Surprising Hollywood Movie Facts That Will Amaze You

Did you know that many of the Hollywood movies you love have surprising facts behind their production and creation? From the first feature-length film to the hidden messages within movie trailers, there is a rich history and often surprising detail that shapes the world of Hollywood filmmaking. In this article, we will explore some lesser-known facts about Hollywood movies that may surprise even the most avid movie fans.

The First Feature-Length Film

While many believe that The Birth of a Nation (1915) is the first feature-length film, the fact is that the first feature-length film ever produced was actually The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) in Australia. This 90-minute silent film was a six-part serial about the life of the infamous bushranger Ned Kelly.

The Hollywood Sign

Did you know that the iconic Hollywood Sign, which can be seen in many Hollywood film posters, originally wasn't meant to be a permanent landmark? In 1923, the sign was meant to advertise a new housing development but was changed to "Hollywoodland" in 1924. The five letters were replaced and the sign became permanent in 1949 when the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce bought out the land.

The Use of Fake Currencies in Filmmaking

Many filmmakers use fake currency in their movies, especially in heist or financial-themed films, to avoid legal issues. For instance, in the movie Heat (1995), the filmmakers used handmade paper money with a unique design to avoid prosecution.

The Academy Awards

The first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929, at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, and it lasted only 15 minutes. The winners were announced three months in advance, which is a stark contrast to the suspenseful reveals we see today. The ceremony was shown on radio, and only fifteen people were in attendance. The first animation Oscar was won by Gertie the Dinosaur in 1932.

The Sound Effects Library

The sound effects used in many films come from a library known as Foley sound effects. Many iconic sounds, such as the TIE fighter from Star Wars, are recreated manually to match the on-screen action. In fact, the sound of a TIE fighter was created using a loud motorcycle engine and a table tennis ball.

Casting Choices

Many well-known roles were initially offered to other actors, but their involvement didn't work out. For example, Tom Selleck was initially cast as Indiana Jones before Harrison Ford was offered the role. Another fascinating fact is that Robert Downey Jr., while making Zodiac (2007), got so few breaks on the set that he left jars of his urine as a form of protest. Robert De Niro had the same issue with HThe American (2010).

The Influence of the Hays Code

The Hays Code, a set of industry moral guidelines that governed the production of movies from the 1930s to the 1960s, significantly impacted the themes and content of Hollywood films. The code led to creative workarounds by filmmakers to circumvent the restrictions. For example, the infamous Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) was edited to remove any perceived similarities with the biblical story of Cain and Abel.

The Uncanny Valley Phenomenon

The Uncanny Valley, a term that describes the discomfort people feel when they see humanoid robots or animated characters that look almost but not quite human, has influenced CGI in movies. Creators now push the boundaries to either make characters look fully human or distinctly animated to avoid the unsettling feeling of the Uncanny Valley.

Movie Trailers

The first movie trailer was created in 1913 for the film Nickelodeon. Trailers were originally created to promote new films and generate interest in them. Today, trailers are an essential marketing tool that can significantly influence a film's success.

Hidden Messages

Many filmmakers include Easter eggs or hidden messages in their films to satisfy hardcore fans. For instance, Pixar is known for incorporating references to previous films within their latest releases. One such example is Incredibles 2, which includes multiple Easter eggs referencing The Incredibles, Toy Story, and Monsters, Inc..

More Fun Facts

Did you know that the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960) was originally in black and white because Hitchcock was receiving criticism for the scene being too graphic? Another interesting fact is that in the Pulp Fiction (1994) scene, Vincent (John Travolta) stabs Mia (Uma Thurman) in the heart with a needle, which was actually shot in reverse, making John Travolta appear to pull the needle out.

Robert Downey Jr. was so exhausted while making Zodiac that he resorted to leaving jars of his urine around the set as a form of protest. In Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), Liam Neeson's communication device is just a sensor for searching, not a real device. Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen had never played a game of chess until X-Men (2000) demanded it.

A more bizarre fact is that Arnold Schwarzenegger's payment in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) was $21.429 per speaking word. The movie Titanic (1997) was the first film to have two people nominated for an Oscar for portraying the same character, as Billy Zane and Gloria Stuart both won for their performances as Titanic passengers.

The alien language in the movie District 9 (2009) was created by rubbing a pumpkin to produce unique alien sounds. A lesser-known fact is that in the The Usual Suspects (1995), the originally serious lineup was disrupted when Benicio Del Toro couldn't stop farting. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon once put a gay sex scene in the original Good Will Hunting (1997) script just to see who would read it, and Harvey Weinstein noticed it out of place and hired them. In The Departed (2006), Jack Nicholson even used a real gun on Leo DiCaprio in a scene that wasn't in the script, as he thought the scene wasn't intense enough.