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American Gangster
Risky Business
Hoosiers
Lethal Weapon
Escape From New York
Film credit
Harry Dean Stanton
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 3
- Movies in this archive
- 5
Rewatchables episodes featuring Harry Dean Stanton’s films
The Godfather Part II
1974 film
Bill Simmons · Sean Fennessey · Chris Ryan · Brian Koppelman
Aired December 17, 2019
Displaying all 3 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
Did This Movie Need a Random Sports Scene?
Yes; Billy Martin watching Stevie Lucas pitch and an Ali-Frazier round
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:20:53Read transcript
- Harry Dean Stanton as Billy Martin watching Stevie Lucas pitch is proposed — Chris Ryan
- An actual round of the Ali-Frazier fight is proposed — Chris Ryan
- Pickup basketball or golf with the cops are noted as other missing sports possibilities — Chris Ryan
Half-Assed Internet Research
Development, ending disputes, casting anecdotes, locations, posters and Porsches.
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:16:37Read transcript
- Curtis Armstrong's book describes Cruise and Sean Penn socializing during their simultaneous Chicago shoots, and Cruise disappearing from Armstrong's life after filming. — Bill Simmons
- De Mornay was dating Harry Dean Stanton, who received the script for Guido and encouraged her audition. Armstrong recounts a developing Cruise–De Mornay romance while Stanton stayed in Chicago swimming laps. — Bill Simmons
- Warner Bros. put the project in turnaround; Avnet and Tisch struggled to sell it after Night Shift, until Geffen backed it with Lana aged to twenty-one. — Bill Simmons
- The happier ending tested much better for Geffen, while Brickman and Avnet objected; the dispute reportedly prevented a premiere. — Bill Simmons
- Cruise reportedly trained daily, lost weight, then stopped and ate fatty food to soften his face for a teenage appearance. — Bill Simmons
- Joel's Highland Park house is near the Ferris Bueller location, prompting speculation about the characters being neighbors. — Bill Simmons
- The crystal egg came from Steuben Glassworks in Corning, New York; Armstrong's book describes Cruise's active dating during the shoot. — Bill Simmons
- Brickman opposed a raunchy cartoon marketing concept; the hosts admire the final iconic poster but would also buy the rejected one. — Bill Simmons
- Four 1978 Porsche 928 s were used; a surviving car reportedly rose from $49,000 in 2012 to about $2 million nine years later, an investment the hosts doubt will hold its cultural value. — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
Jack Nicholson as Norman Dale; Harry Dean Stanton as Shooter
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:04:54Read transcript
- Jack Nicholson wanted to play Coach Dale, but a lawsuit sidelined him for six months, so the production went with Hackman. — Bill Simmons
- Nicholson later told the director that with him as the star it would have been a mega hit. — Bill Simmons
- One view agrees it would have been a bigger movie with Nicholson, then one of the biggest stars, though he would seem to want to get drunk with Shooter. — Bill Simmons
- Hackman is more believable, and after 35 years the role can't be reimagined with Jack; Nicholson might have played it scaled back like Terms of Endearment. — Bill Simmons
- Harry Dean Stanton turned down Shooter, which led to Hopper, and later expressed regret. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Lisa Bonet as Rianne; Mimi Rogers as the doctor; Sam Shepard, Harry Dean Stanton or Robert Duvall as the General
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:01Read transcript
- The actress playing Rianne has eight IMDb credits, four of them Lethal Weapon; she married and had kids; she is seen as a good actress but too old for the part. — Bill Simmons
- Prime Lisa Bonet could have done this instead of Angel Heart. — Bill Simmons
- The doctor could be Mimi Rogers with some sexual tension with Riggs; one host likes Mary Ellen Trainor but sees the point. — Bill Simmons
- The General is 'the winner for this': Sam Shepard, Harry Dean Stanton, or DeVal paid for three days to do his Apocalypse Now scene. — Bill Simmons
- Even a Road House-style over-the-top town-owner villain would have been more enjoyable. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:51:58Read transcript
- Doubleday wins for dialing Romero far past ordinary intensity without losing the character. — Bill Simmons
- Ernest Borgnine and Harry Dean Stanton provide loud alternatives. — Bill Simmons
- Donald Pleasence’s shouted machine-gun climax is another overacting case. — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
The studio preferred Charles Bronson or Tommy Lee Jones, then approached Nick Nolte and Jeff Bridges; Warren Oates was first set for Brain.
This discussion recalls a choice from an earlier episode.
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 00:49:25Read transcript
- The financing studio preferred Charles Bronson or Tommy Lee Jones for Snake. — Bill Simmons
- Carpenter rejected Bronson as too old and feared losing control to a more experienced star. — Bill Simmons
- Nick Nolte and Jeff Bridges were approached but were not interested. — Bill Simmons
- Nolte is considered insufficiently funny, while Tommy Lee Jones is the only proposed alternative with partial plausibility.
- Warren Oates was originally set to play Brain, withdrew while unwell, and recommended Harry Dean Stanton. — Bill Simmons
- The performer whose name is transcribed as Season Hubbly was married to Kurt Russell, which is offered as the reason she joined the cast. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:58:07Read transcript
- Candidates include Willie Chichi, Merle, Rocco, Al Neri, Janko and Dominic Chianese.
- Merle is the choice; the actor did a lot in the 50s and 60s, gets a huge name check in Grease and was a Tiger Beat heartthrob; a Harry Dean Stanton line about playing hearts is also enjoyed.
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:26Read transcript
- Nicholson reportedly wanted Jessica Lange as Wendy, but Kubrick persuaded him otherwise. — Bill Simmons
- Harrison Ford, Robert De Niro and Robin Williams are reported alternatives; Williams was considered too psychotic and the De Niro choice would have affected Raging Bull. — Bill Simmons
- Harry Dean Stanton reportedly could not play Lloyd because of Alien; the panel appreciates that outcome. — Bill Simmons
Displaying all 8 discussions
Films in the archive
Alien
1979
Dream a Little Dream
1989
Escape From New York
1981
Private Benjamin
1980
The Godfather Part II
1974