White Squall - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts

[discussimdb]

Fan of White Squall or just want to share your movie knowledge? This topic is dedicated to all trivia and questions related to White Squall

[wesley]

At 5 feet and 1 inch tall, Jason Marsden ("Shay Jennings") was much shorter than the rest of the cast, so many of the scenes he appears in he either sitting down, or situated within the group so that his height is disguised

[harry]

Many sailors claimed no line squall existed. The derecho line thunderstorm that struck the USA Eastern Seaboard on 29 June 2012 is the kind of "line squall" that wrecked the actual sailboat on which the plot of the film is based.

[kristen]

Actor Balthazar Getty is the son of John Paul Getty III. Director Ridley Scott would later tell the story of Balthazar Getty's father, who was kidnapped in Italy in 1973, in All the Money in the World (2017).

[leo]

The ship used in the film is the "Eye of the Wind", originally built in 1911 as a top-sail schooner and refitted in 1975 as a brigantine. She is now rigged as a Brig. It was also used in The Blue Lagoon (1980), Savage Island (1985), and Tai-Pan (1986).

[leo]

On the same day that production on his film "Hot Zone" was cancelled, Ridley Scott was given a copy of this film's script. Ninety minutes later, he announced that he would direct it.

[edgar]

The real Chuck Gieg and Tod Johnstone went on to fight in the Vietnam War, three years after the Albatross sank. Both returned safely.

[terry]

Jeff Bridges was in real-life a veteran of the United States Coast Guard.

[russell]

Director Dan Trachtenberg wrote on Twitter: "I love Ridley Scott's WHITE SQUALL. Who's with me?" Producer Megan Ellison answered: "I love White Squall. I wanted to live that story as a kid...well, the first 2/3 that is" [July 4, 2017]

[sara]

The Danish school girls in the movie were meant to be French school girls in the original script. This change came about as a casting director who searched for French-speaking and -looking actresses met Danish actress Camilla Overbye Roos. The casting director wanted to cast her but she could not speak French. Overbye-Roos then suggested changing the French girls to Danish girls. The casting director asked her to find suitable Danish girls (which were found by contacting Danish exchange students and au-pair girls in America). Photos and screen test of the girls that were found were then sent to director Ridley Scott who approved the change.

[gerald]

This picture is dedicated In Memory Of: Alice Sheldon; George Ptacnik; Rick Marsellus; Robin Wetherall; John Goodlett; and Chris Coristine..."Good shipmates all."

[jessica]

When the boys return from the mountain, after signing the book, they are bare-chested with their faces painted. This is very reminiscent of 'Lord of the Flies', the 1990 theatrical version of which also starred Balthazar Getty.

[tom]

The real life Tod Johnstone has a small role in the film where he plays his own father.

[riley]

Jeff Bridges reportedly insisted on special thick-soled shoes for when he climbed the rigging as the ratlines hurt his feet.

[chad]

In actuality, six people died in the incident, including four students. The movie omits two of those deaths in the story.

[nora]

In spring 1961, the real Christopher "Skipper" Sheldon became the first Peace Corps director in Latin America. He never remarried.

[chad]

Scott Wolf was 29 when he played a 15-year-old boy.