AFI’s Top 100 Movie Facts Part 1
In a few weeks, I’ll be publishing my 100th blog! In honor of all you readers and our collective interest in all things movies, I thought I would celebrate with a four-part series of “interesting facts” about the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Movies. So for the next several posts, we’ll cover 25 movies at a time—and see what we did and didn’t know about these master works. (I will be acknowledging facts from AFI”s more recent list in 2007 rather than the original in 1998, beginning with Ben-Hur (1959) and ending with Citizen Kane (1941)). Respond with your favorite trivia if you like—enjoy.
100. Ben-Hur (1959) — William Wyler won his third Best Director Oscar for “Ben-Hur.” His previous win had been 13 years earlier for The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) which is ranked #37 on AFI’s ’07 list.
99. Toy Story (1995) — Pixar Animation Studios offered the role of Buzz Lightyear to both Chevy Chase and Billy Crystal before casting Tim Allen in the role. Crystal went on to say that declining the role was the biggest mistake of his career. (He was offered the role of Mike Wazowski in Monsters, Inc. (2001) as a result).
98. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) — Michael Curtiz, director of “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” also directed Captains of the Clouds (1942) and Casablanca (1942) in the same year. “Casablanca” won him his one and only Best Director Oscar and is ranked #3 on AFI’s ’07 List.)
97. Blade Runner (1982) — There is currently a sequel to this film scheduled to be released on October 6th, 2017, Blade Runner 2049 (2017). Harrison Ford is the only returning cast member from the original.
96. Do the Right Thing (1989) — This was the seventh of nine films that Ossie Davis starred in with his wife, Academy-Award-Nominee Ruby Dee. The others include: No Way Out (1950), Gone Are the Days (1963), The Sheriff (1971), Cool Red (1976), Roots: The Next Generations (1979), All God’s Children (1980), Jungle Fever (1991), and The Stand (1994).
95. The Last Picture Show (1971) — Ben Johnson won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance in this movie even his screen time only lasted 9 minutes and 54 seconds. That is the shortest performance to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
94. Pulp Fiction (1994) — Uma Thurman initially declined to take the role of Mia Wallace in the film. She changed her mind when Quentin Tarantino read her the script over the phone, desperate to have her in the part.
93. The French Connection (1971) — Gene Hackman was the sixth choice to play the role of Jimmy Doyle in this film. Others who were in consideration include Lee Marvin, Steve McQueen, James Caan, and Peter Boyle.
92. Goodfellas (1990) — This was the third of six films that Joe Pesci made with co-star and good friend Robert De Niro. The others include Raging Bull (1980), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), A Bronx Tale (1993), Casino (1995), and The Good Shepherd (2006). DeNiro won his second Oscar for “Raging Bull,” which is ranked #4 on AFI’s ’07 list and Pesci won his first and only Oscar for “Goodfellas.”
91. Sophie’s Choice (1982) — Marthe Keller and Barbra Streisand lobbied heavily for the role of Sophie in the film but director Alan J. Pakula conclusively chose Meryl Streep (Perhaps as a result of her having begged him on her hands and knees).
90. Swing Time (1936) — Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers also made Follow the Fleet together in 1936. Both films were produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures.
89. The Sixth Sense (1999) — The year following its release, in 2000, “The Sixth Sense,” was rented by 80 million people making it the year’s top-rated DVD title.
88. Bringing Up Baby (1938) — This film was Katherine Hepburn’s first experience ever with comedy.
87. 12 Angry Men (1957) — Henry Fonda produced this film with Reginald Rose. It was his only producing credit throughout his entire career.
86. Platoon (1986) — Oliver Stone wrote the first draft of the script for “Platoon,” in 1971 with Jim Morrison in mind for the role of Chris. Morrison passed away of a heart failure at the age of 27 in Paris before reading the entire script. When official production on the film began years later, Charlie Sheen got the part.
85. A Night at the Opera (1935) — This was the first film of The Marx Brothers that doesn’t have Zeppo Marx.
84. Easy Rider (1969) — Dennis Hopper was going through drug-induced paranoia at the time of production on this movie and screamed at the entire cast and crew. As a result, many of them quit the film.
83. Titanic (1997) — Gloria Stuart received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nomination in the film for her performance as Old Rose, and was the only cast member alive during the actual shipwreck. She passed away on September 26th, 2010 at the 100, which is the same age as her character in the film.
82. Sunrise (1927) — Janet Gaynor became the first actress ever to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in this movie, along with her performances in the films 7th Heaven (1927) and Street Angel (1928).
81. Spartacus (1960) — Anthony Mann was the original director for the film, but due to bitter creative differences clashing with Kirk Douglas, he was replaced by Stanley Kubrick. The salt mine sequences are the only shots by Mann that are in the final cut of the movie.
80. The Apartment (1960) — Jack Lemmon’s performance as C.C. Baxter in this film inspired Kevin Spacey to pattern his Oscar-winning turn as Lester Burnham in American Beauty (1999) after this performance of his good friend and acting mentor, Lemmon.
79. The Wild Bunch (1969) — Director Sam Peckinpah wept bitterly when shooting the scene with Ernest Borgnine and William Holden saying, around a campfire, “they wouldn’t have it any other way,” making it difficult for him to yell cut.
78. Modern Times (1936) — Charles Chaplin starred opposite his third wife, Paulette Goddard in this film. The film was released on February 25th, 1936 and they were wed on June 1st, 1936.
77. All The President’s Men (1976) — Originally rated R for occasional usage of the F-word. It was ultimately was rated PG due to the historical significance of the story.
76. Forrest Gump (1994) — John Travolta, Chevy Chase, and Bill Murray were all offered the role of Forrest Gump before Tom Hanks was cast. Travolta later regretted not taking the role. He and Tom Hanks both received Best Actor Oscar Nominations that year, Hanks for “Forrest Gump,” and Travolta for “Pulp Fiction.” Hanks won.
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