroes today.
She proved to be the perfect choice for the role once again during the reshoots. The actress was actually five months pregnant at the time, but it didn't stop her from proving she was a real-life wonder.
Christopher Lee Knew Just How to Get Stabbed on Lord of the Rings
An interesting fact about late actor Christopher Lee came to light in the DVD commentary for Lord of the Rings. In one scene, Saruman (played by Lee) gets stabbed in the back, so director Peter Jackson gave the actor an explanation on what sort of noise he should be doing. However, the actor told him he was wrong. He asked him if he had "any idea what kind of noise happens when somebody's stabbed in the back," and when he say no, Lee said "I do."
Apparently, the actor was involved in some covert operations for the British Secret Service during WWII, where he learned exactly what a stabbed person should sound like.
Isla Fisher Nearly Drowned in Now You See Me
Many stars choose to do their own stunts in their movies, and sometimes that puts them in real jeopardy. For Now You See Me, Isla Fisher had to be cuffed inside a water tank for a magic trick performed in one of the scenes. Although there were plenty of safety procedures installed, the actress found herself stuck underwater and unable to release herself. What made it worse was that everyone thought she was acting her heart out when she was actually drowning.
"I realized we had forgotten one basic thing, which is that you need a safety word or a safety signal, you know, for when things are going wrong," the actress said in an interview. Luckily, one stunt coordinator realized she was drowning and hit the quick-release button on the tank before the incident turned into a tragedy.
Matt Damon Was Made Into the Bad Guy in Saving Private Ryan
Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan takes place in World War II, as Captain John Miller leads his men behind enemy lines to retrieve Private James Ryan, after his three brothers died in battle. Before shooting the film, the actors were put through basic military training, so they look like they know what they're doing in the film, and it was pretty grueling. But not everyone went through this kind of training.
Matt Damon, who played the titular character, was not allowed to take part in the bootcamp. This was done on purpose, in order for the other actors to unconsciously build up genuine resentment for the character. Not only did it work, but the movie ended up redefining the war-epic genre.
Kate Winslet Got Hypothermia While Filming Titanic
Filming a movie like Titanic required real vision - which is why James Cameron was probably the perfect person to pull it off. The director didn't go easy on the cast and crew, according to their stories from the set. They had to film under harrowing conditions, spending hours in the freezing water to get a scene perfectly right. Actress Kate Winslet, who played Rose in the film, probably had it the worst.
It seems that Winslet couldn't wear a thermal suit underneath her dress, because it just didn't look right in Cameron's eyes. This resulted in the star getting hypothermia after one night of shooting. In another scene, she nearly drowned after getting crushed by a wall of water. Luckily, the cast and crew members survived the hazardous set intact.
Alien's Unforgettable Scene Was Kept a Secret From the Actors
Sometimes directors need to use unconventional methods when filming, and one very popular way to do that is to keep the cast in the dark about what's going to happen in the scene. In Alien, for example, Ridley Scott decided not to share with anyone that the Xenomorph would burst out of Kane’s chest. That way, he could get the actors' genuinely horrified reactions in one of the most pivotal scenes in the movie.
But apparently, that's not all the "chestburster scene" did. Actress Veronica Cartwright reportedly passed out, right after being sprayed in the face with blood. Sound pretty awful, doesn't it?
The Face Mask Used for Michael Myers in Halloween Looked Familiar
This fact was pretty mind-blowing for people who heard it for the first time - Michael Myers' face mask in Halloween is actually a Captain Kirk mask with white paint over it. As William Shatner tells it, they made a mask out of his face so they could use it to make facial prosthetics for older Kirk. This clay mask was eventually made into a plastic one available at stores, so fans could dress up as Captain Kirk.
In the production of Halloween, an assistant was reportedly asked to grab a random mask from a store and chose that one. After painting it white, it was used as the menacing villain's mask.
One Scene in The Shining Brought Shelley Duvall to Breaking Down
We've already mentioned what a strange experience it's been for some to work with Stanley Kubrick, but some actors got it worse than others. Shelley Duvall, for example, had no idea what she was in for when she signed on to star in The Shining (based on the Stephen King horror novel). She played a character whose husband is driven to insanity while working at a remote hotel, attempting to kill both her and their son.
In one scene, she has to flee her axe-wielding husband - a scene that took a record-breaking 127 takes to shoot before Kubrick was happy. The actress broke down on set, she severely wounded her hands, and cried so much she suffered dehydration. Filming this movie for Kubrick took a toll on her mental health even after filming was over.
Guardians of the Galaxy Had Some Funny Moments Thanks to Chris Pratt
Guardians of the Galaxy was pretty awesome, mainly because the casting was spot-on. Chris Pratt may not be everyone's cup of tea, but no one can deny he was a perfect casting decision for Peter (uhh, we mean, Star-Lord). In fact, some of the funniest moments in the film happened thanks to Pratt. In one scene, Peter accidentally drops the orb when it's thrown at him, and while many people thought it was a mistake - including director James Gunn - it was actually improvised by Pratt.
Apparently, filming with the actor was pretty funny as well. Cast members say they had to reshoot some scenes because Pratt kept saying "pew pew" while firing his raygun. Sounds pretty hilarious to us!
One Very Protective Dog in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Filming Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was definitely an exciting experience for young actor Daniel Radcliffe, and as it turns out, it was also pretty funny at times. Bella, one of the Neapolitan Mastiffs who played Fang, reportedly got very protective of the actor while filming. So, whenever the animatronic spider used for Aragog would come out, she'd jump in front of Radcliffe to defend him from the menacing spider.
It was pretty hilarious, of course, but it also required the crew to reshoot the scene quite a few times. We're pretty sure the adorable dog didn't get into trouble for it, though.
Dirty Dancing Almost Had a Completely Different Name
It may not be a big deal now, but when Dirty Dancing was in the making in the late '80s, its title was somewhat scandalous. So much so, that censorship officers were hesitant about it, because it sounded like an adult film. The alternative title would have been I Was a Teenage Mambo Queen (which, let's face it, doesn't sound any better), so thankfully, the producers insisted on keeping the original title. If it were up to Patrick Swayze, though, it wouldn't have been Dirty Dancing.
"I hate the title Dirty Dancing," he'd said in an interview. "I absolutely hate it. We all really fought to have it not called Dirty Dancing." That's not the only thing he'd been wrong about regarding the film, as he also thought the line "nobody puts baby in the corner" was too cheesy - and it ended up being one of the most memorable lines of the decade.
Schwarzenegger Showed His Human Side in Total Recall
There was a time when Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of the biggest action stars in Hollywood. And during the production of Total Recall, the actor showed that he wasn't all muscle - he had plenty of heart, as well. When Schwarzenegger noticed actor Michael Ironside spent much of his time between takes on the phone, he asked him about it. Ironside told him that he'd been calling his sister, who was battling cancer.
Apparently, the actor asked Ironside to his trailer, where the two had an hour-long phone call with his sister. Schwarzenegger reportedly really managed to lift her spirits, and even he gave her some nutrition advice to help her cope with cancer.
No Animals Were Harmed in the Filming of The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption isn't an easy movie to watch for various reasons, but it seems that animal cruelty isn't one of them. In one scene, Andy discovers a worm in his food, and gives it to Brooks so he can feed the crow he named "Jake". The American Humane Association naturally objected to harming a live worm, and made the producers find one that had died of natural causes to use.
Otherwise, they couldn't use the "no animals were harmed in the making of this film" message at the end of the film. They agreed to the terms, and kept the movie free of any animal cruelty - a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Viggo Mortensen Got Hurt Filming Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
There's a reason why The Lord of the Rings franchise, based on the fantasy novels by J. R. R. Tolkien, is one of the highest-grossing ones in cinema history. The ensemble cast were top-notch, down to the last of them. In one scene in The Two Towers, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli approach a place filled with bodies looking for Merry and Pippin, and make the mistake of thinking the hobbits are dead. Aragorn then kicks an Orc head with a helmet and screams in agony, a scream that resonated deeply with the viewers.
The reason, however, that it was so profound, is because it was totally real. Viggo Mortensen actually broke two of his toes when kicking the helmet, and used his pain to convey Aragorn's emotional one. Pretty impressive piece of acting, isn't it?
Robert Downey Jr. Couldn't Stop Hiding Foods in The Avengers
There's no doubt in anyone's mind about casting Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man - or Tony Stark - in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. One might say he's one of the franchise's most beloved actors. And if you can't help but wonder if RDJ is anything like the genius millionaire playboy, this fact might shed a light on that. While filming the various MCU movies, RDJ had a habit of hiding different foods around the set - and then eating them while shooting.
Iron Man director Jon Favreau eventually realized there was no fighting it, and just let the actor do his thing. That's why you can see Tony Stark eating in so many of the scenes, and it's totally unscripted.
Fight Club's Actors Knew Exactly What They Needed to Do
Actors often find themselves suffering for their art, so going through special diets to achieve extreme weight loss for a role isn't uncommon. This is exactly what Edward Norton did for his role as the Narrator in Fight Club, but he didn't do it before they started filming. As the movie was shot in chronological order, the actor went on a near-starvation regime, as well as avoiding sunlight as much as possible, while filming.
Brad Pitt, on the other hand, spent most of his time hitting the gym and getting a nice tan. So while Ed Norton's character looks progressively worse, Tyler Durden looks healthier and stronger.
Harrison Ford's Carpentry Skills Earned Him the Part in Star Wars
Did you know that Harrison Ford used to be a carpenter? In fact, his skills are what actually got him his big break in acting. After a few years of only getting small parts, Ford decided to take a step back from trying to make it in Hollywood, and instead support himself through his carpentry business. After doing some work for Star Wars creator George Lucas, the director decided to let him read Han Solo's lines while actors auditioned for the role of Luke Skywalker.
Something just clicked, and Ford was soon hired to play the legendary captain of the Millennium Falcon. His career soared after that, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Dustin Hoffman's Funny Cameo in The Holiday Was Unplanned
The Holiday is a fun comedy flick about two women who swap homes for their holiday, starring Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, and Jude Law. It also features a pretty hilarious cameo made by Dustin Hoffman - one that most people didn't realize was unscripted. In one scene shot at a Blockbuster, Miles (Black) introduces Iris (Winslet) to some famous songs from films - Gone With The Wind, Chariots of Fire, and then, of course, The Graduate.
When he begins singing Mrs. Robinson, the famous tune from The Graduate, the camera cuts to Dustin Hoffman, who shakes his head at them. This appearance was impromptu and written on the spot, as Hoffman knew the director and just came over to say hello.
Interstellar's Research on Black Holes Led to Publishing a Paper on It
Interstellar was a solid film in many ways, but what was most impressive about it is how accurately the scientific elements were presented. It was the first movie that depicted the black hole and wormhole phenomena correctly, as director Christopher Nolan made it a point to do so. In fact, the scientists who worked on the movie did so much research to get it just right, they later published a theoretical physics paper about it.
Their paper was published in 2015, in Classical and Quantum Gravity, and was later even made into a non-fiction book by Kip Thorne, one of the Caltech physicists who worked on the project.
Field of Dreams Was Nearly Titled 'Shoeless Joe'
Many people loved Field of Dreams, but some may not be aware that the movie is actually based on a book by W. P. Kinsella, called Shoeless Joe. Since it was an adaptation, no one thought to change the name of the book. That is, until a focus group was shown the movie, and loved everything about it except for the name. Understandably, they said it sounded like it was about a homeless guy named Joe.
Producers decided to change it to Field of Dreams and notified director Phil Robinson, who was horrified at their corporate meddling. He called upon the author, who actually told him, "Oh, Shoeless Joe was my publisher's title. I wanted to call it Dream Field."
The Big Reveal in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Was Kept a Secret
You could imagine for yourselves why the biggest reveal in the Star Wars franchise had to be kept a secret. After all, Darth Vader being Luke's father was meant to rattle the audience. Actor David Prowse, who played Vader's body, said the line, "Obi-Wan killed your father," knowing it would be replaced by James Earl Jones' voice later on, like always. No one except George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, and Mark Hamill knew that the line would later be replaced.
"The cast & crew first learned of it when they saw the finished film," Hamill tweeted. Funnily enough, the real line has often been misquoted as "Luke, I am your father," when it was actually "no, I am your father."
Ronald Reagan Actually Loved This Line in Back to the Future
In Back to the Future, when Marty tracks down Doc Brown in 1955, he asks him who's president in 1985. When Marty tells him it's Ronald Reagan, Doc chuckled in disbelief and says, "The actor? Then who's vice president, Jerry Lewis?" Apparently, Reagan was so amused by the scene, he asked the projectionist to replay the scene again. If that's not enough proof that he enjoyed the movie, this one definitely is.
The former president actually made a reference to the movie in his State of the Union address in 1986. He said, "As they said in the film "Back to the Future", 'Where we're going, we don't need roads.'"
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey Didn't Always Get Along in Dirty Dancing
Sometimes the best onscreen chemistry can stem from two people who don't fully get along, and that seems to have been the case with Dirty Dancing. Late actor Patrick Swayze wrote in his autobiography that he found it difficult to shoot alongside Jennifer Grey. "She seemed particularly emotional," he wrote, "Sometimes bursting into tears if someone criticized her.” He also added that she would start laughing during takes, making them repeat it over and over.
Swayze "didn’t have a whole lot of patience for doing multiple retakes," as he wrote. But since those two made sparks fly on screen, perhaps not getting along wasn't the worst thing.