People love learning about the weird, unexpected or just plain quirky things that went on behind-the-scenes in making their favorite movies. An otherwise pedigreed film, the universe of big blockbusters has at times literally saved us from the brink of disaster—check out a few of the weirdest fun facts about your favorite films:
Margaret Hamilton who played the role of the Wicked Witch of the West had her skin painted green with copper powder that was very poisonous and caused skin problems to herself. This was a pretty standard practice in Hollywood makeup at the time, but it made things very uncomfortable for Hamilton to work. According to Fisher, she even had difficulty getting the paint off for several weeks after they finished shooting.
Steven Spielberg’s *Jaws* revolutionized the thriller genre, but the mechanical shark used for the film’s underwater scenes was a technical disaster. The shark, nicknamed "Bruce," would frequently malfunction, leaving Spielberg with fewer underwater shots than he’d planned. This led to a brilliant, unintended result: Spielberg had to use the shark sparingly and relied on suspenseful music and suspenseful filmmaking techniques instead of over-relying on the shark. Ironically, this lack of shark footage ended up making the film even more terrifying and impactful.
### **3. *The Godfather* (1972): Marlon Brando Stuffed His Cheeks to Create Vito Corleone’s Look**
Marlon Brando, who played Vito Corleone in *The Godfather*, didn’t use prosthetics to achieve the character's distinctive look. Instead, he stuffed his mouth with cotton balls to create the effect of the puffed cheeks and gave the character a unique, slow-paced voice. The film’s director, Francis Ford Coppola, was reportedly horrified when Brando suggested this method, but the resulting portrayal became iconic.
### **4. *Titanic* (1997): The "Heart of the Ocean" Necklace Was Worth Millions—But Wasn't Real**
The stunning "Heart of the Ocean" necklace from *Titanic* was a key plot device, but the necklace used in the film was not the expensive, rare jewel it appeared to be. In reality, it was a replica designed by a jeweler. The production team needed multiple versions of the necklace for filming, and the prop was created with cubic zirconia instead of diamonds. It also wasn’t based on a real historical piece.
### **5. *The Shining* (1980): The Room Number Was Not Chosen at Random**
In Stanley Kubrick’s *The Shining*, the room number of the haunted room is famously 237. However, in real life, the room at the Timberline Lodge where the movie was shot is actually room 217. The change was made at the request of the hotel, which was concerned that guests would be frightened away from staying in room 217 after the film’s release. Kubrick made the number 237 to avoid this issue, even though it had no real-world significance.
### **6. *The Blair Witch Project* (1999): The Actors Were Left in the Woods with Little Guidance**
*The Blair Witch Project* became a sensation as one of the first "found footage" horror films. To make the film feel as authentic as possible, the filmmakers kept the actors in the woods with very little direction and gave them only a basic outline of what needed to happen. The actors were encouraged to improvise their dialogue and react naturally to the terrifying and eerie events unfolding around them. The combination of genuine fear and minimal instruction made the film’s performances feel raw and real.
### **7. *Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope* (1977): The Iconic "Vader’s Breathing" Was Recorded Using a Vacuum Cleaner**
Darth Vader’s menacing breathing sound, one of the most recognizable audio cues in cinema history, was not created by high-tech equipment or a special sound machine. Instead, it was made by recording the sound of a scuba regulator, the device used for underwater breathing, which was combined with the sound of a vacuum cleaner. The resulting iconic sound added to Vader’s intimidating presence.
### **8. *Pulp Fiction* (1994): Bruce Willis Was Unhappy With His Role**
Bruce Willis, who starred in *Pulp Fiction* as the boxer Butch, initially didn’t think much of the script when he first read it. In fact, he almost turned it down because of his role’s minimal screen time and the unconventional nature of the script. However, after meeting with Quentin Tarantino, Willis was convinced that the film would be special and took the part. This decision turned out to be one of his most memorable roles.
### **9. *Back to the Future* (1985): Michael J. Fox Wasn’t the First Choice**
Though *Back to the Future* is inseparably tied to Michael J. Fox’s portrayal of Marty McFly, Fox wasn’t the first actor cast in the role. The part was originally given to Eric Stoltz, but after several weeks of filming, the filmmakers realized that he wasn’t the right fit for the character. Fox was then brought in to replace him, and the film became a huge success with