FILM 1732: THE BEGUILED

TRIVIA: For this film, Sofia Coppola won the prize of Best Director at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. It marked the first time in 50 years a woman won the award, and only the second time overall.

The production ran into a minor crisis when several costumes were completely ruined in the washing machine. According to costume designer Stacey Battat, her creations were doomed as someone put bleach in the washing machine and forgot, and then put clothes in the same machine. The costumes had to be recreated immediately for the production not to run off schedule.

The sponge scene with Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell required several takes, as the afternoon light inflicted the cinematography. By the time the scene wrapped, Kidman had sponged Farrell for almost two hours.

Sofia Coppola chose the 1.66 : 1 aspect ratio because she wanted to make the film feel claustrophobic.

Interior scenes were filmed in the New Orleans home of actress Jennifer Coolidge.

Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell began filming this film only few weeks after they finished working together on The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017). Both films would go on to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and would win awards in the official competition ("The Beguiled" won the Directing award for Sofia Coppola while "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" shared the Screenplay award with Lynne Ramsay's You Were Never Really Here (2017)).

Shot in 26 days.

The cast went through several lessons during filming. They had a sewing teacher, a dancing teacher, took etiquette classes, corset training lessons and had to cook and eat meals together. A Civil War reenactor demonstrated how to dress wounds, and a priest explained prayers from the Book of Matthew and Sofia Coppola distributed an antebellum etiquette book, titled "How to Be a Good Southern Lady".

Colin Farrell's favorite shoot in his career, praising his co-stars and his director; "To be surrounded by talented, decent, smart, insightful creative and serious women - I was spoiled by Sofia Coppola who set a particular mood of comfort, ease and trust. It allows you as an actor to play and explore."

Sofia Coppola stated that this is NOT a remake of the 1971 film of the same title, but an adaption of the same Thomas Cullinan novel that film is based on.

Film 859: Django Unchained

Trivia: Will Smith, Idris Elba, Chris Tucker, Terrence Howard, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Tyrese Gibson were all considered for the role of Django. Quentin Tarantino actually wrote the role with Smith in mind, and Smith's agents and manager wanted him to accept it, but Smith ultimately decided to pass. Tarantino then offered the part to Jamie Foxx, who accepted.

Kurt Russell replaced Kevin Costner. Russell and Costner appeared together in 3000 Miles to Graceland, and have both played lawman Wyatt Earp, in Tombstone and Wyatt Earp, respectively.

Although the film is technically a part of the western genre, Quentin Tarantino preferred to refer to the film as a "southern" due to the films setting in America's deep south.

Sid Haig was considered for the role of 'Mr. Stonesipher', so much so that casting director 'Victoria Thomas' informed Haig's agent "It's a lock". 'Quentin Tarantino' himself scheduled, and later canceled at the last minute, two auditions for Haig. Two months later, the role quietly went to David Steen instead. Tarantino being known for his extremely dry humor, this "prank" is presumably rooted in Haig turning down the role of Marcellus Wallace in Pulp Fiction 17 years previously.

Jamie Foxx used his own horse, Cheetah, in the movie.

Lady Gaga was considered for the role of Lara Lee Candie-Fitzwilly.

Calvin Candie refers to Samson as "Black Hercules." This was the real life nickname of Ken Norton, actor/boxer who starred in Mandingo.

Leonardo DiCaprio, whose role in the film marked the first time him playing a villain, was uncomfortable with how horrible and explicitly racist his character was. However, Quentin Tarantino convinced him to be as menacing as possible saying that if he didn't take it all the way, people would hold it against him forever.