Trivia / 1917

• Awesome, Dear Boy: Co-writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns accepted the offer to write the script because she is a huge war enthusiast, especially for World War I. During the writing process, she would bring many books about WWI to help further develop the script.
• Colbert Bump: Thanks to this film, the folk song “The Wayfaring Stranger” has become insanely popular, to the extent a full version of the film's cover of it was released.
• Creator In-Joke: Once again, rats play a prominent role in a Sam Mendes film.
• DVD Commentary: The movie has two: one by Sam Mendes and another by Roger Deakins, the film's director of photography.
• Fake Brit: Irishman Andrew Scott and Scotsman Richard Madden put on English accents.
• Inspiration for the Work: According to Mendes, part of the inspiration for the style of the film came from video games, particularly when he watched one of his children play Red Dead Redemption.
• In Memoriam: The film is dedicated to Alfred Mendes, Sam Mendes' grandfather who told him stories of what he experienced.
• One-Take Wonder: Schofield finding Blake's brother and presenting him with his rings was the very first take.
• Playing Against Type: Mark Strong, he of the intimidating villains, is A Father to His Men, and probably the nicest authority figure in the film.
• Promoted Fanboy: It was this for Krysty Wilson-Cairns, George MacKay, and Dean-Charles Chapman, as they were all fans of Sam Mendes and wanted to work with him.
• Production Posse: Sam Mendes is once again working alongside composer Thomas Newman, cinematographer Roger Deakins and production designer Dennis Gassner, while editor Lee Smith reteams with Mendes for a second time following Spectre.
• Those Two Actors:
  • This is the sixth film to feature both Colin Firth and Mark Strong - and the second of those six to also feature Benedict Cumberbatch.
  • The third production, but first feature film, to feature both Benedict Cumberbatch and Andrew Scott. Sherlock and Moriarty do not meet face to face this time though.
  • George MacKay and Andrew Scott starred together in Pride (2014).
• Throw It In!: During the trenchline dash, George MacKay bumping into running soldiers and falling a few times were not in the script; notice how the camera keeps pulling back at the same speed, almost leaving him behind. Viewers thought that the falls were choreographed, and loved them: watching MacKay run like mad to catch back up with the camera seemed to represent how desperately little time Schofield had to save what was left of the Second Devons.
  • The first guy he runs into clearly thinks he's ruined the shot and, just lies there in embarrassment. But the scene gives the impression that the soldier was using the opportunity to play dead, which would be an understandable reaction from a Tommy scared out of his mind.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Tom Holland was in talks to play Lance Corporal Tom Blake, but was busy with reshoots for Chaos Walking (2021). Had he agreed, he would've been reunited with his How I Live Now co-star, George Mackay.
  • The IMAX presentation of the movie was in the 1.90:1 expanded aspect ratio, meaning that viewers saw up to 26% more picture at the top and bottom of the frame. However, the home release only has the film in the widescreen 2.39:1 aspect ratio, which was how the film was screened in regular theaters.
• Write What You Know: Marking his debut as a screenwriter in his 20-year-old filmmaking career (a debut he shared with co-writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns), co-writer/director Sam Mendes based the story on his grandfather, Alfred Mendes, who told stories about his experiences as a soldier/messenger in World War I to his grandchildren, including Sam.

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