Trivia / Throw Momma from the Train

• Playing Against Type: Danny DeVito is associated with sleazy, if not outright evil characters; his other notable role in 1987 was Tin Men. Here, Owen is impossibly sweet, even as he daydreams about murdering his mother and drives his teacher insane.^note Though he's perfectly willing to murder Margaret, and during those moments, he's downright chilling.
• Production Posse: Billy Crystal once again with frequent collaborator Rob Reiner.
• Throw It In!: When Momma slaps Owen for smashing the cup, Anne Ramsey accidentally slapped Danny harder than she meant to, and the startled reaction you see from him his genuine. Anne apologized for it after but Danny thought the take was great and left it in.
• What Could Have Been: The film was originally written with Bill Murray in mind as Larry and Robin Williams as Owen. Joe Pesci, John Candy and Bob Hoskins were also considered for Owen.
• Write What You Know: Danny DeVito based the scene where Owen shows his coin collection on his personal childhood habit of obsessively showing his collections to his friends.
• Written-In Infirmity: Anne Ramsey's throat cancer and the resulting treatment thereof was the reason for Momma's slurred speech.