Trivia / Raising Arizona

• Corpsing: In the scene where Hi, Ed and Dot are sitting at the picnic table discussing raising a healthy baby, Frances McDormand suddenly shouts at an off-camera child actor to take his sister's diaper off his head. Holly Hunter is visibly startled by this and either because of McDormand's line delivery or by this being an unexpected ad-lib, can be seen struggling to compose herself and hide a smile behind her hands.
• Hostility on the Set: The Coen Brothers had a stiff relationship with both Nicolas Cage, who was annoyed at their disinterest in his artistic suggestions, and Tex Cobb, who genuinely frightened the pair. Neither was ever asked back for another Coens film.
• Never Work with Children or Animals: Fifteen babies played the Arizona quintuplets in the film. One of the babies was fired during production when he learned to walk. The mother went so far as to put her baby's shoes on backwards in order to prevent him from walking.
• Underage Casting: HI is supposed to be a veteran jail bird who has spent his adult life bouncing in and out of prison for robbery before settling down, but Nicolas Cage was only 22 during filming.
• Wag the Director: The relationship between Nicolas Cage and The Coen Brothers was respectful, but turbulent. When he arrived on-set, and at various other points during production, Cage offered suggestions to the Coen brothers, which they ignored. Cage said that "Joel and Ethan have a very strong vision and I've learned how difficult it is to accept another artist's vision. They have an autocratic nature." It's no surprise that Cage did not become a part of the Coens' Production Posse.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Kevin Costner auditioned for H.I. McDunnough three times.
  • Kate Capshaw turned down the role of Ed McDunnough, a decision she regretted.

---