Line #16 Trivia/PulpFiction


1	!! [[Film/PulpFiction The film]]
2	* AllStarCast: With Creator/JohnTravolta, Creator/SamuelLJackson, Creator/BruceWillis, Creator/UmaThurman, Creator/VingRhames, Creator/TimRoth, Creator/AmandaPlummer, Creator/SteveBuscemi, Creator/ChristopherWalken, Creator/HarveyKeitel, Creator/EricStoltz, Creator/RosannaArquette, Creator/FrankWhaley, Creator/PhilLaMarr, and Tarantino himself. The cast has only gotten more all-star over time, in fact, because the movie was a career resurrection or star-making role for several of its cast members.
3	* AwardCategoryFraud: Creator/UmaThurman was nominated as a leading actress at the 1994 [[UsefulNotes/{{BAFTA}} BAFTAs]], even though she's only a major character in one of the film's three stories with nothing more than very brief cameos in the other two. This is especially noticeable given Creator/SamuelLJackson won supporting actor at the [=BAFTAs=] for a larger role than Thurman's. At all other award ceremonies, she was considered a supporting actress.
4	* {{Blooper}}: During the apartment scene (specifically the return to the scene at the end of the film), for one shot before the 4th man comes running out of the bathroom to shoot Jules and Vincent, there is a shot of the two standing together and you can clearly see bullet holes on the wall behind them, even though they haven't been shot at yet (and said wall was clear of bullet holes earlier on).
5	* BeamMeUpScotty:
6	** [[Creator/SamuelLJackson Jules Winnfield's]] famous hamburger speech is often misquoted (by putting words or phrases in the wrong order), or quoted correctly but used in the wrong context:
7	--->'''Jules:''' What country you from?!\
8	'''Brett:''' W-what?\
9	'''Jules:''' "What" ain't no country ''I'' ever heard of! They speak English in What?\
10	'''Brett:''' ...what?\
11	'''Jules:''' ENGLISH, MOTHERFUCKER, DO YOU SPEAK IT?!
12	** The last line is often misquoted as "English, do you speak it, motherfucker?" In context, Jules is sarcastically demanding that Brett give him a clearer answer than "what," but the line is often used in real life against people who are literally not speaking English well or at all.
13	** Jules's mangling of "Ezekiel 25:17" is actually a misquote of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LYT4JC2dd4 introduction to Sonny Chiba's]] ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LYT4JC2dd4 The Bodyguard]]'', from which this passage is lifted almost exactly. The use in ''The Bodyguard'' is itself a misquote of the Bible, translations and mistranslations aside.
14	** In an example that's made its way into a trope name, Vincent never actually says IJustShotMarvinInTheFace, only "Aw man... I shot Marvin in the face..." with no "just."
15	* BreakthroughHit: This movie was Creator/QuentinTarantino's first big hit as a director.
16	* CareerResurrection: After ''Film/BlowOut'' and ''Urban Cowboy'' wrecked his career 13 years prior, Creator/JohnTravolta finally found his way back to the A-list with his role here (his only success in the meantime was the ''Film/LookWhosTalking'' comedy series), sparking his mid-90s resurgence with such films as ''Film/GetShorty'', ''Film/{{Broken Arrow\|1996}}'', and ''Film/FaceOff''.
17	* CastTheRunnerUp:
18	** Creator/TimRoth was considered for Vincent Vega before being cast as Ringo. Creator/BruceWillis was briefly interested before being cast as Butch Coolidge.
19	** Creator/JohnTravolta was considered for Winston Wolfe before being cast as Vincent Vega.
20	** Creator/SamuelLJackson was considered for Marcellus Wallace, Lance, Captain Koons, and Winston Wolfe before being cast as Jules Winnfield.
21	** Creator/UmaThurman was considered for Honey Bunny before being cast as Mia Wallace.
22	** Creator/RosannaArquette was considered for Mia before being cast as Jody.
23	** Creator/EricStoltz was considered for Ringo before being cast as Lance.
24	** Tarantino had written the role of Jimmie with Creator/SteveBuscemi in mind, but Buscemi had to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts. Tarantino himself ended up filling the role, and Buscemi was given a cameo appearance as the Music/BuddyHolly waiter at Jackrabbit Slim's.
25	** Creator/PhilLaMarr read for Jules Winnfield and Brett before being cast as Marvin.
26	** Creator/PaulCalderon was almost cast as Jules after a great audition. He got the smaller role of Paul in the end.
27	* TheCastShowoff: Creator/JohnTravolta and Creator/UmaThurman both get to bust some moves in the twist competition scene.
28	* CompletelyDifferentTitle:
29	** Spanish: ''Violent Times''
30	** Bulgaria: ''Criminal''
31	** Croatia: ''Hell of a Jerk''
32	** Slovenia: ''Trash''
33	** Taiwan: ''Black Warrant''
34	* TheDanza: Paul Calderón plays Paul.
35	* DeletedScene:
36	** The scene where Vincent buys heroin from Lance was longer, and Lance delivered a monologue about being given wrong directions and complaining about how rude people are.
37	** Before leaving to have dinner at Jackrabbit Slim's, Mia interviews Vincent while shooting with a hand-held video camera. Mia asks Vincent if he's related to folk singer [[Music/SuzanneVega Suzanne Vega]], and then proceeds with a series of trivia-like questions on his personal media preferences (''Series/TheBradyBunch'' or ''Series/ThePartridgeFamily''?) and asks him if he's an "[[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis]] man or a [[Music/TheBeatles Beatles]] man". This explains a later comment ("an Elvis man should love this") that Mia makes in the theatrical version.
38	** The taxi ride and conversation between Butch and Esmarelda was longer, and there was additional dialogue where Butch explains his feelings about being a boxer and killing his opponent Floyd.
39	** At the auto parts yard, Winston Wolfe haggles good-naturedly with owner Monster Joe (Creator/DickMiller), followed by Wolfe flirting with Joe's daughter Raquel (Creator/JuliaSweeney). The cut resulted in Sweeney's cameo being reduced to a walk-on and Miller having a DeletedRole.
40	* DoingItForTheArt: This was one of several movies made in the 1990s in which Creator/BruceWillis took a pay cut to work in an independent film. His presence in the film helped secure a lot of additional funding.
41	* DuelingMovies: With ''Film/ColorOfNight'' in a way, as both have Bruce Willis in a starring role, were distributed by Disney, and were released around the time of the departure of Disney studio chief Jeffrey Katzenberg (who was instrumental in sealing the deal that led to Disney releasing ''Pulp Fiction'' in the first place). ''Color of Night'' lost by being one of the worst-reviewed films of 1994. They're not all that similar, though, ''Color'' being an erotic thriller/murder mystery and ''Fiction'' more of a gangster-themed HyperlinkStory.
42	* FakeNationality: Portuguese actress Maria de Medeiros plays a French character (and, comically, in the Spanish-language dub of ''Pulp Fiction'' her character is incapable of speaking Portuguese rather than Spanish).
43	* FollowTheLeader: ''Pulp Fiction'' was arguably the single most influential movie of Main/TheNineties, at least as far as the indie scene is concerned. The number of copycat imitators that followed in its wake, attempting to emulate its dialogue, non-linear storytelling, and overall tone, cannot be overstated. Filmmakers like Creator/GuyRitchie practically built their entire careers off of the influence of this movie.
44	* OrphanedReference: Mia tells Vincent that an "[[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis]] man" should love Jackrabbit Slim's. This refers to a deleted scene where she interviews him with a video camera and asks him whether he's a [[Music/TheBeatles Beatles]] man or an Elvis man.
45	* PlayingAgainstType: Amanda Plummer was chiefly known for playing fey oddballs in movies like ''Film/TheFisherKing''. When Creator/QuentinTarantino cast Creator/TimRoth, he was initially thinking of casting Roth as someone other than Pumpkin. Roth (who was friends with Plummer) told Tarantino "I'd like to work with Amanda, as long as she's got a really big fucking gun in her hand." Tarantino said "Done", and sculpted the characters of Pumpkin and Honey Bunny to fit Roth and Plummer.
46	* PopCultureUrbanLegends:
47	** There's a popular misconception that all clocks in the film are stuck at 4:20. While the events of the film take place over an ExtremelyShortTimespan, there's only one scene that happens around 4:20, which is the pawnshop.
48	** Due to how similar they look, the "kid with the hand cannon" is misattributed to Creator/JerrySeinfeld. He was portrayed by Alexis Arquette.
49	* ProductionPosse: Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, and Steve Buscemi return for supporting roles after appearing in Tarantino's debut film ''Film/ReservoirDogs''. Many behind-the-scenes professionals also returned.
50	* RealLifeRelative:
51	** The man who bursts out from the bathroom in Brett's apartment is played by transgender woman Creator/AlexisArquette (whose sister, Creator/RosannaArquette, played Jody).
52	** The Gimp was played by comedian Stephen Hibbert, at the time married to Creator/JuliaSweeney. Later in the film, Sweeney herself has a cameo as Monster Joe's daughter Raquel.
53	* TheRedStapler: The [=UC=] Santa Cruz Banana Slugs T-shirt that Vincent wears became a hot seller after appearing in the movie.
54	* ReferencedBy: [[Referencedby/PulpFiction Has its own page]].
55	* SerendipityWritesThePlot:
56	** Many people believe that the band-aid on Creator/VingRhames' neck was an intentional choice by the filmmakers. In reality, it came from an accident Rhames had while shaving his head. When Creator/QuentinTarantino noticed it, it inspired him to open the "Vincent Vega and Marsellus Wallace" sequence with a close-up of the band-aid. Ultimately, Tarantino liked showing the band-aid rather than Rhames' face because it accentuated the character's mercurial nature and was more visually exciting than a series of single shots of Rhames and Creator/BruceWillis.
57	** Paul Calderón (who plays Marsellus' NumberTwo) nailed his audition and originally had a lock on the part for Jules. Sam Jackson heard about it and flew into LA, stopping for a bite to eat on the way. Right before he walked in the room, a crew member came up to him and said "I love your work, [[Creator/LaurenceFishburne Mr. Fishburne]]," which ''majorly'' pissed Jackson off. Tarantino and his producer, Lawrence Bender, were sitting in the audition room when Jackson walked in, carrying a bag of fast food and holding a soft drink, glaring at the two menacingly, and looking mean as hell and absolutely furious, all the while calmly sipping his soda, as if drinking their souls. Ergo, Jules' entire personality in a nutshell, and given the character's [[EnemyEatsYourLunch fondness for fast food, especially cheeseburgers and soda]], Jackson's appearance was coincidentally perfect. Tarantino and Bender were so intimidated by Jackson's ([[EnforcedMethodActing genuinely]]) sour mood that he ended up getting the part.
58	* ShootTheMoney: The Jackrabbit Slim's set was extremely elaborate, and featured lots of extras in costume as 1950s stars. It was the most expensive set piece in the film, so it's easy to see why the camera does a sweeping tour through the whole establishment as Mia and Vincent find their seats.
59	* ShrugOfGod: Creator/QuentinTarantino's explanation for what's in the briefcase: "It's whatever the audience wants it to be."
60	* StarMakingRole: For Creator/SamuelLJackson, Creator/VingRhames, and Creator/UmaThurman.
61	* ThrowItIn:
62	** Creator/QuentinTarantino originally wanted Jules to have an afro, but the wig wrangler got a Jheri curl wig by mistake. Creator/SamuelLJackson thought it was perfect for the character and insisted they keep it.
63	** The scene with [[IJustShotMarvinInTheFace Marvin being shot in the face]] was also going to play out differently. It wasn't until a suggestion from [=LaMarr=] to Tarantino that the scene was changed to be what happened in the film.
64	** Creator/JohnTravolta ad-libbed the line "That's a pretty good question" after Mia Wallace asks why it's necessary to talk about bullshit.
65	** Jules flipping the table over in the beginning was improvised by Creator/SamuelLJackson, and Frank Whaley's reaction was genuine, but they continued with the scene, and it was done in one take.
66	* UncreditedRole: Some of the scenes of Jimmie Dimmick were directed by an uncredited Creator/RobertRodriguez.
67	* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
68	** For casting:
69	*** Vincent Vega: Creator/DanielDayLewis actively campaigned for the part, but Tarantino turned him down. He initially wanted Creator/MichaelMadsen to play the goofy hitman, but the latter chose to pursue another project instead (a decision he later regretted). Creator/AlecBaldwin, Creator/JamesGandolfini, Creator/AndyGarcia, Creator/MichaelKeaton, Creator/GaryOldman, Creator/SeanPenn, Creator/DennisQuaid, Creator/DenzelWashington, and Creator/JamesWoods were also considered.
70	*** Jules Winnfield: Tarantino originally wrote the role for Creator/LaurenceFishburne, but he refused it because his team did not see it as a starring role and he felt it glamorised heroin. Creator/CharlesSDutton and Creator/EddieMurphy were also considered. Paul Calderon was very nearly cast in the part, but Jackson pushed hard for the role, and ultimately won out in the end. Calderon was given a consolation prize of sorts in the role of [[TheDanza Paul the bartender.]]
71	*** Mia Wallace: Creator/PatriciaArquette, Creator/AngelaBassett, Creator/HalleBerry, Creator/PhoebeCates, Creator/JoanCusack, Creator/BridgetFonda, Creator/MelanieGriffith, Creator/DarylHannah, Creator/VirginiaMadsen, Creator/BrigitteNielsen, Creator/MichellePfeiffer (Tarantino's top choice before Creator/UmaThurman), Creator/IsabellaRossellini, Creator/MegRyan, Creator/MegTilly, Creator/MarisaTomei, Creator/DebraWinger, and Creator/RobinWright were considered. Creator/JuliaLouisDreyfus turned it down due to her commitment to ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'', while Creator/JenniferAniston turned it down in favour of ''Series/{{Friends}}''.
72	*** Marsellus Wallace: Creator/CharlesSDutton, Creator/SidHaig, Creator/TonyTodd, and Creator/CarlWeathers were among those considered.
73	*** Pumpkin/Ringo: Creator/NicolasCage, Creator/JohnCusack, Creator/JohnnyDepp, Oldman, or Creator/ChristianSlater could have taken the part, but unlike Jules or Vincent the part was never highly contested.
74	*** Honey Bunny: Arquette, Cates, Fonda, Creator/JenniferJasonLeigh, and Tomei were considered.
75	*** Lance and Jody: According to Music/CourtneyLove, she and Music/KurtCobain were specifically offered the role. Apparently (and unfortunately), Cobain turned it down. Depending on what article you read, Tarantino denies this. Creator/PamGrier auditioned for Jody. Though she had a great audition, Tarantino decided not to cast her because he could not imagine Grier getting pushed around the way the character does. Creator/EllenDeGeneres read for the part, while Creator/PatriciaArquette was considered before it went to her sister Rosanna. Cage, Cusack, Depp, Keaton, Oldman, Creator/BillPaxton, Creator/EricRoberts, and Slater were also considered for Lance, while Creator/JenniferBeals, Creator/SofiaCoppola, Fonda, and Leigh were also considered for Jody.
76	*** Winston Wolfe: Baldwin, Creator/WarrenBeatty, Creator/DannyDeVito, Keaton, and Creator/AlPacino were all considered.
77	*** Captain Koons: Creator/RobertDeNiro, Dutton, Creator/TommyLeeJones, Penn, Creator/WilliamPetersen, and Pacino were all considered.
78	*** Butch was written for Creator/MickeyRourke. Rourke turned the role down, since the script was too "out there" and he hadn't seen ''Reservoir Dogs'' yet. He has called the decision to pass the biggest regret of his career. Creator/MattDillon was offered the role, but said he'd sleep on it, which angered Tarantino. He next offered the role to Creator/BruceWillis, who was a long shot, as he was still a big-money, A-list star at that point. Cage, Depp, Penn, and Creator/SylvesterStallone were also considered.
79	*** Creator/BruceCampbell, Creator/SidHaig, Creator/ChrisPenn, Creator/JonPolito, and Todd were considered for Maynard.
80	*** Creator/SeanPenn was considered for Zed.
81	** Marvin's death was originally very different: Vincent's wayward shot was originally supposed to hit Marvin in the neck, after which Vincent mercy-kills him. The scene was deemed too depressing by Tarantino, and he altered the scene to the more comedic version seen in the movie.
82	** The final scene was going to include an ImagineSpot where Jules kills Pumpkin and Honey Bunny to show what the old Jules would have done. Tarantino decided this was already clear enough and didn't even shoot it.
83	** Tarantino had originally intended "My Sharona" by Music/TheKnack to be played during the Gimp torture sequence, but the rights had already been licensed to another film, ''Film/RealityBites''. On top of this, one of the members of the band had become a born-again Christian, and did not want the song to be associated with a scene of sexual violence.
84	** Tarantino originally conceived of the movie as an anthology film, with a different director shooting each segment. This idea would later be used in ''Film/FourRooms'', which Tarantino directed (and appeared in) the final segment of.
85	** According to Samuel L. Jackson, Bonnie wasn't originally a black woman in the original draft of the movie. Quentin Tarantino eventually changed her ethnicity in order to soften Jimmie's usage of the N-word when talking with Jules and Vincent after he ended up having to play the role himself.
86	* WordOfDante: Creator/SteveBuscemi told ''The Late Late Show'' that he believes that his Music/BuddyHolly waiter is really [[Film/ReservoirDogs Mr. Pink]], who survived the end of the film and is always getting shitty tips as a form of karma.
87	* WordOfGod: Creator/QuentinTarantino was quoted as saying that Butch is responsible for keying Vincent's car.
88	* WorkingTitle: ''Black Mask'' (the name of a popular pulp magazine that first published Creator/DashiellHammett and Creator/RaymondChandler).
89	* YouLookFamiliar: According to WordOfGod, ''Pulp Fiction'' is set in the same universe as ''Film/ReservoirDogs''. Several actors (Creator/HarveyKeitel, Creator/TimRoth, Tarantino himself) return as different characters. If Michael Madsen had been cast as Vincent Vega (see above), presumably this would have made Vincent and Vic (Mr. Blonde from ''Film/ReservoirDogs'') twins.
90	* ''Pulp Fiction'' was the very first film Miramax financed with new distribution partner Creator/{{Disney}} after studio chiefs there sealed a deal in 1992: this began a 16-year long relationship between the two studios. As of 2022, the film is now owned by Creator/{{Paramount}}, after they bought 49% of Miramax from beIN Media Group, the company's majority stake holder.
91	* ''Pulp Fiction'' is on Creator/RogerEbert's Great Movies List.
92	!! [[Pinball/PulpFiction The pinball table]]
93	* LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition: Along with two regular versions (one with a {{Retraux}} coin door for home use, one with a regular coin door, intended for public use as it can accept bills), the game came out in a "Bad Mother Flipper Limited Edition" of 1,000 tables, which features a fully animated Jack Rabbit Slim's topper, a vintage-looking speaker grill, interior motor blades, a shaker motor assembly, a cast metal medallion, a promotional banner, a certificate of authenticity signed by designer Creator/MarkRitchie, and an extended warranty [[note]]24 months for the electronics, 12 for the mechanicals - double that the regular versions[[/note]].
94	* RealSongThemeTune: Five different songs from the film's soundtrack feature here - "[[Music/SurfersChoice Misirlou]]" is its main theme, "[[Music/KoolAndTheGang Jungle Boogie]]" plays during Brief Case Boogie, "Comanche" plays during Pawn Shop Panic, "[[Music/ChuckBerry You Never Can Tell]]" plays during Twist Contest and "Son Of A Preacher Man" plays (albeit heavily muffled) during The Shot.

Context Trivia / PulpFiction