7 things about Pulp Fiction
It’s been over 23 years since Quentin Tarantino’s modern classic, Pulp Fiction, was released in cinemas, and its fan base has only grown since then. To celebrate our love for this shining moment of cinema, we’ve dug up some fun facts and titbits about the film and its creation.
1. Don’t let your grandchildren watch it
Well, not until they’re a little older – the film contains 265 instances of the word “f**k”. It might seem like overkill, but it’s what we’ve come to expect from Tarantino films.
2. Uma wasn’t first pick
It’s hard to imagine anyone else as Mia, but she wasn’t Tarantino’s first choice for the role. Among other famous names Tarantino was considering were Meg Ryan, Daryl Hannah, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Isabella Rossellini, and Halle Berry. His preferred choice apparently would have been Michelle Pfeiffer.
3. That injecting scene? Movie magic
Understandably, John Travolta was apparently very nervous about the scene in which his character injects Mia with adrenaline. To make it less stressful for everyone, the needle was carefully inserted, and then filming began with Travolta pulling the needle out. By running the footage backwards, it looks like the needle is desperately plunging the needle into Mia.
4. The film inspired Top Gear
Remember Top Gear’s helmeted race car driver “Stig”? The concept was inspired by Pulp Fiction’s anonymous character, Gimp. Top Gear’s creators apparently wanted to use “Gimp” for their driver, but had trouble finding a driver whose ego or masculinity could handle the name.
5. Honey Bunny was a real rabbit first
The story goes that Linda Chen, who typed up Tarantino’s handwritten script for him, asked him to pet sit for her rabbit, Honey Bunny, when she went on location instead of paying her for the task. For whatever reason, Tarantino refused. The rabbit later died, and in honour of it, the director named one of the film’s characters after the pet.
6. Tarantino didn’t direct the whole film
Sometimes, actors direct a film they’re performing in, doing both jobs from in front of the camera. But when Tarantino stepped out of the director’s chair to play Jimmie, he asked long-time collaborator Robert Rodriguez to direct the scenes.
7. Butch wasn’t written for Bruce Willis
Tarantino famously writes roles with actors already firmly in his mind. The character of Butch was originally written for Matt Dillon, who took his time making up his mind if he wanted it. Tarantino rewrote the part slightly to make it for an older actor and offered it to Bruce Willis.
Which of Quentin Tarantino’s films is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.