15 Mind-Blowing Hollywood Secrets You Never Knew About

15 Mind-Blowing Hollywood Secrets You Never Knew About

By Charlie

January 11, 2025

In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy's slippers were originally silver in the book. They were changed to ruby for Technicolor's vibrant effect, making them unforgettable.

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The Wizard of Oz’s Iconic Ruby Slippers

Tom Hanks starred in Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, and Apollo 13, all box office hits in a row, making an unprecedented mark in Hollywood.

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Tom Hanks Holds a Record for Most Consecutive Box Office Hits

The rock sledgehammer used by Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption was a mistake. The crew struggled to find the right prop, leading to a unique scene.

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The Shawshank Redemption's Iconic Rock Sledgehammer Scene

Before becoming the household name he is today, Brad Pitt worked as a chicken costume-wearer for a fast-food restaurant. He even had to wear the costume to hand out flyers!

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Brad Pitt’s First Job in Hollywood

The cat held by Marlon Brando in The Godfather was a stray found on the set. It wasn't planned for the scene, but Brando decided to keep it during filming.

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The Godfather's Cat Wasn't in the Script

The Birth of a Nation (1915) was the first full-length Hollywood film, but it was also controversial for its portrayal of racial stereotypes and themes that were widely criticized.

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The First Hollywood Feature-Length Film

While James Earl Jones is the iconic voice of Darth Vader, the character's face is actually that of actor David Prowse. The voice was added later in post-production.

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The Voice of Darth Vader Isn’t James Earl Jones

aws (1975) was the first true summer blockbuster. It was so successful that it redefined how movies were marketed and released during the summer months.

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Jaws Changed the Hollywood Summer Movie Industry Forever

The iconic actress was born as Audrey Kathleen Ruston. She later adopted Hepburn as her surname, after her father.

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Audrey Hepburn’s Real Name Was Not Audrey Hepburn

The glowing finger of E.T. was modeled after that of a human child. It was originally meant to be a glowing lightbulb, but Spielberg insisted on using a more creative approach.

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The “E.T.” Alien’s Finger Was Based on a Real-Life Model

The design of Yoda was based on a combination of a turtle, a monkey, and Albert Einstein, with the aim of making the character appear wise and ancient.

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Star Wars' Yoda Was Modeled After Albert Einstein

The famous hum of a lightsaber was created when sound designer Ben Burtt recorded the sound of an old film projector combined with a broken microphone. It became one of the most recognizable sound effects in film history.

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The Sound of Lightsabers Was Created by Accident

After The Lion King was created, the script was nearly lost when a fire destroyed much of the production's material. Luckily, much of it was backed up before the disaster.

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The Lion King Script Was Almost Destroyed

Despite the focus on cars, the Fast & Furious series has become more about family and loyalty than racing. The theme of family was inspired by Paul Walker’s relationship with his co-stars.

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The Fast and Furious Franchise Isn’t Just About Cars

Before becoming famous for his action films, Clint Eastwood's first directorial effort was a low-budget horror movie called Play Misty for Me, which made a surprising mark on Hollywood.

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Clint Eastwood’s Directorial Debut Was A Low-Budget Horror Film