Whenever someone brings up “the greatest movies of all time”, we all immediately think of Forrest Gump. And why wouldn’t we? From Robert Zemekis’ incredible directing to Tom Hanks’ brilliant acting to witty humor and emotional depth, this film has it all. Viewers and critics alike agree that Forrest Gump is a masterpiece. It did also go on to win multiple awards at the 67th Academy Awards. It’s because of reasons like this that we decided to take a closer look at this spectacular film. Take a look at these behind the scenes facts you probably didn’t know.
Bubba Gump
If you recall, Bubba (Forrest’s good friend from the war) had a lifelong dream to join the shrimping business. Bubba invites Forrest to join him in his dream once the war is over. However as you recall, Bubba died in Vietnam but his legacy lives on! In real life, you really can frequent a number of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. locations across America and countries like China, Japan, Mexico, and Malaysia.
Bubba Gump
Almost Real
Think back to when Forrest Gump meets President Lyndon B. Johnson while receiving his Medal of Honor. It’s a pretty iconic scene, one that is very real footage. However it isn’t footage that was obtained by anyone from the film. Instead it derives from the 1968 ceremony of Sammy L. Davis. Davis did actually receive the prestigious award for his service in Vietnam – the team just added Gump’s face onto Davis’ body. This was to provide the best illusion that Gump really did stand face-to-face with President Johnson.
Almost Real
Live From Vietnam
No, none of the war scenes from Forrest Gump were really filmed in Vietnam. It just took a bit of Hollywood magic to replicate the feeling of fighting in a reedy swamp. But where did they actually film these scenes? Believe it or not, a golf course on Fripp Island off the coast of South Carolina!
Live From Vietnam
Jenny’s Death
A heartbreaking moment in the film is undoubtedly when Jenny passes away from an unknown virus a mere year after she and Forrest finally tie the knot. While the virus is never named, seeing as how it took place at the height of the AIDS crisis, viewers can only assume this was the cause. However that’s not what the author wrote in the book. Winston Groom wrote in Bubba & Co., the sequel, that Jenny was infected with hepatitis C from her drug usage.
Jenny’s Death
Perfection
Tom Hank’s portrayal of Forrest Gump is captivating thanks to his distinct accent – no one can deny that. Of course we all know that that isn’t how Hanks speaks in real life. It took some serious dedication and time for Hanks to perfect the accent. In fact, Hanks took to real life to help him work on the accent, he modeled it after his costar, Michael Conner Humphreys, who plays young Forrest. Humphreys would receive a ton of critical acclaim in his career, including the Young Artist Award.
Perfection
An Illusion
Maybe Lieutenant Dan was a bit gruff throughout the movie but he was easily a fan favorite. Later on, he becomes a more vulnerable character as he’s crippled from the war and audiences love watching his transformation. To make Lieutenant Dan’s injuries look realistic, cinematic technology came into play. Gary Sinise, who played the loved character, sat in a wheelchair and appeared not to have legs. However the digital team placed blue fabric over his legs so they could create a rather convincing illusion.
An Illusion
The Scene
Robin Wright, AKA Jenny, delivers a powerful scene in the nightclub where she’s playing the guitar naked. In order to perfect the scene, it was actually shot for an entire day! Wright was sick for most of filming and found it difficult to perform while battling a runny nose and sniffles. However she did a spectacular job as that’s a scene engraved in all our heads.
The Scene
Magic
Computer-generated imagery (CGI) played an important role in Forrest Gump. We’ve already mentioned the swamp and Lt. Dan’s legs, however the CGI team did more than just that. Particularly during the ping pong tournament. That little ball flew around everywhere, faster than the eye could follow. Now when you have two actors who aren’t that skilled at ping-pong pretending that they are, there is a lot of hard work that has to come into play. The CGI team made sure to step in and have it appear as the two opponents were playing faster than the speed of sound and that made it appear as though they were far better skilled.
Magic
The Lip
Mykelti Williamson played the incredible Bubba. His looks and mad acting skill allowed him to take the character above and beyond, anyone will attest to that. However there was one thing that really stood out about Bubba, his lower lip. But did you know that the bulging lip was actually just a prosthetic?! Yup, Williamson needed to be fitted for the prosthetic so it took some time to perfect the look. Which is probably why it looks so convincing! Many fans were surprised when they saw him in real life because he wasn’t sporting the “lip”!
The Lip
His Career
Strangely enough, playing Bubba hurt Mykelti Williamson’s career. He played his part so flawlessly that many believed the director Zemeckis “had discovered some weird-looking guy and put him in front of the camera.” Moreover that’s exactly what casting directors thought too. Williamson has said that portraying Bubba made it difficult to find work afterwards. Although after appearing on The Late Show With David Letterman, he was able to clear the air once and for all.
His Career
Forrest Gump
“My name is Forrest Gump. People call me Forrest Gump.” When Tom Hanks uttered these words, he did so with much authority. And that’s why it went on to became one of the film’s most memorable lines. However, that line was not in the script whatsoever. Hanks just thought it up while on set. Director Zemeckis really liked the line so he encouraged Hanks to say it on-set and the rest is history.
Forrest Gump
Lead Role
We can’t imagine anyone but Tom Hanks playing the part of Forrest Gump. It just doesn’t seem right. However Hanks wasn’t the original choice to play the role. I know, right? Many other actors were considered first, such as Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, and John Travolta. All of these actors declined and some are kicking themselves for letting such a role slip through their fingers.
Lead Role
Elvis
Think back to the epic Elvis scene. It was actually Kurt Russell who provided the King of Rock and Roll’s voice and convincingly so. But you won’t see his name in the credits! Russell portrayed Elvis in the 1979 made-for-television film Elvis.
Elvis
All About Me
Haley Joel Osment, who played Forrest and Jenny’s son, was just four years old when he shot the film. Plus it was his first ever feature film role. With his young age and brand new career, Osment didn’t quite understand everything that was happening. When Tom Hanks earned the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, Osment admitted that back then he believed he was the lead role and not Hanks. He hadn’t understood that he wasn’t Forrest Gump but rather Forrest Gump Jr. In any case, this role propelled his acting career – he starred in The Sixth Sense and Pay It Forward shortly after.
All About Me
Run, Forrest! Run!
“Run, Forrest! Run!” Even if you’ve never seen the movie, you know this legendary line. (Oh, and if you haven’t seen it, you haven’t lived.) As you know, Gump spends a lot of time running in the film but Tom Hanks isn’t much of a runner in real life. His brother, Jim, is however. And seeing as how they’re brothers, they do look alike as well. Therefore the solution for the running scenes was simple – Jim replaced Tom whenever Forrest needed to be shown running long-distance.
Run, Forrest! Run!
Subtle
Everyone does a lot of growing in Forrest Gump. Watching a kind, young Forrest grow up to become a good nature, responsible man is a true joy to watch in the film. While the viewers witness a lot of change, we might not see how much his “growth” changes too. The transitions Forrest goes through are subtle and you might just miss it. Remember the first scene of this transition? Forrest is wearing the same exact shirt, the blue one with the distinct plaid pattern.
Subtle
Hippie Life
Whenever we witnessed a hippie scene, we were exposed to the wild hairstyles of that era! But did the makeup and style crew really spend so much time creating all these hairdos for just a couple moments in the film? NO. The scenes showing people with long, wild hair wasn’t at a hippie commune nor did they alter anyone’s looks. In fact, they headed to the Maryland Renaissance Festival to film these shots.
Hippie Life
The Bench
Very little movie props are as legendary as the bench Forrest Gump sits on while waiting for his bus in Savannah, Georgia. And yes, this is a very real bench that exists but it’s no longer there. That’s right, Savannah officials moved it because they were afraid someone might try to steal it or cover it in graffiti. Currently it’s located at the Savannah History Museum.
The Bench
Speech!
Recalling the epic scene where Forrest is delivering a powerful speech to the crowd in Washington, D.C. takes but a minute. Unfortunately the microphone cut out and you weren’t able to hear Forrest Gump utter these mighty words, “Sometimes when people go to Vietnam, they go home to their mamas without any legs. Sometimes they don’t go home at all. That’s a bad thing. That’s all I have to say about that.”
Speech
Slip Up
Now here’s a mistake you may not have picked up on in the film. In the scene we see Forrest running and he has been for three years and two months, but there’s a problem. It just doesn’t add up! He started running the same day that President Carter collapsed from heat exhaustion on October 1, 1979. But when he receives Jenny’s letter after the race, President Reagan’s assassination attempt is all over the news. Meaning the run was just a year and a half. Yikes, what a slip up.
Slip Up
Kids At Work
When young Forrest gets on the school bus for the first time, two children deny him the seat next to them. But those two children weren’t just random child actors. The boy is Alexander, the son of the director Robert Zemeckis. Oh, and the girl is Elizabeth, Tom Hank’s own daughter!
Kids At Work
A Blunder
Not only did a number of actors turn down the role of Forrest Gump, but many did the same for Bubba. Ice Cube, David Alan Grier, and Dave Chappelle all rejected the part. But the reasons why are a bit interesting. Ice Cube wasn’t comfortable portraying a disabled character. Whereas David Chappelle just didn’t believe the film would be successful – he couldn’t be more wrong.
A Blunder
Legacy
Head over to Orlando, Florida if you’d like to devour one of Bubba’s signature shrimp dishes. Yes, really! Downtown Disney has the very same shrimp boat from the film which is surrounding an Orlando restaurant. Oh, inside the restaurant are the same ping pong paddles that Tom Hanks used in the film.
Legacy
Mama Bear
Throughout the film we see Forrest Gump’s close relationship with his mother. She teaches him so much about responsibility, loyalty, friendship and beyond. However in real life, Sally Field isn’t that much older than Tom Hanks. Still though, when has age ever stopped an actor?!
Mama Bear
Under the Weather
Tom Hanks got really sick during shooting and all at the worst possible time. When he’s running during that epic football scene, he barely managed to pull it off. Hanks was hit with a terribel stomach virus and cold that weakened him. However he wanted to continue filming despite being ill. Now that’s commitment!
Under The Weather
Modification
When the film was modified for the big screen, most of the changes were made to Forrest Gump’s character. In the movie, Gump has a lovable, childlike naivety whereas he has more of a wry cynicism in the book. Putting that aside, perhaps the biggest change was made to one of the film’s most iconic lines. The one about how life is like a box of chocolates – that was never in the book and had a totally different tone. The book reads, “Let me say this: bei’n a idiot is no box of chocolates. People laugh, lose patience, treat you shabby. Now they says folks s’posed to be kind to the afflicted, but let me tell you – it ain’t always that way. Even so, I got no complaints, cause I reckon I done live a pretty interestin’ life, so to speak.”
Modification
Famous Figure
Throughout the film Forrest meets with many famous and historical icons like Elvis, Lyndon B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy, John Lennon and Richard Nixon. There was one more famous figure he got to meet but that figure was cut out from the film completely. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. The scene in mention showed riot police releasing German shepherds onto King and his supporters. Forrest then quickly jumps in and distracts the dogs with a game of fetch. The director felt it was best to leave this scene out as he believed it cheapened the real injustice of racial inequality.
Famous Figure
So Much More
Forrest Gump was a real Jack of all trades in the film. He played for a major football team, fought in Vietnam where he became a war hero, and he’s an international ping pong champion. Although in the book, Winston Groom has Gump do so much more. For instance, he is a superb chess player, a skilled wrestler, and is also an astronaut! We can see how all of that would be difficult to incorporate into the film.
So Much More
Ping Pong
In the film, Forrest Gump becomes a ping pong master. He learned all of his skill while recovering from injuries sustained during the war. In fact, it was a fellow solider who taught him the game. While learning, Gump always had his eyes on the ball. Just re-watch the scene and you’ll see that he never looks away from the ball. He doesn’t even blink! That’s some wild dedication.
Ping Pong
Off The Ground
While Forrest Gump is a wildly successful film now, it wasn’t easy to get this project off the ground. Wendy Finerman, the producer, read the novel and saw that it had potential to be made into a film. However not many people agreed with her. After pitching the idea numerous times, she hadn’t convinced anyone to take the project on. That was until Tom Hanks signed on.
Off The Ground
Lights, Camera, Action
Could you imagine getting to appear in a film just by a dumb stroke of luck? That’s exactly what happened to one couple while they were touring Capitol Hill! The couple were approached and asked to read a couple lines for Forrest Gump. That scene made it into the film – the husband reported on Gump’s appearance in Washington, D.C. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!
Lights Camera Action
The Author
Many folks didn’t know that the movie was based on a book! Nor did many people know that Winston Groom, the author, penned a sequel titled Gump & Co. In 2014, Forrest Gump was re-released for IMAX. However it didn’t show in Groom’s hometown in Mobile, Alabama. Maybe this wasn’t intentional but Groom saw it as a personal slight. He told the Alabama Media Group that it was “embarrassing.”
The Author
A Hit
Forrest Gump became a box office hit. With just a budget of $55 million, the film raked in more than $677 million in profits. Now that’s a whole lot of dough but Paramount didn’t think so. The promotion of the film was intense so the profits didn’t seem like enough to the big wigs. The studio was left $62 million poorer once advertising costs were deducted.
A Hit
Plenty of Woes
The film didn’t bring in a profit but that’s not all. It was caked in financial troubles to the point where it almost wasn’t released. In 2015, Tom Hanks revealed that the studio was “48 hours away from shutting the movie down” due to money woes. Eventually Hanks and the director threw in their own money to finish filming. Forrest Gump has been referred to as a “successful failure” in terms of revenue, despite that it is Zemeckis’ highest grossing film to date.
Plenty Of Woes
Moolah
Due to all the financial woes, Tom Hanks didn’t receive an actor’s fee. He chose to get paid in percentage points, which were around $40 million. The author was paid a mere $350,000 for the screenplay rights. Although he did get a 3% share of the film’s net profits. However as we already said, the film didn’t make a profit therefore Winston Groom didn’t get a penny. This led to a heated dispute with Groom and Paramount. The dispute was only later settled when Paramount bought the rights for another of his books.
Moolah