ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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IMDB has several interesting trivia items for this production.
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~ In an odd parallel, Tom Waits actually creates curious machines from junk and hardware store purchases, in the same way that his character (Dr. Heller) does. Waits' machines are musical, and one is 6-stringed steel dumpster.

Note from me: I love to see some of those creations.

~ Tom Waits' odd hand gestures when explaining the psychofrakulator were the result of him writing his dialogue on his fingers and reading the words as he went along.

Note from me: I'll have to keep an eye out for that the scene the next time I watch this movie.

I wonder if these next two items are related.

~ According to Ben Stiller in an interview on Late Show with David Letterman (1993), he and Greg Kinnear got into a heated argument on the set. Afterwards, Stiller tried to be released from the film.

~ According to Hank Azaria, the cast argued constantly with each other over the comedic tone of the film.

Note from me: If Ben and Greg argued about the quality of the movie they were appearing in, that might why Ben wanted out of it.

~ According to the DVD commentary, the scene where The Spleen accidentally ignites a blast of flatulence standing by a barrel with a fire in it was a happy accident. Apparently, a crew member had tossed a plastic lighter in the barrel. It happened to explode (a small explosion, but an explosion none the less) while filming Paul Reubens.

The reactions that followed were created after the fact, capitalizing on the moment caught on film.

Note from me: Hmmm . . . a coincidence? Or was it . . . fate?

~ The bowler's skull ball was a custom ball. After the release of the movie, bowling ball manufacturer Ebonite made a less-detailed version of the skull ball as part of their Super Fun Ball line.

Note from me: I happened bowled in years, but one of these would look good my mantel.





~ The Bowler's stream-of-consciousness monologue in support of independent filmmaking at the conclusion of the film was originally not intended to be included in the finished print. Janeane Garofalo was instructed by director Kinka Usher to say whatever came to her mind at the time (Usher simply wanted to use up some excess film.) Usher liked her performance so much he edited it into the final print.

Note from me: Wow, I'll bet Miss Garofalo was pleased about that!

~ Shoveler's motivational speech in the diner borrows heavily from the Battle of Agincourt speech in William Shakespeare's Henry V.

Note from me: I think this speech includes the best quote from this movie.

"Gentlemen, we've got a blind date with destiny... and it looks like she's ordering the lobster. "

~ Shovel fighting was taught to most infantry through the end of World War II. The reasoning was that infantry were often responsible for digging their own foxholes, and their enemies were unlikely to honour a call of "Time out!" while they went to fetch their gun or bayonet.

Note from me: The Army taught the men how to fight with shovels? The idea makes sense, I guess, but I can't quite picture what sort of fighting techniques would be developed specifically for shovels.

~ The wanna-be heroes auditioning at the pool party include two Power Women, Supervacman, the Reverse Psychologist, Mr. Pups, Waffler (cameo by Dane Cook), Ballerinaman, Mailman, Pencilman (though he introduces himself as Pencilhead, despite the initials on his shirt being PM), Son of Pencilman, Little Miss Vengeance, Squeegeeman (cameo by Dana Gould), Maintainer, The Artiste, Big Billy Hill Billy, PMS Avenger, Radio Man, two Pigs, Martial Artist, Gorilla, Evil Devil Woman, Globalman, Gardener, Bullfighter, Stilt Man, Fisherman, and Thirstyman.

Note from me: There are some mighty funny names on that list.

~ According to Janeane Garofalo, the Bowler's bowling ball was about 30 pounds.

Note from me: I doubt this is true. The heaviest bowling balls are only 16 pounds.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Krel]

[Bud Brewster]

[ralfy]

The verbal sparring with the Sphinx's hilarious.

[tmlindsey]

I loved the movie when I first saw it. I have no history with the original comic book characters, so any changes didn't bother me. It's just as funny to me today as when I first watched it.
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"Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?"

[Krel]

Bud, I'm not arguing about the weight or the difficulty holding it up.

The resin they used might be denser than normal bowling ball material. The skull had to be made of some dense material, plastic would have melted from the heat of the resin curing. There were undoubtedly more than one lighter weight stunt, carry version. The one she is holding would be the closeup hero version.

You can bet that they would not have used that one to roll down the lane and smack pins with. It would get scratched, chipped and cracked. Building that prop must have been a nightmare for whomever had to cast it. Eliminating bubbles is difficult in opaque props, even with pressure casting. Imagine how hard it must be with clear props.

It used to be in movies and TV, that if a gun wasn't to be fired, a resin or foam gun was used. Nowadays they use airsoft guns, although the foam versions are still used for scenes where someone is to be struck with the gun.

David.

[orzel-w]

Update time!

There have been a few developments since my last post. First off, my drawing of the Herkimer is revised once again. The link to Deviant Art I posted originally will take you to the most recent version.

A correction on my earlier mention of the added rear axle: The rear axle added to the Ford chassis was belt driven from the forward/single rear axle. Here's the arrangement from a Ford pamphlet (see the "Optional Belt Drive" image on the right).



The belt drive can be seen in certain shots in the movie, for example when the Herk has driven up the steps of the mansion and crashed into the front door.

Another revelation comes from high-resolution photos by Jim Bertges of the Herk at the 1999 San Diego Comic-Con. We were able to see markings (artwork and stenciled lettering) not visible or unclear in previous photos. These markings are typical of military aircraft.




Here's a photo of a B-29 with similar markings (the mission marker "bombs" are identical).



The markings tie in with other similarities to aircraft, such as the streamlined nacelle-style front fenders, the rounded front, the dual driver controls, the hand-operated throttle, the "PAKAWALUP" nose art, etc. Go figger...

And lastly (at least for this post), the current owner of the Herk is now Mark Zoran of Razorfly Studios in North Carolina. Mark's studio reproduces movie and TV vehicles, and he's working on restoring the Herk to its original configuration.
https://www.facebook.com/RazorflyStudios
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...or not...

WayneO
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[orzel-w]

This is a map I put together showing the markings found on the Herk from Jim Bertges' beautiful photos. (Ever see a military ground vehicle with the crew weight listed on the side? Just asking. I don't know.)


_________________
...or not...

WayneO
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[Gord Green]

The "Jit" is really quite a distinct vehicle ! It looks like a boiler mated to a WW2 bomber!

Your drawings are great!

Gotta know more about this thing!
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There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child.

[orzel-w]

[tmlindsey]

R.I.P. Spleen

https://variety.com/2023/film/news/paul-reubens-dead-pee-wee-herman-1235683504/

In our hearts, you shall forever by "He who dealt it".
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"Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?"

[Pow]

I was sorry to see Captain Amazing killed, even if it was his own fault due to his massive ego.

[orzel-w]