FILM 1251: FITZCARRALDO

TRIVIA: A real 340-ton steamship was moved over the mountain with a bulldozer, without the use of special effects.

Klaus Kinski was a major source of tension on set, as he fought virulently with the crew and raged over trivial matters. The natives where very upset about his behavior. Herzog has claimed that it went so far that one of the chieftains offered, in all seriousness, to murder Kinski for Herzog.

Based on a true story. Carlos Fermin Fitzcarrald was a Peruvian rubber baron, the son of an Irish-American father and a Peruvian mother, who developed the Madre de Dios basin by portaging a ship overland. It was disassembled, however, not moved intact. The rivers connected by the Isthmus of Fitzcarrald are the Rio Mishagua and Rio Manu; the Ucayali was part of the downstream shipping route. Fitzcarrald died at age 35 when his ship sank.

Was shot in English, since many of the actors on the set couldn't speak German.

Jack Nicholson was originally set to star, but left the production.

FILM 1243: KINGPIN

TRIVIA: Bill Murray really bowled three strikes in a row in the scene where his character, Ernie McCracken does the same. The crowd's reaction is genuine and is actually for Murray. Woody Harrelson, on the other hand, was a terrible bowler and according to the Farrelly brothers maybe got one or two strikes throughout the filming.

The person shouting "Ernie, you 'da man!" at the final showdown between McCracken and Munson, is Will Ferrell.

As is the case with most of his films, Bill Murray ad-libbed virtually every line he spoke. He would read over the script, get the general idea, and then discard it. The Farrelly brothers, on the DVD commentary, said that they're very glad he did, because it was funnier.

Michael Keaton was originally considered for the Roy Munson role

Jim Carrey was the first choice of the Farrelly brothers to play Ernie McCracken.

Urge Overkill are the band that sing "The Star Spangled Banner" at the Reno tournament.

In the scene in the bowling alley restaurant just before Ishmael is about to get beaten up, the three are eating burgers and fries. However, Roy is eating a salad because actor Woody Harrelson is a vegan.

The band playing the bar while Ishmael dances with the other man's girlfriend, is the same band from There's Something About Mary that plays between scenes.

Although Randy Quaid's character is younger than Woody Harrelson's character in the film, Randy is actually 10 years the elder.

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