A secretary named Margaret Herrick, who later became executive director of the Academy gave the Academy Award statuette the name “Oscar”. According to legend, she looked at the statuette and said, “Why, he reminds me of my Uncle Oscar.” The uncle’s full name was Oscar Pierce.
The Big Clock (1948) was the basis for No Way Out (1987), set in the world of magazine publishing instead of at the Pentagon. Ray Milland played the role later taken by Kevin Costner and Charles Laughton played the Gene Hackman role.
Played by John Wayne, The Shootist was John Bernard Brooks. It was John Wayne’s last film.
The Heiress is based on the book Washington Square, by Henry James.
Tom Selleck was first approached to play Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), then known for his commercials for Chaz Cologne. He turned the offer down for the lead in a TV series, “Magnum, PI” (CBS, 1980-88).
Sean Young was originally cast as Vicki Vale in Batman (1989). She fractured her shoulder in a riding accident two weeks before the start of principal filming. Kim Basinger took over.