The Big House was the only best picture nominee to have done something during production that was not uncommon in the early 1930s (including some fairly famous films), but was soon all but abandoned by Hollywood.

What did the producers do while making the film that ended up with Oscar nomination?

I doubt that this is the answer, but I found out that after pre-views, audiences didn't like part of the story line, so they rewrote the movie in parts...but I think that was done with a lot of other movies, too...

No, that is not the answer.

To revive the sleeping body here -

You could see The Big House on screen in 1930-31, but without Chester Morris, Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone or Robert Montgomery. How is that possible?

quote:

Originally posted by seanflynn:
To revive the sleeping body here -

You could see The Big House on screen in 1930-31, but without Chester Morris, Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone or Robert Montgomery. How is that possible?

Two things occur to me though I have proof for neither based on wikipedia and imdb...

1) The film proved unpopular so it was reshot with new actors.

2) The film was shot with multiple casts to play in foreign countries.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pacinofan,

The latter - normally IMDb does list foreign versions, but didn't in this case - usually the best way to determine is look under the writers and check their credits.

What The Big House did was have three versions shot at the same time - one in English (the one we know), one in French (with Charles Boyer in the lead), one in German. All had the same script; they shot over a 24 hour period using the same set-ups, sets, in shifts, very assembly lock, sharing some long shots and other footage, but otherwise each having its own existance.

This was done fairly regularly in the early days of sound for films that producers thought could be big hits overseas (the US and Germany fought big battles around the world in the late 20s for screen domination, and of course with silents all you had to do was translate the intertitles). So before subtitles and dubbing, doing different versions made more sense.

Apart from German and French, many films had Spanish language versions. The most famous of these is Dracula, shot at the same time as the Bela Lugosi/Tod Browning version, distinctive in its own way. The most famous one of all is probably Anna Christie, Garbo's first sound film, which is possibly even better than the English language version.

History lesson complete, over to Pacinofan...

Name the Oscar winner being described...

This Oscar winning actor first appeared onstage as a child in the Yiddish theatre but had a variety of jobs as a boxing instuctor, forestry manager and gym instructor before making his Broadway debut at age 28.

Paul Muni?

Nope.

OK it's Walter Matthau for sure

It is. Ask a new question.

Don't have one - I'd like the first person out there who has never asked a question to take my place - play nice...

What Oscar winner threatened the life of the reporter who phoned them with the news of their win (in the event the reporter was joking)?

OK, just to bring this thread back.

[Or everyone was already tired of it?]

What is the common with the following Best Picture winners:

All Quiet on the Western Front
You Can't Take It With You
The Best Years of Our Lives
Around the World in Eighty Days

CLUE: It has something to do with the title.

They are all comprised of 6 words... although there are a few others claiming this distinction too - The Bridge on the River Kwai, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. This is also the most words of a best picture winner I believe, save for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

I'm hoping that tonrolo gives us another clue for his question...

quote:

Originally posted by tonorlo:
What Oscar winner threatened the life of the reporter who phoned them with the news of their win (in the event the reporter was joking)?

That's the late, great Anna Magnani. Damn I loved her in The Rose Tattoo.

It was probably 5 am or something like that in Rome. I'd be upset if not only someone woke me up but also was playing a trick.

quote:

Originally posted by ETHELCHARLES:
They are all comprised of 6 words... although there are a few others claiming this distinction too - The Bridge on the River Kwai, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. This is also the most words of a best picture winner I believe, save for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

No, that's not the answer. Only those four titles fit in the category that I'm saying.

quote:

Originally posted by iskolar:
No, that's not the answer. Only those four titles fit in the category that I'm saying.

Sonuvagun, Iskolar. I hate you, man, I can't figure this out. I thought it was what Charles mentioned, but when you debunked that, I'm at a loss.