The Last Temptation of Christ - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts

[discussimdb]

Fan of The Last Temptation of Christ or just want to share your movie knowledge? This topic is dedicated to all trivia and questions related to The Last Temptation of Christ

[russell]

The picture was Oscar nominated in one category, for Best Director - Martin Scorsese. In the history of the Academy Awards, it has been a very rare occurrence indeed for a film to be Oscar nominated just only for directing without being nominated for anything else.

[beth]

Martin Scorsese's friend and The New Yorker Magazine's critic Jay Cocks worked uncredited to revise the screenplay by Paul Schrader. Cocks' contribution could not be credited due to contractual obligations, as well as WGA regulations, which Schrader admits was unfair.

[bernard]

To get the film made, director Martin Scorsese offered to shoot the picture in a minimal fifty-eight days for a mere $7 million, which was half of its original budget when the picture was being developed at Paramount Pictures, upon which the Universal Studios greenlit the production. Due to the time constraints for principal photography, Scorsese developed a "minimalist aesthetic", many scenes were improvised and worked out on the run with little rehearsal and preparation. Scorsese once commented: "We worked in a state of emergency."

[eli]

The original production design concept was developed by Boris Leven, who collaborated with Martin Scorsese since New York, New York (1977). However, Mr. Leven passed away in 1986 after completing The Color of Money (1986), and John Beard replaced him, with many of Mr. Leven's original designs forced to be abandoned, due to the budgetary limitations.

[violet]

Willem Dafoe could not see for three days, because he got too many eye drops to dilate the pupils of his eyes in bright sunlight to achieve a superhuman effect.

[bessie]

Martin Scorsese's parents did not want him to direct this movie, because they were afraid for him, and for the backlash that the film would possibly garner, which of course it did.

[edgar]

Final film of Verna Bloom.

[jeffrey]

The film was released thirty-five years after its source novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis was published. Also known as "The Last Temptation", the novel was published in English in 1960, Martin Scorsese first optioned the film rights to the book during the late 1970s.

[norma]

When the movie was originally slated to be produce Scorsese originally wanted Prince protege Vanity to play Mary Magdalene. She was also slated to star in what would become another iconic movie of the 80's but was only offered $5000 to play in it. After speaking with her manager and many friends she dropped out of the musical and decided to star in "Last Temptation". Coincidentally, Last Temptation was delayed in 83 and 84 and the other film became a huge hit with Vanity not starring in either.

[melinda]

David Bowie filmed his role as Pontius Pilate in two days after finishing the Glass Spider tour.

[eli]

Mel Gibson was considered to star as Jesus. He went on to direct The Passion of the Christ (2004).

[mathew]

Harry Dean Stanton appeared with Willem Dafoe in Wild at Heart (1990) and with David Bowie in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992). Both films were directed by David Lynch.

[manuel]

This is Martin Scorsese's only R-rated film without swearing until Silence (2016).

[ruby]

Due to several threats from religious groups, Martin Scorsese had to be accompanied by bodyguards during public appearances for a while after the movie's release.

[victoria]

When the film was finally greenlit in the mid 1980s, Martin Scorsese offered the role of Jesus to Aidan Quinn, who had initially been cast during a previous attempt to make the film. Scorsese then considered Eric Roberts and Christopher Walken before casting Willem Dafoe.

[bryan]

The film was briefly banned in São Paulo, Brazil, due to a conservative city Mayor opposed to the film's ideas. It got a theatrical release in the following year after his term had ended.

[bessie]

As of 2018, this is the only film that Martin Scorsese was nominated for a Best Director Oscar in a non-Best Picture nominated film.

[jesse]

As of January 2002, the film cannot be shown on public television in Bulgaria. The National Television had scheduled it for showing, but the Bulgarian Orthodox Church managed to get a forbidding order, and the Council of Electronic Media banned it.

[stephanie]

Director Martin Scorsese had wanted to make a film version on the life of Jesus Christ ever since his childhood.