Half-Assed Internet Research
Career choices; Blow-Up inspiration; budget; reviews; local casting; Allen’s reception; insomnia; stolen footage; reshoot; dam; parade; Murder à la Mod
In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 00:32:05Read transcript
- Travolta reportedly turned down An Officer and a Gentleman, Splash and American Gigolo while choosing Staying Alive, Two of a Kind and Perfect during his decline. — Bill Simmons
- Blow Out is described as a reimagining or homage to 1966’s Blow-Up, shifting perception from eye to ear; the earlier film’s influence is distinguished from rewatchability. — Sean Fennessey
- The film reportedly cost 18 million dollars and made 13 million, following Dressed to Kill’s success; the bleak ending is offered as a reason for commercial failure. — Sean Fennessey
- Pauline Kael’s rave compares De Palma’s achievement to Altman and Coppola transcending genre, and praises Travolta and Allen. — Bill Simmons
- Philadelphia weatherman Dave Roberts appears early in the film and is identified as David Boreanaz’s father; the discussion corrects confusion between him and the actor playing Frank Donahue.
- Allen reportedly received both Golden Globe new-star recognition and a Razzie nomination for Dressed to Kill, illustrating her divisive reception; her subsequent career moved toward genre work including RoboCop. — Sean Fennessey
- Travolta reportedly had insomnia throughout filming, which is thought to help his tired appearance and performance. — Bill Simmons
- Two reels of parade footage were reportedly lost when a delivery van was stolen during a doughnut stop, requiring a 750000-dollar Philadelphia reshoot. — Bill Simmons
- Kovács reportedly shot the replacement ending because Zsigmond had moved on; its visual relationship to the rest of the film is questioned. — Chris Ryan
- Missy Cleveland, the shower performer, is identified as Playboy’s April 1979 Playmate. — Bill Simmons
- The water crash required a 60-foot-long 15-foot-tall dam and environmental involvement; the parade used 11 cameras,1000 extras and 25 stunt drivers. — Bill Simmons
- Manny watches De Palma’s first film, Murder à la Mod, on television.
- De Palma wanted to make Prince of the City, which ultimately went to Lumet, considered well suited to it. — Sean Fennessey
