* BreakthroughHit: For Creator/TheCoenBrothers.
* CastTheRunnerUp: Creator/HollyHunter had auditioned for the role of Abby, but turned it down because she was performing a play in New York at the same time. So she encouraged her roommate Creator/FrancesMcDormand to go and audition for the role. She's the voice on Meurice's answering machine.
* DVDCommentary: Creator/TheCoenBrothers typically avoid commentary tracks, but the original DVD has one by fictional artistic director Kenneth Loring, written by Creator/TheCoenBrothers themselves, that essentially spoofs commentary tracks themselves. Loring generally alternates between waxing rhapsodic about the framing of certain shots ("the human face... we all... have one"), telling rambling off-topic stories, and offering up spurious details on how certain effects were accomplished (he claims a scene where two characters are driving in the rain at night had to be filmed in reverse with the actors hanging upside down -- the fact that their hair doesn't appear to be standing up is attributed to copious amounts of hair spray). Creator/TheCriterionCollection release of the film eschews the gag commentary for a proper academic select-scene commentary with the brothers and cinematographer Creator/BarrySonnenfeld.
* TheOtherMarty: A teaser trailer for the film was shot long before the movie was in production. It featured Creator/BruceCampbell (filling in for the role later played by Creator/DanHedaya) bloody and crawling down the road, just like the movie.
* RomanceOnTheSet: Co-director Joel Coen and actress Creator/FrancesMcDormand. Almost 40 years later, they're still together!
* ScrewedByTheLawyers: The original video version couldn't get the rights to use Music/FourTops song "Same Old Song" (which essentially became the theme for the film). It was instead replaced with the Music/NeilDiamond cover song of "I'm a Believer." Later DVD and Bluray releases restore the Four Tops song.
* StarMakingRole: For Creator/FrancesMcDormand.
* VoiceOnlyCameo: Creator/HollyHunter's voice is heard on the answering machine.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Creator/EllenBarkin turned down the role of Abbie.
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