History Trivia / Trainspotting

* ActorAllusion: Keith Allen was cast as a dealer, referencing his earlier role in ''Shallow Grave''. WordOfGod is that it is the same character, and ''Trainspotting'' takes place before ''Film/ShallowGrave''.

* WriteWhatYouKnow: The film's screenwriter John Hodge was previously a doctor, and had to deal with recovering heroin addicts. Some of his experiences made it into the film - such as when the junkies steal a TV from a retirement home.

* StarMakingRole:
** Creator/EwanMcGregor's career really took off after appearing in this film. The other actors in the film did quite well out of it too, with the result that they were nicknamed the 'Jock Pack'[[note]]Like the Creator/BratPack of the 80s, 'jock' being a slang term for a Scottish person.[[/note]]

* BFILists/BFITop100BritishFilms: #10.

** Creator/RobertCarlyle had shoulder-length hair when the sequel was put in production. He cut it short and grew a goatee for Begbie. As a result, his haircut was written into ''Series/OnceUponATime'' Season 6.

* SequelGap: The second film is twenty years after the first.

** The sequel was planned to be a straight up adaptation of the second book ''Literature/{{Porno}}'', before eventually turning into an original continuation.

* DeletedScene: The DVD contains several that can be spliced in to the film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4myb0JbBEk:

* DeletedScene: The DVD contains several that can be spliced in to the film:
** Additional dialogue between Sick Boy and Renton about Creator/SeanConnery and Franchise/JamesBond movies.
** During his job interview, Spud talks about his friendship with Begbie.
** Renton's job interview (originally intercut with Spud's interview).

** Sick Boy and Renton talking about Swanney in the park.
** Tommy discussing the virtues of Australia with Spud.
** Diane dumping Renton for a healthier guy.
** Sick Boy, Begbie, Spud, and Renton at the bus station before leaving for London.

* BreakthroughHit: It got the ball rolling for Creator/DannyBoyle, but his follow-ups ''Film/TheBeach'' and ''Film/ALifeLessOrdinary'' were flops. It wasn't until ''Film/TwentyEightDaysLater'' that his career was solidified.

** Spud talking about his friendship with Begbie.

** Creator/EwanMcGregor's career really took off after appearing in this film. The other actors in the film did quite well out of it too, with the result that they were nicknamed the 'Jock Pack'[[note]]Like Creator/TheBratPack of the 80s, 'jock' being a slang term for a Scottish person.[[/note]]

** The sequel was planned to be a straight up adaptation of the second book ''Porno'', before eventually turning into an original continuation.

* ShrugOfGod: Creator/RobertCarlyle believes that Begbie is actually an ArmoredClosetGay and his outbursts are due to his fear of being outed. Irvine Welsh later said he wrote Begbie to have an ambiguous sexuality.

** Creator/EwanMcGregor's career really took off after appearing in this film. The other actors in the film did quite well out of it too, with the result that they were nicknamed the 'Jock Pack'[[note]]Like the Brat Pack of the 80s, 'jock' being a slang term for a Scottish person.[[/note]]

** additional dialogue between Sick Boy and Renton about Sean Connery and James Bond movies;
** Spud talking about his friendship with Begbie;
** Renton's job interview (originally intercut with Spud's interview)
** Diane catching Renton, Spud, and Sick Boy while shoplifting
** Renton meeting Swanney in the hospital after he's lost his leg
** Sick Boy and Renton talking about Swanney in the park
** Tommy discussing the virtues of Australia with Spud
** Diane dumping Renton for a healthier guy

** It got the ball rolling for Creator/DannyBoyle, but his follow-ups ''Film/TheBeach'' and ''A Life Less Ordinary'' were flops. It wasn't until ''Film/TwentyEightDaysLater'' that his career was solidified.

* CreatorBacklash: Creator/IrwinWelsh is somewhat embarrassed by his first novel.
* DawsonCasting: Just about. Creator/KellyMacdonald was nineteen when she shot the film, playing a school girl. This one is justified, since Diane is meant to be able to pass for older.

* CreatorBacklash: Creator/IrwineWelsh is somewhat embarrassed by his first novel.

** It got the ball rolling for Creator//DannyBoyle, but his follow-ups ''Film/TheBeach'' and ''A Life Less Ordinary'' were flops. It wasn't until ''Film/TwentyEightDaysLater'' that his career was solidified.

* ActorAllusion: Keith Allen was cast as a dealer, referencing his earlier role in ''Shallow Grave''. WordOfGod is that it is the same character, and ''Trainspotting'' takes place before ''Shallow Grave''.
* CaliforniaDoubling: Although set in Edinburgh, most interiors, and some of the exteriors, were shot in Glasgow. A notable exception is the chase down Princes Street.
* CreatorBacklash: Creator/IrvineWelsh is a bit embarrassed about his first novel.

* CreatorBacklash:
** Creator/IrvineWelsh is a bit embarrassed about his first novel.
** Kelly Macdonald is a little ashamed about having done nudity, as it was her first film and she was only nineteen.

** Ewan [=McGregor=] shaved his head and lost two stone to convincingly play a heroin addict. He considered injecting himself with heroin to better understand it, but decided against it.

** Robert Carlyle had shoulder-length hair when the sequel was put in production. He cut it short and grew a goatee for Begbie. As a result, his haircut was written into ''Series/OnceUponATime'' Season 6.

** It got the ball rolling for Danny Boyle, but his follow-ups ''Film/TheBeach'' and ''A Life Less Ordinary'' were flops. It wasn't until ''Film/TwentyEightDaysLater'' that his career was solidified.

* CreatorBacklash: Creator/IrvineWelsh is a bit embarrassed about his first novel.

** Ewan [=McGregor=] shaved his head and lost weight to convincingly play a heroin addict. He considered injecting himself with heroin to better understand it, but decided against it.

* FakeNationality: Creator/JonnyLeeMiller, who is English, is the only cast member not from Scotland.

* StarMakingRole: Creator/EwanMcGregor's career really took off after appearing in this film.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Creator/ChristopherEccleston was the first choice for Begbie.

* CreatorCameo:
** Original author Creator/IrvineWelsh cameos as Renton's dealer in the film.
** Screenwriter John Hodge plays a policeman in the opening scene.
** Producer Andrew Macdonald cameos as the man who Renton tries to sell the "Victorian Townhouse" to.

* AbilityOverAppearance: Begbie of the book is a tall intimidating, bulky brute. Robert Carlyle is much more slender, but captures the HairTriggerTemper perfectly.
* CreatorBacklash: Irvine Welsh is a bit embarrassed about his first novel.

** Original author Irvine Welsh cameos as Renton's dealer in the film.

* DawsonCasting: Just about. Kelly Macdonald was nineteen when she shot the film, playing a school girl. This one is justified, since Diane is meant to be able to pass for older.

** Jonny Lee Miller bleached his hair blond. This is particularly odd because Sick Boy is dark-haired in the book, as Miller is in real life.

* ShrugOfGod: Robert Carlyle believes that Begbie is actually an ArmoredClosetGay and his outbursts are due to his fear of being outed. Irvine Welsh later said he wrote Begbie to have an ambiguous sexuality.

* DawsonCasting: In the film, the actress playing Diane was in her early twenties. Justified in that she's trying to look older, plus one scene in particular.

* StarMakingRole: EwanMcGregor's career really took off after appearing in this film.

* HeyItsThatGuy[=/=]HeyItsThatVoice: Tommy's [[Series/{{Rome}} Lucius Vorenus]], with [[VideoGame/ModernWarfare Soap MacTavish]]'s voice.

* HeyItsThatGuy[=/=]HeyItsThatVoice: Tommy's [[Series/{{Rome}} Lucius Vorenus]], with [[VideoGame/ModernWarfare Soap MacTavish]]'s voice.

* * HeyItsThatGuy[=/=]HeyItsThatVoice: It's [[Series/{{Rome}} Lucius Vorenus]], with [[VideoGame/ModernWarfare Soap MacTavish]]'s voice.

* DawsonCasting: In the film, the actress playing Diane was in her early twenties. Justified in that she's trying to look older, plus one scene in particular.

* CreatorBacklash: Irvine Welsh is a bit embarrassed about his first novel.