By Michael Lyons
A movie about history that made history. That’s “Forrest Gump.”
Director. Robert Zemeckis’ film about the title character, played by Tom Hanks in one of his many career defining roles, told the story of a simple-minded man, with an unwitting peaceful philosophy of life, who unknowingly influences a number of historical events during the 20th Century.
“Forrest Gump” not only became the biggest film of 1994, winning the Oscar for Best Picture, it also made history for its groundbreaking use of visual effects that paved the way for future possibilities in film. It also segued smoothly into our pop culture in a number of ways that have continued on longer than Forrest could ever run.
Released on July 6, 1994, this summer marks the 25th anniversary of “Forrest Gump,” which is the perfect time to open up a “box of chocolate” fun facts about the movie:
- “Forrest Gump” was actually based on a 1986 novel by Winston Groom, who also wrote a sequel in 1995, entitled “Gump & Co.”
- John Travolta, Bill Murray and Sean Penn were all considered for the title role, before Hanks. Novelist Groom Originally envisioned John Goodman as Forrest.
- Michael Connor Humphreys, who played young Forrest, actually inspired Tom Hanks, who fashioned the character’s unique Southern drawl after hearing the young actor speak.
- Dick Cavett played a younger version of himself (thanks to special hair and makeup), making him the only real-life cameo in the film.
- Tom Hanks won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his work in “Forrest Gump.” Having just won the same award the year before for “Philadelphia,” Hanks became the first actor since Spencer Tracy (in 1938) to win back-to-back acting Oscars. Hanks is also the last actor to accomplish this feat.
- The wizards at Industrial Light & Magic used then new and cutting edge computer effects to “morph” Hanks into archival footage with such notable figures as John F. Kennedy and John Lennon. While looking quaint by today’s standards, the effects in “Forrest Gump” opened “anything is possible” doors in filmmaking. In fact now, if similar effects are used, it’s said that an actor was “Forrest Gump-ed” into a scene.
It’s more than the effects that have allowed “Forrest Gump” to endure. The movie not only celebrates the grandeur of history, but also the smaller miracles in life, like kindness, understanding and unconditional love.
Sources: Wikipedia