Jane Russel and Marilyn Monroe got along well. Russell called Monroe “Blondie” and was often the only person on the set who could coax Monroe out of her trailer to begin the day’s filming.
Mr. Blonde’s real name is Vic Vega. This is the same surname as Vince (John Travolta) from Quentin Tarantino’s film Pulp Fiction. Tarantino has revealed that are Vic and Vince brothers. He also intended to do a prequel to both films called “Double V Vega”, which would star the Vega Brothers, but Madsen and Travolta eventually got too old to reprise their roles, and Tarantino has since abandoned it.
Lauren Bacall’s character, Schatze, says, “I’ve always liked older men… Look at that old fellow what’s-his-name in The African Queen. Absolutely crazy about him.” She is referring to Bacall’s real-life husband, Humphrey Bogart.
Courtney Love and Winona Ryder were both initially considered for the role of Marla Singer, but in the end, it came down to Helena Bonham Carter and Reese Witherspoon. Director David Fincher wanted Bonham-Carter, but the studio wanted a bigger name and chose to go with Witherspoon. In the end however, the decision was taken out of their hands when Witherspoon turned down the role as being “too dark” and Bonham-Carter was cast.
The throwing around of the tennis ball inside the overlook hotel was Jack Nicholson’s idea. The script originally only specified that, “Jack is not working”.
Stanley Kubrick, known for his compulsiveness and numerous retakes, got the difficult shot of blood pouring from the elevators in only three takes. This would be remarkable if it weren’t for the fact that the shot took nine days to set up; every time the doors opened and the blood poured out, Kubrick would say, “It doesn’t look like blood.” In the end, the shot took approximately a year to get righ.
