Adam Sachs will work with De Line, Casey Affleck and De Line Pictures executive Andrew Hass to rework the story of a group of animals who are stranded when they are not chosen to go on Noah's ark.
Director Cameo: [Alfred Hitchcock] in silhouette 45 minutes into the film behind the door at the registrar of births and deaths.
A street sign in the film reads "Bates Ave". The Bates Motel was the setting for Hitchcock's earlier film Psycho (1960).
Roy Thinnes was originally hired to play Arthur Adamson, but Hitchcock's first choice William Devane became available so Hitch fired Thinnes without a reason and hired Devane. Some key scenes had been shot prior to this. Everything that had been shot was re-shot except for long shots which to this day remain as Roy Thinnes and not William Devane.
Director Trademark: [Alfred Hitchcock] [bathroom] features a modern chemical toilet.
Alfred Hitchcock was famous for making his actors follow the script to the word, but in this movie he let the characters improvise and use their own dialogue.
Alfred Hitchcock's final film.
The final shot in the movie, a wink by the Barbara Harris character was a jokey reference that was not planned but Alfred Hitchcock decided to leave in.
Lillian Gish wanted to test for the role of Julia Rainbird but the role had been promised to Cathleen Nesbitt.
Jack Nicholson couldn't accept the role of George Lumley, as he was doing One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).
Liza Minnelli was originally cast to play the role that later went to Barbara Harris.
Karen Black initially wanted the role of Blanche.
Alfred Hitchcock initially wanted Al Pacino for the role of Lumley. According to an interview on the DVD with Bruce Dern, who ultimately got the part, Pacino's asking price was too high because of the recent successes he had enjoyed (Serpico, The Godfather, etc.)
Faye Dunaway was offered the role of Fran.
Fran:
I don''t know what''s come over me tonight. I''m tingling all over.
Arthur Adamson:
I told you about danger, didn''t I? First it makes you sick, then when you get through it, it makes you very, very loving.
Arthur Adamson:
Isn''t it touching how a perfect murder has kept our friendship alive all these years.
Constantine:
When a guy like me gets kidnapped by a woman, he wants her to be twenty-five.
Continuity: George removes the cap of the ketchup bottle twice between shots when he and Blanche are eating in Blanche''s kitchen.
Continuity: The amount of beer in George''s glass at the diner while waiting for Maloney, increases after he takes a drink.
Continuity: Towards the end when George is in the basement, he passes a window that shows it is day outside, though the scene takes place at night.
Continuity: When Arthur Adamson opens the garage door Blanche''s car is parked directly in front of it and they are not able to leave. But after taking care of Blanche the car has not moved and they are still able to leave the garage.
References
Psycho (1960)
Referenced in
Dazed and Confused (1993)
- title on theater sign
The Making of 'Psycho' (1997) (V)
'Topaz': An Appreciation by Film Critic/Historian Leonard Maltin (2001) (V)
- mentioned once
'Silent Running': A Conversation with Bruce Dern, 'Lowell Freeman' (2002) (V)
- mentioned once
The Ring (2002)
Featured in
Hitchcock: Shadow of a Genius (1999) (TV)
Plotting 'Family Plot' (2001) (V)
- clips shown