History Trivia / OBrotherWhereArtThou

* {{Defictionalization}}: The Soggy Bottom Boys.

* CreatorChosenCasting: Creator/GeorgeClooney was Creator/TheCoenBrothers' first and only choice for the role of Everett. They had been impressed with his performance in ''Film/OutOfSight''.

* NonSingingVoice: Dan Tyminski, a member of Music/AlisonKraussAndUnionStation, provided Everett's singing voice. Pete's singing voice was dubbed by Harley Allen, and other than "In the Jailhouse Now", Delmar's singing voice was provided by Pat Enright. The three sirens were also dubbed while singing, as was Homer Stokes.

* BreakawayPopHit: "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" was a minor radio hit.

** That's really Creator/TimBlakeNelson singing the lead vocal on "In The Jailhouse Now".
** Defied by Creator/GeorgeClooney. According to him, he was cast partly because the filmmakers were under the mistaken impression that he could sing, probably because he has several singers in his family. In spite of his best efforts (which included several weeks of singing lessons), his singing voice was not up to snuff and was ultimately dubbed by Dan Tyminski.

* HalfRememberedHomage: Though they based the story off ''Literature/TheOdyssey'', Creator/TheCoenBrothers admitted to having never read it, instead they based the script on [[PopCultureOsmosis adaptations they read or saw as kids]], particularly the 1954 movie version starring Creator/KirkDouglas.
* NonSingingVoice: Dan Tyminski, a member of Music/AlisonKraussAndUnionStation, provided Everett's singing voice.
* ProductionPosse: Creator/JohnTurturro, Creator/JohnGoodman, Creator/CharlesDurning, Creator/HollyHunter, Creator/StephenRoot, Creator/MichaelBadalucco, Creator/GeorgeClooney and Creator/TimBlakeNelson have all appeared in other Coen brothers films.

** Defied by Creator/GeorgeClooney. According to him, he was cast partly because the filmmakers were under the mistaken impression that he could sing, probably because he has several singers in his family. In spite of his best efforts, his singing voice was not up to snuff and was ultimately dubbed by Dan Tyminski.
* CreatorChosenCasting: Creator/GeorgeClooney was Creator/TheCoenBrothers' first and only choice for the role of Everett. They had been impressed with his performane in ''Film/OutOfSight''.

* HalfRememberedHomage: Though they based the story off ''Literature/TheOdyssey'', Creator/TheCoenBrothers admitted to having never read it, instead basing the script on [[PopCultureOsmosis adaptations they read or saw as kids]], particularly the 1954 movie version starring Creator/KirkDouglas.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Creator/JKSimmons auditioned for multiple parts, but backed out when the one character the Coens were leaning toward casting him as was too similar to ''Series/{{Oz}}'' and turned it down. He would work with the Coens many times down the line.
** Creator/JimCaviezel and Creator/ChristopherReeve were considered for the role of Pete Hogwallop
** Creator/MichaelJFox, Creator/KevinKline, Creator/DannyDeVito and Creator/DanielStern were considered for the role of Delmar O'Donnell
** Creator/JeffBridges, Creator/AlbertBrooks and Creator/MelBrooks were considered for the role of Big Dan.
** Creator/NicoleKidman, Creator/MinnieDriver and Creator/GwynethPaltrow were considered for the role of Penny Wharvey-[=McGill=].
** Creator/PierceBrosnan and Creator/MelGibson were considered for the role of Ulysses Everett [=McGill=].
** Creator/SeanConnery and Creator/DonaldSutherland were considered for the role of Pappy O'Daniel.

* CastTheExpert: Real-life blues singer Chris Thomas King plays Tommy, and at one point gets to sing (in his own voice) a rendition of Skip James' "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues."

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Creator/JKSimmons auditioned for multiple parts, but backed out when the one character the Coens were leaning toward casting him as was too similar to ''Series/{{Oz}}'' and turned it down. He would work with the Coens many times down the line.

** Defied by George Clooney. According to him, he was cast partly because the filmmakers were under the mistaken impression that he could sing, probably because he has several singers in his family. In spite of his best efforts, his singing voice was not up to snuff and was ultimately dubbed by Dan Tyminski.

* NoAnimalsWereHarmed: The cow that was run over by the cops in pursuit of Baby Face Nelson was CGI, which resulted in the rare addendum to the warning, "No animals were harmed in the making of this film. Any scenes showing animals in jeopardy were simulated."

* ProductionPosse: John Turturro, John Goodman, Charles Durning, Holly Hunter, Stephen Root, Michael Badalucco, Creator/GeorgeClooney and Tim Blake Nelson have all appeared in other Coen brother films.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Creator/JKSimmons auditioned for multiple parts, but backed out when the one character the Coens were leaning toward casting him as was too similar to ''Series/{{Oz}}'' and turned it down. He would work with the Coens many times down the line.
** Creator/JimCaviezel and Creator/ChristopherReeve were considered for the role of Pete Hogwallop
** Creator/MichaelJFox, Creator/KevinKline, Creator/DannyDeVito and Creator/DanielStern were considered for the role of Delmar O'Donnell
** Creator/JeffBridges, Creator/AlbertBrooks and Creator/MelBrooks were considered for the role of Big Dan.
** Creator/NicoleKidman, Creator/MinnieDriver and Creator/GwynethPaltrow were considered for the role of Penny Wharvey-[=McGill=].
** Creator/PierceBrosnan and Creator/MelGibson were considered for the role of Ulysses Everett [=McGill=].
** Creator/SeanConnery and Creator/DonaldSutherland were considered for the role of Pappy O'Daniel.

** Creator/NicoleKidman, Creator/MinnieDriver and Creator/GwynethPaltrow were considered for the role of Penny Wharvey-McGill.
** Creator/PierceBrosnan and Creator/MelGibson were considered for the role of Ulysses Everett McGill.

** Creator/MichaelJFox, Creator/KevineKline, Creator/DannyDeVito and Creator/DanielStern were considered for the role of Delmar O'Donnell