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Period streets and cars; an accidental drink spill; the diner set; Redford’s broken thumb and lateness; the adapted score; Julia Phillips’s producing milestone.
In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 01:26:25Read transcript
- George Roy Hill reportedly copied the sparse extras of 1930s gangster films, creating empty-looking streets.
- Many cars were authentic period vehicles sourced by producer Tony Bill.
- Snyder pouring the rejected drink onto Billie’s hand was an accident retained in the film.
- The diner set later appeared in Back to the Future.
- Redford worked around a broken thumb from a skiing accident.
- Robert Shaw recalled people recognizing Newman more than Redford; the hosts question whether he was teasing Redford.
- The adapted-score Oscar recognized Marvin Hamlisch’s arrangement of Scott Joplin music, a category whose rules later changed.
- The discussion contrasts a proposed 1930s Chicago blues soundtrack with Hill’s preference for older ragtime music.
- Julia Phillips became the first woman to win Best Picture as a producer.
- Julia Phillips recalled that the producers had not negotiated their credit lettering, leaving their names looking less prominent.
- Phillips reported that Newman confronted Redford about arriving late, after which Redford reduced his lateness.
