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Thelma & Louise (1991)
Directed by Ridley Scott.
Directed by Ridley Scott · Shot by Adrian Biddle · Cut by Thom Noble · Music by Hans Zimmer · Ratio 2.35:1 · 129 min
How it was made
- Ridley Scott bought the film rights for $500,000 and considered four other directors, including Bob Rafelson and Richard Donner, all of whom turned the project down, before taking it on himself at the urging of Michelle Pfeiffer, then still attached to star.
- Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon took extensive driving and shooting lessons to prepare for their roles after being cast to replace Pfeiffer and Jodie Foster.
- Brad Pitt first auditioned for J.D. but was passed over as too young; after both William Baldwin and his eventual replacement dropped out, Pitt got another chance, and Geena Davis, having read test scenes opposite George Clooney and others for the part, recommended him for the role.
- Scott's first choice for Harlan, Thelma's would-be rapist, was Michael Madsen, but Madsen was unwilling to play the part and was cast instead as Louise's boyfriend Jimmy.
- Although the story is set on a fictional route between Arkansas and the Grand Canyon, the finale was filmed just south of Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah, with the entire film shot in California and Utah rather than Arkansas or Arizona.
Behind the scenes
Elsewhere
More by Ridley Scott
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