Spike Lee encountered difficulty in securing a sufficient budget. Lee told Warner Bros. and the bond company that a budget of over 30 million dollars was necessary; the studio disagreed, and offered a lower amount. Following advice from fellow director Francis Ford Coppola, Lee "got the movie company pregnant," taking it far enough along into actual production to attempt to force the studio to increase the budget. The film, initially budgeted at 28 million dollars, climbed to nearly 33 million dollars. Lee contributed two million dollars of his own three million dollar salary. Completion Bond Company, which assumed financial control in January 1992, refused to approve any more expenditures; in addition, the studio and bond company instructed Lee that the film could be no longer than two hours and fifteen minutes in length; the resulting conflict caused the project to be shut down in post-production. The film was saved by the financial intervention of prominent black Americans, some of whom appear in the film: Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Janet Jackson, Prince, and Peggy Cooper Cafritz, founder of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Their contributions were made as donations; as Lee noted, "This is not a loan. They are not investing in the film. These are black folks with some money, who came to the rescue of the movie. As a result, this film will be my version. Not the bond company's version, not Warner Brothers'. I will do the film the way it ought to be, and it will be over three hours." The actions of such prominent members of the African American community giving their money helped finish the project as Lee envisioned it.
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
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Fan of Grumpy Old Men or just want to share your movie knowledge? This topic is dedicated to all trivia and questions related to Grumpy Old Men
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Jeff Goldblum was considered for the role of John Gustafson Jr.
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After filming this movie in Minnesota in freezing temperatures, Walter Matthau was hospitalized with double pneumonia.
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Terry Jones was considered for the role of Max Goldman.
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The tune that Max hums whenever he is "on the prowl for love" is The Barber of Seville.
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The sixth pairing out of ten movies of comic actors and great friends Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.
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Nathan Lane was considered for the role of Max Goldman.
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During a scene where John & JW (Grandpa) Gustafson are walking through the ice fishing shacks, you can see a signpost like the one in MASH (1972) had in the center of camp pointing out distances to member's home towns. The one in Grumpy Old Men (1993) shows "Kenosha, WI 250 miles", "Fair Banks, AK 3130 miles", and "Rosies, Seoul 6750 miles". This is an homage to the TV show MASH (1972), which lists this in its trivia:"Rosie's bar" was inspired by a real bar in Seoul called "Rose's bar". Located just outside Camp Mosier in Seoul, Rose's bar was located in an area which had a thriving night life catering primarily to U.S. military personnel. After the war, this section of Seoul turned into a residential area, but Rose's bar continued to exist till 1971 when it was brought down to build small apartments. (Source: Armed Forces History Museum)
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Albert Finney was considered for the role of John Gustafson Sr.
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Jacob asks Max if he wants to watch "Leno or Letterman", referring to Late Show with David Letterman (1993) and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992).
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Tracey Ullman was considered for the role of Melanie Gustafson.
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The address of 11291 Chloe Ln. Wabasha, MN 55981 which appears on Grandpa Gustafson's shanty door is actually the address of Slippery's Bar & Grill in Wabasha, MN which is the bar referenced in the film.
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Alison Doody was considered for the role of Ariel Truax.
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Max tells Snyder John Gustafson is a menace. The same line he used in Dennis the menace (1993) talking about Dennis Mitchell.
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Martin Short was considered for the role of Jacob Goldman.
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Although his character is supposed to be 94 years old in this movie, Burgess Meredith was in fact 85 years old when this movie was filmed and is only 17 years older than Jack Lemmon who portrays his son in this movie.
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Alec Baldwin was considered for the role of John Gustafson Jr.
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Bette Midler was considered for the role of Ariel Truax.
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Mickey Rourke was considered for the role of Max Goldman.
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Heather Locklear was considered for the role of Melanie Gustafson.
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
Grumpy Old Men - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts
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