Half-Assed Internet Research
Jaws-inspired bomb scene; script-credit arbitration; Cage's no-swearing idea; real Navy SEALs; Hummel's origin; added car chase; naked guitar scene; Connery's coverage-first contract; Fairmont balcony calls; Bay's sequel idea; James Bond theory
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:18:57Read transcript
- A research tidbit delivered early: Cage showed Bay and Bruckheimer Richard Dreyfus scenes from Jaws, wanting to channel them in the bomb-dismantling scene.
- So many writers worked on the script that it went to Writers Guild arbitration: Aaron Sorkin and Quentin Tarantino involved, David Weisberg and Douglas Cook on the story, Mark Rosner granted credit, Bay backing Jonathan Hensley, and two British screenwriters Connery brought in who were fired; about nine writers.
- Cage's idea that his character would never swear produced lines like "gee whiz"; some Navy SEALs were real SEALs; Don Simpson created Hummel from a 60 Minutes piece on the government not acknowledging soldiers who died on covert missions.
- Per Bay, the car chase was inserted after early screenings revealed a big flat hole, to appease younger filmgoers.
- On Cage playing guitar naked: Bay thought Cage wanted to show off his body, while Cage wanted to show his character's comfort at home; the takeaway is how hairy he is.
- Connery's contract had his coverage filmed first, then he left for his cabin on Alcatraz.
- The balcony scene was shot on location at the Fairmont, and people called about a person dangling from the balcony.
- Bay's unmade sequel idea: Goodspeed has the microfilm, nowhere to turn, and enlists Mason in a role reversal, likened to National Treasure.
- An internet theory holds that Mason was James Bond, but his answer of Army rather than Navy blew the wink.