Trivia / Badlands

• Acclaimed Flop: The film was a critical success but a commercial failure at the box-office upon its debut theatrical release.
• Actor-Inspired Element: Terrence Malick included Sissy Spacek in his creative process, asking questions about her life "as if he were mining for gold." When he found out she had been a majorette, he worked a twirling routine into the script.
• Breakthrough Hit: For Terrence Malick.
• Copiously Credited Creator: Terrence Malick was the director, chief producer, screenwriter and uncredited editor. He also had an uncredited cameo.
• Creator's Favorite Episode: Martin Sheen named this as one of his favourite films of his own, while Sissy Spacek said that making the film was the most incredible experience of her career.
• Darkhorse Casting: Martin Sheen had plenty of supporting roles, while this was Sissy Spacek's second film role.
• Dawson Casting: Sissy Spacek (23 at time of filming) plays the 15 year old Holly, while Martin Sheen was 32 when he played 25-year-old Kit.
• Descended Creator:
  • The actor originally cast as the architect that rings at the rich man's door did not show up, so Terrence Malick played the part himself. Malick later wanted to re-shoot the scene with another actor, but Martin Sheen refused to re-do the sequence with another person.
  • The sheriff who arrests Kit was played by Gary Littlejohn, who also made the necessary arrangements to obtain period automobiles for the film.
  • Dona Baldwin, who was responsible for the cast's hair and wardrobe, played the rich man's deaf maid.
• Real-Life Relative: Martin Sheen's sons Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez made their feature film debut. Uncredited, both play boys under a lamppost.
• Romance on the Set: Sissy Spacek met her future husband, art director Jack Fisk, on the set of this movie. As of November 2015, they have collaborated on eight feature films.
• Star-Making Role: For Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek.
• What Could Have Been: Don Johnson auditioned for Kit.

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