It takes a lot of hard work to bring a film to the big screen.
Thousands and thousands of hours are required to produce what is essentially only two hours of work.
With so much time spent making movies, there are plenty of fascinating facts that emerge from the world of movies.
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For example, whilst shooting his movie “The Abyss,” James Cameron got quite agitated when a studio executive showed up in his suit and limousine on set, expecting to boss him around.
Cameron very smoothly slipped a diving helmet on the executive’s head and closed the seal, letting him flail around for a bit whilst the oxygen inside began to rapidly disappear.
He removed the helmet and told the executive that is what it feels like to run out of air, which is what had happened to him a few hours earlier whilst shooting underwater.
He said that he would not tolerate interference from office dwellers.
The exec got the point and was never seen on set again.
Another interesting fact is that half of the top twenty global box office successes of the last 12 years are based on novels written by UK writers.
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Five were written by JK Rowling, three by JRR Tolkien and one each by Ian Fleming and Lewis Carroll.
In many cases, years are spent planning and developing the final cut of a film.
But even with this meticulous planning and millions of dollars being spent, sometimes mistakes can slip through and end up on our screens.
Some movie mistakes are caused by the standard practice of shooting out of sequence.
Very few movies are filmed in a linear progression according to the script.
The producers may only have access to a particular location for a short amount of time, so the director and actors must shoot all of the scenes based at that location at one time, regardless of where the scenes fit in the overall narrative.
Sometimes, however, the biggest movie mistakes are not visible in the movie itself, but occur as a process behind screen.
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Take the instance of 50 Shades of Grey, for example. It was perhaps a big mistake to give the books author, E.L James, too much power on set.
It was directed by Nowhere Boy‘s Sam Taylor-Johnson.
Most novelists get only minimal say over how their work is adapted for screen.
This was not the case for James, who was granted a high level of power and wielded it over the director.
They allegedly argue over every diversion from the original text, while demanding that screenwriter Kelly Marcel’s script be rewritten to match the novel’s – famously awful – dialogue.
Taylor-Johnson has spoken of “lots of on-set tête-à-tetes” with James, and that she’s steering well clear of the sequel.
“Would I go through it again? Of course I wouldn’t. I’d be mad.”
Of course, the final cut was a huge commercial success (despite being panned by critics) so perhaps James was on to something after all.
Often these mistakes go unnoticed, but other times they’re not so hard to spot.
Let’s have a look at some of the more glaringly obvious slip-ups that gave made it into the movies.
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1. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
In this scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the owner of the sweetshop nearly knocks this eagerly-waiting child out as he lifts his counter top. Ouch.
We’re sure the girl didn’t mind for the chance to get her hands on one of those golden tickets.
The film is an adaptation of the 1964 classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Author, Roald Dahl, is credited with writing the film’s screenplay.
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However, another writer was drafted in to re-work it, changing the ending and adding musical numbers.
These changes lead to Dahl disowning the film.
Did you know that the reactions of the actors and actresses in some scenes are spontaneous.
For example, when the children first enter the Chocolate Room and see the candy gardens, their reactions are real, it was really their first view of that particular set.
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2. Hitch
One of the more memorable scenes of the film Hitched is when Will Smith’s character has an allergic reaction and the right side of his face swells up.
Later on that evening, however, the swelling seems to have magically hopped to his other eye. Hmmm…
In the film, Smith plays the main fictional character of the film, Alex “Hitch” Hitchens, who is a professional dating consultant who makes a living teaching men how to woo women.
The firehouse shown during the opening credits of the film the same firehouse that was seen in Ghostbusters (1984).
Jennifer Lopez turned down the role of Sara Melas.
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3. Dirty Dancing
In Dirty Dancing, there is one scene where Patrick Swayze is supposed to be driving a car.
This would be impossible, however, when the vehicle’s gear shift is set to the park position as can been seen here. Ooops!.
For lovers of film facts out there, the scenes in which they are dancing in the water were shot in the autumn.
As such, the production team had to spray pain the leaves of the trees around it green to make it seem like it was still summer.
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4. Soul Surfer
The colour green is regularly used by special effects teams when needing to edit out certain objects in a scene.
In the film Soul Surfer, AnnaSophia Robb’s arm is supposed to be amputated and therefore the actresses real arm was wrapped in green tape.
In the scene above, this tape can clearly still be seen. Someone’s head is going to end up on the cutting-room floor.
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5. Avatar
In the movie Avatar, the Na’vi are supposed to be 10 foot tall creatures.
As such, when lead character Jake touches the cheek of this Na’vi at the end of the film, it is severely out of proportion. Rookie mistake.
We’re sure that many people didn’t mind though, because Avatar went on to become the highest grossing movie of all time.
Director, James Cameron, also boasts the second place on the list with his film Titanic.
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6. It’s A Wonderful Life
In It’s a Wonderful Life, the character of Clarence says that his brother, George, died whilst he was only nine years old. But on his tombstones, the dates would indicate that he is only 8. Do the maths people!
Despite not being very commercially successful at the Box Office, It’s A Wonderful Life is now considered a classic Christmas movie and is adored by millions every year.
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7. North By Northwest
In the film North by Northwest, one of the extras can be seen putting his fingers in his ears before the gunshot is actually fired. This is what we call being prepared.
The film is a tale of mistaken identity, with an innocent man pursued across the United States by agents of a mysterious organisation trying to prevent him from blocking their plan to smuggle out microfilm that contains government secrets.
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8. Braveheart
Even though the events of Braveheart are set during the 14th Century, in this still you can see a car parked in the bottom-left corner.
We’re pretty certain these things didn’t show up until a lot later?
The epic war film was directed by and stars Mel Gibson as William Wallace, a late 13th-century Scottish warrior who led the Scottish in the First War of Scottish Independence against Edward I of England.
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9. Miss Congeniality
During the final beauty pageant, a bouquet of roses are passed back and forth between Sandra Bullock’s character and another pageant-queen hopeful.
During this to-and-fro, the red petals seem to disappear and reappear again.
Sandra Bullock wore a wig for most of the film and had a lot of combat training before the movie starting shooting so that she could do a lot of her own stunts.
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10. Gladiator
In Gladiator, when one of the chariots flip, a gas canister can be seen underneath to help produce some of the effects.
At least we got an insight in to how the effect was produced here!
It is said that Gladiator has been widely credited for reigniting interest in films about Ancient Greek and Roman Culture.
The remake of “Ben-Hur” has been widely credited for doing the exact opposite.
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11. Frozen
In this scene in Frozen, Elsa’s braid magically passes through her left shoulder. Obviously the editors just let it go…get it…let it go? If you know, you know.
In the first drafts of the film, Elsa was originally supposed to be a villain.
People producing the film also travelled to Norway for inspiration on the film’s snowy landscapes.
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12. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
In Terminator Two: Judgement Day,this guy’s head splits before Arnie actually fires the shot! I’m sure someone got fired here!
Or maybe it was the T1000 splitting its head so the shell would pass through harmlessly? Nope, they messed up!
Until The Bourne Ultimatum was released in 2007, Terminator Two was the only sequel to win an Academy Award when the previous instalment(s) received no nominations.
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13. Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, when Hagrid’s half-brother Grawp attempts to pick up Hermione, you will see that her legs briefly disappear.
However, this could simply be down to magic and not a slip up from the effects team…
In the film, the Ministry of Magic set took over 22 weeks on film, and was only featured in the film for less than 10 minutes.
Good job then that it was needed again for the final instalment!
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14. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, during a duel between Harry And Draco Malfoy, a cameraman can clearly be seen stood filming the action amongst the rest of the Hogwarts pupils.
It seems no movie-magic was used to try and edit him out.
In another piece of interesting movie trivia, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets started filming only three days after The Philosopher’s Stone had finished. Now that’s what we call a quick turnaround.
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15. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
And finally, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the candles (supposedly floating by magic) are not floating by magic at all! “WHAT?” I here you cry? “It’s not real magic?”
No – unfortunately not. Here, the wires holding the candles up can clearly be seen. We’re going to grab our invisibility cloak and get the hell out of here!
J.K Rowling received a total of 12 rejection letters before The Philosopher’s Stone was accepted for publication.
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16. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
One of the most famous movie bloopers that made the final cut of all time, the Storm Trooper hitting his head as he passes through the door has gone down in movie infamy! Everyone loves a stupid Storm Trooper!
George Lucas was so convinced that this film would be a flop that instead of attending the premiere, he went on holiday to Hawaii with his good friend Steven Spielberg.
It is during this holiday that they came up with the idea for Raiders of the Lost Ark.
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17. Django Unchained
In this scene, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character slams his hand on the desk and he cut his hand badly on some glass, in the next few moments following he reacts to the blood on his hand but doesn’t break character, what a pro!
At one point during the shoot, DiCaprio had to stop filming a scene because he was having “a difficult time” using so many racial slurs.
Samuel L. Jackson then pulled him aside telling him, “Mother****, this is just another Tuesday for us.”
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18. Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers
In the scene where Aragorn thinks the Hobbits have been killed and he kicks a helmet, falls to his knees and screams, the fall and scream are totally genuine as he broke his foot kicking the solid metal helmet! Ouch!
Gollum actor, Andy Serkis’s, agent thought that it would be a simple three weeks of voiceover work in New Zealand.
However, Peter Jackson was so impressed that Serkis also took the role of recreating Gollum’s movements too.
Serkis would later go on to do some directing work on the film too.
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19. Gone With The wind
Proof that even the most iconic of films can get it wrong! In Gone With The Wind, a character is clearly seen picking up a lamp and trying to hide the electric wires, even though it would not have been an electric lamp in the era in which the film was set, but it still made it in to the film!
Gone with the Wind’s original director was George Cukor, who had spent more than two years in planning and developing the film.
Officially, he left the picture when he and producer Selznick couldn’t come to terms on the pace of filming and on how much expensive authenticity and detail Cukor was insisting on.
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20. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Another very famous mistake that made it in to a film, when Han Solo is getting encased in carbonite, one minute he has no jacket, then he does, then he doesn’t again – all this with his hands tied, now that’s clever!
The Empire Strikes back includes one of the most misquoted movie lines in history.
Vader does not say “Luke, I am your father,” he says, “No, I am your father.”
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21. The Wizard of Oz
Another famous film makes it on to the list! In one scene when the Sacrecrow gets hit by an apple, Dorothy can be seen wearing black shoes – where did the Ruby Shoes go that she can’t take off??
Some interesting movie facts about The Wizard of Oz – the Lion’s costume was made out of real lion skin.
Also, the dog that play Toto reportedly earned $125 per week of filming—but each Munchkin actor just $50.
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22. Raiders of The Lost Ark
In this scene we see a man dressed in very 1980s gear, in spite of the movie being set more than 40 years previous!He certainly doesn’t fit in with the dress sense of the rest of the people in the scene and is wearing things that wouldn’t be in fashion for a good few decades yet!
Have we missed any famous bloopers that made it to the big screen? Did you already know about most of these?
Are some of them going to make you go back and re-watch your favourite films to make you wonder how you didn’t see it to start with?
Let us know in the comments as always!
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