Trivia / Far and Away

• California Doubling:
  • The scenes set in "Oklahoma" were actually shot in Montana, the boxing scenes were filmed in the partially renovated train station in Billings.
  • Meanwhile, most of the "Boston" scenes were actually shot in Dublin. Molly Kay's bordello was filmed at Temple Bar, which shut down at least three months to accommodate set construction.
• Creator Couple: Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were a married couple at the time this was made.
• Enforced Method Acting: Ron Howard wasn't happy with Nicole Kidman's facial reaction when her character peeks under the bowl covering Joseph's privates. So for one take, he told Tom Cruise to remove his underwear without informing Kidman and got the genuine reaction he wanted.
• Fake Irish: Of the leads, four are Americans (Tom Cruise, Thomas Gibson, Robert Prosky, Barbara Babcock) and one is an Australian (Nicole Kidman), though Cruise and Kidman both have Irish ancestry. None of them sound particularly convincing.
• One-Book Author: The sole acting role of Douglas Gillison (Dermody).
• Prop Recycling: The dress that Shannon admires in the shop window in Boston is the same dress worn by Clara Clayton in the last scene of Back to the Future Part III.
• Production Posse:
  • Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, and Thomas Gibson all also starred in Eyes Wide Shut.
  • An inordinate number of Father Ted cast members pop up in supporting roles, three years before that show premiered.
• Real-Life Relative: Ron Howard's brother Clint plays Flynn, while his father Rance plays Tomlin.
• Swan Song: It was Cyril Cusack's final film
• What Could Have Been:
  • Ron Howard asked Rod Steiger to audition for the role of Daniel Christie, to the latter's frustration. He did, but was unsuccessful. Richard Harris was also asked, but he flatly refused. Richard E. Grant revealed in his memoir With Nails that he was offered the role on the recommendation of Steve Martin.
  • Sean Bean was considered for Stephen Chase.

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