Secrets from Famous Historical Fiction Films
Who doesn’t love a film set in a distant place but also in a distant time? Historical flicks, whether they’re accurate or not, just hit us in a certain place in our hearts. We love the extravagant costuming, interesting sets, and fun dialogue that movies set in older times always seem to deliver. While we know they’re not completely realistic, accurate, or even plausible, we can’t help but love them. Despite all the fine historic acting and antics we see on the screen, there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes. Those ridiculous moments could be their own movie! Now hop into the time machine, fasten your seat belts, and let’s see what secrets some of the best historical movies have hiding behind the camera!
Les Miserables (2012)
Les Mis is one of the world’s best-known books/broadway shows/movies. It has all the marks for an over-the-top musical and translates that grandeur to even the most intimate of scenes. In the 2012 rendition of the work, Anne Hathaway landed the coveted role of Fantine (Cosette’s mom). In one tragic scene, Fantine has to make money and doesn’t have many options.
The only way to make ends meet is to sell her hair (in the book she also sells her front teeth). For the film, Hathaway actually has her hair cut down to her scalp! Her hairdresser for the film donned a dress and was the one doing the actual cutting in the scene.
The Name of the Rose (1986)
Not all stars stay on top forever. Not all stars start at the top either. Sometimes even legendary actors have a low point in their careers. Take Sir Sean Connery for example. This man’s name could cause studios to drop MILLIONS of dollars for a film if he happened to be included in the project. He’s such a respected actor that his name alone would fill theater seats.
However, back in the 80s, the exact OPPOSITE reaction would occur. Sir Connery’s career wasn’t doing too well in ’86. When he was recruited for The Name of the Rose, the actor’s name on the cast list caused Columbia Pictures to refuse to finance the picture because he was included.
Cleopatra (1963)
Making it big in the film industry is a pretty mammoth task to undertake. It’s an even bigger dream to make a reality. If you’re one of the fortunate few that can break into Hollywood’s gilded bank then riches can be yours! Of course, not all at once. You have to work your way up. You also have to wait a while for those royalty checks to cash. In 1963, audiences were transported to Egypt thanks to Cleopatra.
This film was a blockbuster, to say the least. That year, the film made over $50 million! That’s already a lot. However, in today’s dollars, that’s over $400 million! Unfortunately, we won’t know the exact figure because the production company sealed the overall worldwide revenue. Why? To prevent from paying out larger paydays to people who worked on the movie!
Selma (2014)
One of the most important films to come out of the mid-00s was Selma. This historical biopic/drama depicting the work and struggle that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. faced during the Selma marches of the Civil Rights Movement is a shocking and important film. The actors delivered a nearly flawless performance and many historians agree that the movie is as close to 100% accurate as Hollywood would allow.
However, a few things are extremely different from reality. The estate of Dr. King signed off on using his actual speeches for movies, but not for this one. Since the deal had been made, the director of Selma rewrote the famous speeches to get the film made!
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Filming a movie with a metric boatload of extras is pretty challenging. Long before computers and fancy special effects made things “easier”, most film companies employed hundreds of extras for even the smallest of scenes. When Lawrence of Arabia was in production, the army in the movie looked pretty professional. Their ability to take direction made us think they were all professional actors.
In reality, they’re professional soldiers! King Hussein of Jordan was a frequent visitor to the set and even supplied a troupe from his personal army for the film. He later went on to marry one of the employees on set, Antoinette Gardiner.
Spartacus (1961)
Who doesn’t love going to the movies? From common people like us all the way to world leaders, feature films tend to bring us together. No matter the genre, there’s something available for everyone. Even the President of the United States loves a movie every now and then. And nothing can replicate the experience of watching from a theater, even with the streaming services we have today.
But back in the day, theaters were the only option. In 1961, President Kennedy even snuck out of the White House to see Spartacus in disguise! His bodyguards must have been upset, but who would want to miss that historical movie?
Gladiator (2000)
Gladiator was a wildly entertaining movie. We were thoroughly enterta–no, we’re not doing that joke again. Instead, we’ll just say that this movie will last throughout the ages. It’s pretty incredible. Cinematography? Amazing. Soundtrack? One of the best-selling of all time. Actors? Computer-generated. What? Yeah. Proximo wasn’t just a villain. He was also part machine (kind of). Before principal photography wrapped, Oliver Reed, the actor playing Proximo, unfortunately, passed away.
Instead of reshooting his scenes, the filmmakers had another idea. Thanks to CGI, they were able to complete Proximo’s parts without a massive rewrite! While it’s sad to think the actor’s last project was never finished, it’s nice to know Reed’s work will live on without having to be rewritten for another actor.
Julius Caesar (1953)
Like most historical figures, Julius Caesar is larger-than-life. He also makes a delicious salad. We refuse to apologize for that joke. It’s an older one but it checks out. The film depicting the leader’s rise and fall is also much larger than any life a single person could live. So many things happened on set that nearly everyone working on the film had a bizarre story about it.
One of the biggest was about none other than Marlon Brando. The legendary actor always made his mark whenever he stepped into a project. On the set of Julius Caesar, his commitment to the character created a very tense atmosphere. His method acting style was described as a hot furnace is a perfect description for the bombastic performance he unleashed on the world!
M*A*S*H (1970)
What eventually became one of the best war-based television shows in existence started as a movie! M*A*S*H didn’t deviate too far from the original. However, some of the less seen (but definitely heard) moments helped people rake in major bucks. Robert Altman, the film’s director, employed a family member to write the lyrics to the movie’s (and future show’s) main song “Suicide is Painless”.
At just fourteen, Mike Altman created something that would live on forever. Thanks to the song’s inclusion in the series, Mike Altman made over $2 million in royalties from the tune. That’s not bad for a song written for his dad.
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Provocative for its time and eye-opening today, Gone with the Wind isn’t just an INCREDIBLE book. It’s also one of the most respected films in history. For its time, the budget, actors, and everyone else was just ahead of their time. Unfortunately, due to that, some problems arose once the movie hit theaters. At the Atlanta premiere in 1939, one of the stars of the movie, Hattie McDaniel, wasn’t allowed to attend!
Why? Well, it’s due to the event being segregated. Clark Gable, another amazing star, got so mad he threatened to boycott the entire event! Despite still not attending, McDaniel convinced Gable to attend despite the horrifying reasons that she couldn’t.
Apollo 13 (1995)
Houston, we have a problem. While Apollo 13 is an excellent movie, it’s also really messy. No, we’re not talking about the acting, writing, or anything like that. We mean literally messy. To ensure the actors got a basic idea of what astronauts go through they trained on similar equipment and planes as actual astronauts. The infamous “Vomit Comet”, a plane that flies close enough to space to enable weightlessness, became a fixture of pride for the actors.
They claimed they never got sick while on it! Major props to them. Maybe they have iron stomachs. Unfortunately, the camera crew traveling with them experienced much more than shaky shots: a few of them filled up their sick bags!
Argo (2012)
Ben Affleck’s portrayal of retired CIA officer Tony Mendez is pretty darn good. The entire plot and delivery of Argo is a masterclass in storytelling. To ensure things stayed as accurate as possible, Affleck and the crew needed access to some pretty high-level places. And thanks to the real Mendez, they got exactly what they asked for!
The scenes where Affleck is at the CIA are true to the location! The film is one of the first to receive access to the highly locked-down and confidential CIA headquarters. We wonder if anyone from the movie still has the security clearance?
Glory (1989)
Any movie about a serious moment in history (especially war) can get pretty upsetting to work on. There’s either one side losing or everyone losing. With such a serious tone, it takes some dedicated people to work on certain movies. Glory, which follows events from The Civil War, is no exception. With so many moving parts (and people), something like needed people who knew their subject matter pretty well.
The extras in some of the battle scenes? Those weren’t just regular extras. They were professional Civil War reenactors! Their love for the subject matter and its historical importance propelled them to work on the movie. They even did it without pay!
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
On the opposite side of the war film category, we have Full Metal Jacket. One of Kubrick’s most action-packed films, FMJ is not without its casualties. While war does terrible things to people and the environment, movies about such events are generally kinder (at least during filming). Of course, accidents still happen. During shooting one day a herd of rabbits was accidentally killed!
Kubrick, despite producing dark movies, had a soft spot for animals. Due to the death of the rabbits, and in memoriam, Kubrick canceled shooting the movie for the rest of the day! The death of the rabbits had such a profound effect on the director that he couldn’t continue without a break.
Gandhi (1982)
Mohandas Gandhi was, and still is, one of India’s most influential political leaders. With his massive community of followers and historical records detailing his peaceful protests, one movie couldn’t contain all there is to know about him. Books, shows, songs, and even films in the past have attempted to capture the magnitude of Gandhi’s reach and influence.
In 1982 we got close to seeing the best thing to that. For Gandhi’s historic funeral scene over 300,000 extras were signed on to the project to join the processional! Not a single one was computer-generated, 200,000 came as were volunteers. The entire shoot took over 20,000 feet of film to produce and was ultimately edited down to a quaint two minutes of footage.
The King’s Speech (2010)
King George VI represented and tried his best to lead the citizens of the UK during a tumultuous period of human existence. As he helped defend his people during WWII he had to overcome both international as well as domestic issues. Of course, the largest issue that was close to home was his infamous stutter. That didn’t stop him from delivering one of the most well-known speeches of his reign.
When the film The King’s Speech was being made, the screenwriter listened to the original recording, it resonated with him due to his own stutter. He even wrote to the Queen Mother for her permission to use the monarch’s story for the film! She agreed, but with one condition: It could only be made after she passed away.
The Sound of Music (1965)
If anyone dares to say anything negative about Dame Julie Andrews then please kindly walk away from your keyboards and come back when you’re more composed. We will not tolerate slander against Mary Poppins or Sister-In-Training Maria. Both movies are exceptional, and kind of take place in the same universe. You see, Dame Julie Andrews is a consummate professional and understood that she was working with kids.
To help keep them entertained during long days of shooting she would often sing to them between takes! What would she sing? Obviously, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”. The song hadn’t been released yet, so the Von Trapp children thought Andrews made it up herself!
JFK (1991)
John F. Kennedy’s rise to political stardom and subsequent assassination gripped not the nation and the world. The world practically stood still on November 22, 1963, when that fatal shot in BROAD DAYLIGHT ended the short-lived legacy of one of America’s most influential people. When the film JFK came out in 1991, a big political whirlwind appeared around the release.
Not only was it controversial, but so was its director! Director Oliver Stone even caused a stir when he publicly announced that he believed the American government was involved in the assassinations of both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and JFK’s brother, Robert F. Kennedy. While it’s a very popular theory, saying it after releasing the film was chaos!
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
World War 2 wasn’t a fun time for anyone. Even the people who tried to stay out of it didn’t have a great few years in the 40s. However, those terrible stories did inspire a nearly never-ending source of inspiration for artists. Filmmakers and documentarians in particular LOVE to talk about the War. Even as far back (or as early) as the 50s, movies were breaking records when WWII was the subject.
The Bridge on the River Kwai is often considered one of the best WW2 movies of all time. It also almost became one of the director’s last. Sir David Lean fell into the river they were filming at. If it weren’t for an actor on set, Geoffrey Horne, Lean would have been swept right to the depths!
300 (2006)
300 is one of those films that interest a wide range of people. History buffs love it because of Sparta. Action fans love it for the fight scenes. The rest of us love it for the costumes. It’s okay to admit. Nobody’s judging anyone here. We’ve all seen the film (multiple times…for research purposes).
It’s not just us that recognize that some of the actors were jacked to the absolute max. Gerard Butler (King Leonidas) admitted the 8-week training they underwent before filming was tough. Actually, it wasn’t just tough. It was the most difficult workout he ever had to endure!
Amadeus (1984)
Method acting is an art in and of itself. While anyone can try it out, it takes a skilled actor to stay in character throughout a project. The method even involves playing a given role when the cameras aren’t rolling! What if you’re working on a set where everyone fakes an accent?
Drink some water, because you’re keeping it until you go home. The cast of Amadeus was no different. To ensure the actors understood their accents, the director had an idea. They instructed the cast to retain their accents even when not delivering lines. Sounds like quite a feat for the actors to pull off.
The Darkest Hour (2017)
Winston Churchill is one of those figures who felt like a caricature. He just had this larger-than-life presence (even when not trying to end World Wars). Only a few people could bring him to life. Thankfully, Gary Oldman got the honor. Unfortunately, given his ability to almost literally transform into a new person, Oldman picked up some bad habits.
While filming he admitted to smoking over £30.000 ($37,619.70) worth of cigars! Due to that, he also developed nicotine poisoning. Holy crap! To top everything off, when the filming took a break for Christmas, he went and got a colonoscopy. Did Churchill do that while in office? How committed was he to this role?
Ben-Hur (1959)
Not every actor gets to play the hero. There just aren’t enough stories where only heroes get the screen time. You need to have some sort of conflict or villain to help move the plot along. Besides, they’re always the more compelling characters. The clothes are cooler. They get better speeches. Oh, and all those henchmen? PUH-LEASE. Who wouldn’t want to play a villain?
If you ask Kirk Douglas he’ll raise his hand. When Ben-Hur was being cast, the actor was offered the role of Messala. However, Douglas had an image to protect. He claimed the villain wasn’t villainous enough! In fact, his exact words were “second-rate”.
Troy (2004)
Who here has seen Troy? Ha, stupid question, of course, y’all have. Troy is a pretty epic film in its own right. The fact that it’s based on somewhat factual historic events is even more interesting! How else could you improve it? Why not toss in Brad Pitt and Eric Bana? Sure! Now make them fight to the death for our amusement.
That’s the set-up. What’s the twist? The two actors agreed not to use stunt doubles! Instead, they worked out a deal to pay each other for every accidental hit during their “fights”. Things got so intense Pitt paid his co-star almost $800! What did Bana have to pay? Nothing. Why? He’s a gentleman and didn’t smack Pitt once.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Hidden Figures isn’t just a great movie. It’s also an eye-opening and important piece of American movie history. Shining the light on the women behind some of the greatest scientific accomplishments of their time is always important. How can it get better? Taraji Henson met the person she was portraying: Katherine Johnson! Not only did she get her approval, but Henson learned some fascinating things to perfect her role.
Things like Johnson graduating high school at 14 and university at 18 were great tips that helped make an already great performance that much better! Plus, getting to meet a legend like that? That must have been the best movie to work on.
12 Years a Slave (2013)
The United States doesn’t have the most spotless history. Some horrific things happened such as slavery, segregation, and systemic abuses that carry on until this day. Even broaching the subject with a movie is dangerous territory. The crew on 12 Years a Slave knew this and created cinematic history without losing the horrifying reality that so many Americans had to live through.
When the stars of the film, Lupita Nyong’o and Michael Fassbender, had to put on their performance personas they had to find a way to work through those difficult moments. Separating themselves from their characters, while still being present and engaged, was a must. To prepare, they developed an unspoken ritual that united them as actors and people before personifying people who were at odds with one another.
The Ten Commandments (1956)
The Ten Commandments attempts to tell one of the most well-known stories of the Bible in under four hours. That’s not just an intense task, it’s also monumental in its scope. Everything had to be biblically large and then made bigger. Even the injuries were pretty out there! Did you know that the director experienced a pretty near-fatal injury?
While adjusting a camera, director Cecil DeMille experienced a heart attack! After going to the hospital, they only took two days off from work. Once those 48-hours were up, against the judgment of their doctor DeMille was back in the director’s chair!
Marie Antoinette (2006)
Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette is both punk rock and so Hollywood that it hurts to eat cake. This gilded take on the legendary ruler was full of hip music, sassy lines, and some extreme costuming. While things were grandiose, we knew a lot of the facts got the Hollywood treatment.
However, some things are authentically Antoinette. The filming location for example? The crew stored their equipment in the ORIGINAL BEDROOM of Marie Antoinette! If she were alive to see that we’re sure heads would have rolled. At least they were sure to get the backdrops correct for each shot.
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Even the world’s most romantic playwright deserves to find love. William Shakespeare changed the world of theatre, performing arts, and even the English language during his prime (and long after he penned his last act). While people chased after one another in his plays, did you know some others chased after him? According to some behind-the-scenes tea, that’s what happened with Shakespeare in Love (kind of).
While thinking over if she wanted a part in the film, Winona Ryder had Gwyneth Paltrow over one night at her house. When Paltrow caught sight of the script, she had a plan. According to Ryder, Paltrow stole the part from her and won an Oscar; the two haven’t spoken since!
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Despite being more on the recent side, the 2001 smash-hit A Beautiful Mind is a beautiful historic semi-biopic. It’s centered around famed mathematician John Nash. This man revolutionized game theory and a bunch of other important mathematical stuff that’s way over our heads. His work is present in everyone’s lives (which makes it that much cooler). The film does its best to tackle the complex equations and theories that Nash mastered.
However, for some of the more technical scenes, they had to call in the expert himself. Some of the mathematical functions and problems written on the blackboards in the movie are authentic. Not only are they real problems, but they were written by John Nash himself! That’s one way to make sure things stay factual.
Schindler’s List (1993)
Some actors will do whatever it takes to fully transform into the character they play. Sometimes it’s a mental transformation, but in this case, it was a physical one. Sometimes it’s easier to edit on some extra weight or even wear a fat suit, but Ralph Fiennes wanted to put in the extra work.
All of the weight that Ralph Fiennes put on for Schindler’s List was completely natural, due to his drinking an excessive amount of Guinness. This goes to show how determined he was to capture the appearance of Amon Göth. His transformation and performance were so convincing that cast members found him intimidating.
Lincoln (2012)
In this 2013 Steven Spielberg film, Daniel Day-Lewis takes on the role of Abraham Lincoln as he works hard to define himself in the political world. Stepping into the shoes of one of the most influential presidents of all time is no easy feat. The pressure was so real that Liam Nesson, the original lead, backed out and Day-Lewis almost turned down replacing him.
We have Leonardo DiCaprio to thank for Day-Lewis ultimately agreeing to take on this role. It’s nice to know that other world-renowned actors have each other’s backs and are there for a quick pep talk. We might not know how he made this happen, but we’re thankful he did.
Doctor Zhivago (1965)
Omar Sharif is an Egyptian man who took on the role of the Russian Doctor Zhivago. In fact, he was the first person cast in the film! This was likely due to his incredible performance in another historical film, Lawrence of Arabia. However, to look like his character, he had to go through some brutal changes to his appearance.
His Egyptian features were so prominent that had to get shaved, waxed, and have his eyes taped to become Zhivago. It’s exhausting enough spending hours on set learning line after line to perfect your character. Imagine disguising your looks like this every 3 days!
Braveheart (1995)
Robert the Bruce, considered the most prominent soldier of his time, was not portrayed the way people were hoping for in this movie. Robert led Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence against England. His significance to Scottish independence meant his story had to be incorporated into the film, however his importance to the Scottish people meant a negative depiction may not be well-received. And it wasn’t.
People said he was shown as naive when in reality he was a hero and a strong leader. When portraying real individuals, especially historic figures, moviemakers need to be careful not to offend. While the movie was a huge success, it left many viewers upset and disappointed.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Apocalypse Now is a pretty intense film. There’s action, despair, and some pretty recognizable names. Back when it was made, a lot of the actors involved weren’t as big as they are today. Even Lawrence Fishburne was still getting himself together. Despite being one of his earliest films, he almost missed the casting call. Fishburne was a bit too young to be acting.
That didn’t stop him, If anything, he saw it as an audition! How grown-up could he act to ensure he stayed in the movie business? It must have worked out pretty well. Nowadays he’s in just about everything worth watching! Life lesson: lying doesn’t pay off, unless you’re Lawrence Fishburne.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Widely considered to be the greatest war film of all time, Saving Private Ryan is a dramatic and thrilling tale that takes place in World War II. It stars the ever-likable Tom Hanks as a Captain in search of a family’s last surviving son. Casting Tom Hanks was a no-brainer, but how did Matt Damon land the part of the titular character?
If Good Will Hunting had come out a year earlier he may not have been cast! Sometimes directors want small-name actors for certain roles, that’s what Spielberg had planned for when Damon was cast. Unfortunately he couldn’t predict the overnight success that would come after audiences saw him in Good Will Hunting!
Casablanca (1942)
Proms, weddings, dances, and even entire events are themed around the dramatic love story of Casablanca. Despite it being a movie, a whole lot of emotions went into making this classic flick from 1942. Not only were there restrictions on building sets (due to WW2), but some scenes couldn’t even be shot at airports! Despite the troubles, a great film was made.
Part of what makes it great are the performances put on by the cast. Despite it being just a movie, even some of the extras got choked up at certain scenes. Oddly enough, many of the extras playing Nazi soldiers were actually actors that had escaped Nazi Germany!
Gone With The Wind (1939)
Nobody enjoys it (except for that guy in Little Shop of Horrors) but go to the dentist. It’s just one of those things you gotta do to stay healthy. Dental hygiene has come a long way in recent years. It’s vastly improved since the time Gone With The Wind was filmed. In 1939 getting safe fillings and crowns wasn’t so easy. Clark Gable, the always dreaming Rhett Butler, apparently had a mouth full of fake teeth.
Due to their construction, or Clark’s own habits, they weren’t smelling like roses. This made kissing him for the camera tough. It didn’t help that he had a habit of eating garlic before he took to the set, either!
Titanic (1997)
One of the somewhat awkward things about finding your perfect romantic partner is the first time they see you naked. It’s an intimate, vulnerable, and somewhat awkward thing that happens to all of us at some point. Even stars don’t really know how to handle themselves with nudity (in front of strangers). When Kate Winslet got a luxury ticket to sail on the Titanic it came with a caveat. She had to fall in love with Leonardo DiCaprio.
She also had to be naked in front of him almost immediately after meeting the guy. That didn’t faze someone like Winslet. The experienced actor knew there could be no weirdness in a nude scene. To circumvent that, she flashed DiCaprio when they first met! We’re not sure if that helped at all, but was a way to say hello!
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Directed by the incomparable Quentin Tarantino, this film burned a fire so strong that lives were put at risk. This movie takes you on the journey of Jewish resistance fights as they attempt to overthrow the Nazi government, as well as a Jewish refugee in disguise. The film is full of suspenseful scenes, but this moment was so thrilling that it got dangerous!
At the movie’s climax, a fire burned at 1,200 degrees centigrade when it was only supposed to reach 400. If 15 more seconds had gone by the structure would have collapsed with everyone in it. The scene nearly killed Eli Roth! Your heart might have been racing during this scene, but there’s no doubt the cast felt the same in real life.
The Sound of Music (1965)
Julie Andrews’ iconic short strawberry blonde haircut in The Sound of Music was actually the outcome of a hair dye disaster. Although the color fits rather well, her naturally dark hair was highlighted one too many times before turning bright orange! Julie had to cut the orange locks and left her hair even shorter than necessary for the part. She ditched the highlights for a bleach blonde dye to counteract the orange hue.
The styling team gave Andrews a modest, conservative look for her part as a rich Austrian family’s nanny. Although the color and cut were accidents, Julie loved the length and kept her shortcut all through her acting career.
Good Morning Vietnam (1987)
Robin Williams was cast as a DJ in the 1987 film Good Morning Vietnam. He acted in the role of Adrian Cronauer who was deployed in Vietnam for the Armed Forces Radio Service. This part was full of opportunities to ad-lib and give the special Robin Williams touch to the film.
All of his character’s broadcasts were improvised by Williams. It was the perfect part for him, as the rest of the characters are disapproving of Adrian’s lack of seriousness on base. Robin does just what he does in real life. He plays the part of the clown who makes everyone around him laugh, even when they’re not supposed to.
Django Unchained (2012)
Commitment to acting leads to awards and recognition. Nobody in Hollywood knows that more than Leonardo DiCaprio. Considered one of the most robbed actors of his time, DiCaprio has been in countless films and always done his best to deliver extraordinary characters. While the Academy didn’t recognize his skills until later in his career, fans noticed how much he loved turning into someone else.
One of his more outrageous roles occurred in Django Unchained! Playing a racist plantation owner must have been tough. What made it more difficult is that the role was pretty demanding. During a specific scene in the film, he shatters a glass. That’s not the ground-breaking part. What is was the blood we see in the film is his…and he just kept going!
Little Ashes (2008)
Being an actor can be exhausting. While many people think these superstars make too much money, that’s just not true. Not only do you have to memorize a metric crapload of lines and directions, but you also have to put your body and mind through some intense moments over and over for the sake of getting the perfect shot. Robert Pattinson almost threw in the towel after this film!
While filming a project involving the life of the artist Salvador Dali, Pattinson said he was done with acting. Why? He had to keep getting naked while on camera and in front of a ton of people. Being that vulnerable and exposed can really do a number on people.
Heaven’s Gate (1980)
If you’ve watched Heaven’s Gate you definitely remember the battle scene between the settlers and the mercenaries. Did you know that this seven-minute sequence took weeks of planning and around a month of filming? And just wait until we tell you about the figurative hell everybody there had to go through.
For starters, the director Michael Cimino chose a very remote location for this scene, it was a three-hour drive from the base of production. That meant everybody had to get up as early as 3 am to get on a van to take them there. Needless to say, the actors and extras weren’t happy about it.
The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981)
When we talk about actors and actresses who are certifiably GOATed (meaning they’re some of the greatest of all time), there aren’t many people that come up quite as frequently as Meryl Streep. But after all her incredible performances through the years, and all her Oscar nominations, we were shocked to find out she considered this performance her worst!
The French Lieutenant’s Woman was critically acclaimed, cleaned up at the BAFTAs, and remains a timeless classic. Streep even had to play two roles in the film (as did Jeremy Irons), but looking back she’s dissatisfied with the performance she put forward. As she told Graham Norton, that has a lot to do with how young she was.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Having an existential crisis isn’t the most enjoyable thing in the world. Usually, when that happens people need time to sort themselves out, get right with the world, and find their path again. Other times they could be shooting a massive movie that would change their lives forever. Now add war and carnage to the film, isolate the person for a few days, and tell them to get drunk on camera. And….action! Welcome to Apocalypse Now.
This film would become one of Martin Sheen’s greatest roles. Getting there though proved tricky. Sheen was put through the wringer both physically as well as mentally. He was even locked away for a few days and told some super dark things to help him get into character! All of that resulted in him calling a priest to read him his last rites in case he didn’t make it through the whole film.
Titanic (1997)
It’s been 84 years since we’ve seen Titanic. That may be a bit of an exaggeration but it has been a while. It’s a pretty long flick. Some of the actors aged while filming the epic love story! Remember the grandmother who threw away a fortune at the end? She wasn’t really a century old.
To make sure she looked chronologically correct she had to wear a ton of makeup. It may not have been fun, but it got the job done. To show people how it’s done, the actress ended up living to 100! No makeup was required and she still looked fabulous the entire time. That’s a commitment to acting right there.
Les Misérables (2012)
It’s hard to imagine that the person behind a masterpiece like The King’s Speech could make a catastrophic film like Les Misérables. One of the worst things about the movie is the camera positioning. For some reason, Tom Hopper thought it would be a good idea to film everybody extremely close up, making many scenes uncomfortable to watch.
But the person who suffered the most during filming was Hugh Jackman. He and Anne Hathaway had to sing all the songs live on set, as opposed to pre-recording them in a studio. The rehearsals were exhausting and filming was hell for him, at the end of the day he was enraged and exhausted. This is one movie that pushed performers to a dangerous limit.