Line #21 Trivia/WhenHarryMetSally


1	* ActorInspiredElement: Creator/NoraEphron credited Creator/MegRyan not only with the idea of [[FakeOrgasm faking an orgasm]] in the famous restaurant scene, but also with the idea of setting it in a restaurant in the first place.
2	* CaliforniaDoubling: They drive off the University of Chicago campus on the south side to New York.... via a picturesque segment of Lake Shore Drive headed toward the south side [Did they have to visit a friend at Northwestern, Depaul or Loyola first?]
3	* ColbertBump: Katz's Deli, the site of the FakeOrgasm scene, was cemented as a New York landmark because of it. Now there's even a sign pointing out the very table.
4	* CreatorRecovery: Creator/RobReiner got the idea for the film after his divorce from first wife Creator/PennyMarshall, and the string of complicated relationships that had preceded this marriage. He was going to have Harry and Sally not end up together, to reflect his view of relationships at the time. However, he met his subsequent (and current) wife while developing the film, and their marriage inspired him to change the ending so Harry and Sally do get together after all.
5	* TheDanza: Creator/CarrieFisher plays Marie Fisher.
6	* ExtremelyLengthyCreation: Creator/NoraEphron wrote the screenplay, and its numerous drafts, over a period of nearly five years.
7	* MethodActing: To help him capture the mood of a newly divorced, single man, Creator/BillyCrystal would hole himself up in a hotel room in isolation, deliberately keeping himself away from cast and crew.
8	* RealLifeRelative: Creator/RobReiner's mother delivered the famous line, "I'll have what she's having".
9	** Reiner's daughter Tracy plays one of Harry's girlfriends.
10	* RomanceOnTheSet: Creator/RobReiner met his second (and current) wife, photographer Michelle Singer, while making this movie. This even inspired him to give the film a happy ending.
11	* StarMakingRole: For Creator/MegRyan as a leading lady.
12	* TechnologyMarchesOn: The ''{{Film/Casablanca}}'' scene. If the movie was made today, Harry and Sally most likely would have watched the movie over a Discord or Skype call, rather than flipping to the same channel and calling each other.
13	* ThrowItIn:
14	** The famous "I'll have what she's having" line was suggested by Creator/BillyCrystal.
15	** Harry's weird accent in the museum. Meg Ryan's reaction is real; you can see her glance off-screen at Creator/RobReiner.
16	** The "Win, Lose or Draw" scene was entirely improvised.
17	** Harry and Sally's final interview at the end of the film was completely improvised.
18	* UnderageCasting: Creator/MegRyan was 26 years old playing a woman whose age ranges from 21 to 33, and whose ticking biological clock is an important theme in her character development. [[DawsonCasting By contrast]], Creator/BillyCrystal was 40 years old, playing a man whose age ranges from 25 to 37.
19	* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
20	** Creator/AlbertBrooks was offered the role of Harry Burns, but turned it down, finding it too derivative of Creator/WoodyAllen. Creator/TomHanks was offered the role, but he felt it was too lightweight. Creator/JeffBridges, Creator/RichardDreyfuss, Creator/HarrisonFord, Creator/MichaelKeaton and Creator/BillMurray were also considered for the role. Even Creator/RobReiner debated taking the part.
21	** Reiner initially envisioned Creator/SusanDey for the role of Sally Albright. When she declined, he later considered Creator/ElizabethMcGovern and Creator/ElizabethPerkins. Creator/MollyRingwald was offered the role, but was forced to decline due to a busy schedule. She would later go on to play the character in 2004 in the stage version of the film, on London's West End.
22	** In the original script, Harry and Sally ''don't'' end up together. Rob Reiner changed it after falling in love while working on the movie.
23	* WorkingTitle: Creator/NoraEphron originally wanted to call the film ''How They Met''. Other options were ''Just Friends'', ''Playing Melancholy Baby'', ''Boy Meets Girl'', ''Blue Moon'', ''Words of Love'', ''It Had To Be You'', ''Harry, This Is Sally'' and ''Scenes From A Friendship''.
24	* WriteWhatYouKnow: The film was based on Creator/RobReiner's experiences post-divorce and as a single man. Ironically, Reiner met his current wife during the making of this film.
25	* WriteWhoYouKnow: Harry and Sally are based on Creator/RobReiner and Creator/NoraEphron. Many of their interactions are based off of RealLife conversations between friends Reiner and Crystal.

Context Trivia / WhenHarryMetSally