Literary References
Before Sunrise references this James Joyce classic in various ways. Think June 16.
Ulysses
This filmmaker was so impressed with Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright's work on Shaun of the Dead that he asked them to cameo in Land of the Dead (2005) as zombies.
George A. Romero
Although Johnny Depp was alway Tim Burton's first choice to play Edward Scissorhands, this ultra-famous (a massive box-office draw) actor was Fox's initial choice. He dropped out because he had trouble understanding Burton's vision.
Tom Cruise
The Social Network
Aaron Sorkin
Since the Amish community declined to be in Witness, many of the extras were played by those of this faith.
Mennonites
The title A Raisin in the Sun comes from this Harlem Renaissance poet’s poem (ironically titled) “Harlem (What Happens to a Dream Deferred)”?
Langston Hughes
Pauline Kael described this film’s success as follows: “It reached out, grabbed you, and squeezed your stomach; it was more gripping than entertaining, but a lot of people didn't mind. They thought it was terrific, because at least they'd felt something: they'd been brutalized.”
Alien
Believe it or not, Whoopi Goldberg was not the first choice to play Deloris in Sister Act. This all-encompassing entertainer, also a Kennedy Center Honoree who got it in 2021, was pegged for the role.
Bette Midler
The Birdcage
Elaine May
The Minotaur bullhead prop, as shown in Time Bandits, was reused in this film—ironically, another film we discussed in the last 6 months.
Gladiator
What is the name of the ship in Alien (also the title of a Joseph Conrad book)?
Nostromo
This Oscar-winning actor, who won his Oscar in 70s, was a guest on The Mike Douglas Show and saw the following to Peter Falk about A Woman Under the Influence: “It was the most incredible, disturbing, scary, brilliant, dark, sad, depressing movie. I went crazy. I went home and vomited.”
Richard Dreyfuss
This two-time Oscar winner was originally cast as Anna in Closer, but had to drop out before filming began due to her second pregnancy
Cate Blanchett
Hit Man [Name Both]
Richard Linklater and Glen Powell
In Arrival, the heptapods (aka the aliens) are given this nickname, a nod to an iconic comedy duo.
Abbott & Costello
Connection time - In A Hard Day's Night, in the scene where Paul's grandfather suggests that Ringo should be "parading" instead of reading, the book he's reading this book. Ironically…also the title of one of the movies discussed in our club in the last 6 months.
Anatomy of a Murder
This living director, who often dabbles in horror and fantasy, has said The Texas Chain Saw Massacre made him become a vegetarian.
Guillermo Del Toro
Jean Arthur and Carole Lombard were originally as Hildy Johnson in His Girl Friday, but they both ultimately passed. This actress ultimately got the role.
Rosalind Russell
Shaun of the Dead [Name Both]
Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright
This stand-up comedian plays the teacher Mr. Guzman in Real Women Have Curves.
George Lopez
The title From Here to Eternity originally from the 1892 poem “Gentlemen-Rankers,” about soldiers of the British Empire, written by this famed British writer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Rudyard Kipling
In an interview, Paul Thomas Anderson once said The Shining and this movie are the only two movies that stop him dead in his tracks and has to watch them to the very end.
Hint: It's almost the complete opposite of The Shining, tone and genre wise.
The Birdcage
This Rosemary’s Baby star was cast as Mrs. Orge in Time Bandits, but was injured before production began. Katherine Helmond replaced her.
Ruth Gordon
Alien
Dan O'Bannon
What is the name of Allie and Hedy's dog in Single White Female?
Buddy