We could argue that the 1990s were the golden era of rom-coms. Meg and Tom. Leo and Kate. Julia and everyone.
While some of these films are coming up on being thirty years old, they still have a special place in our hearts. These are the comfort movies we come back to time and time again when we need a pick-me-up. We can laugh with some, and cry (sometimes sob) along with others.
Over the years, behind-the-scenes stories about these films have been shared; and these fun facts only make us appreciate the films even more. Who knew that one of the most quintessential outfits of ‘90s films was bought off a person on the street? Or that some of our favorite moments in rom-com history were ad-libbed?
Get ready to be transported to a simpler time of rollerblades and butterfly clips. Enjoy the blast of nostalgia from these facts about your favorite ’90s rom-coms.
1. The Cast Of ‘Ghost’ Almost Looked Much Different
There are three stars in the 1990 hit Ghost – Patrick Swayze, who plays Sam (or rather, the ghost of Sam), Demi Moore, who plays Molly (Sam’s still-living partner), and Whoopi Goldberg, who plays psychic Oda Mae.
Without the casting, the movie wouldn’t be one of the classic rom-coms of the decade. But Swayze and Goldberg almost didn’t make the cut.
Director Jerry Zucker at first refused the idea of Swayze playing the tender character, after seeing him in the action-filled Roadhouse.
But after convincing Zucker to let him audition, Swayze showed off his softer side and landed the role.
Goldberg, on the other hand, really seemed like she wasn’t going to get the part. While the producers weren’t sold on her, Swayze stuck up for her – saying he wouldn’t do the film without her.
Goldberg went on to win an Academy Award for her role; and she never forgot who was in her corner, saying:
And I won an Oscar because of Patrick Swayze.
2. The ‘King Of The World’ Line In ‘Titanic’ Was Made Up On The Spot
When people think of the movie Titanic, a few things come to mind: the Heart of the Ocean jewel, the band playing as the ship went down, and one of the most iconic lines in the movie, “I’m the king of the world!”
The famous line was uttered by Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he stood on the bow of the ship. However, this line was not in the script.
In an interview with BBC Radio 1, director James Cameron revealed that he came up with the line on the spot:
I was in a crane basket and we were losing the light, and we had tried this and tried that, and tried this line and tried that line and nothing was really working.
I said, “All right, I’ve got one for you, just say ‘I’m the king of the world,’ and just spread your arms out wide, and just be in the moment, and just love it and celebrate the moment.”
According to Cameron’s telling, DiCaprio seemed a little dubious of the line, but the director told him to “[j]ust f***ing sell it.”
We think it’s fair to say he did.
3. The Crew Of ‘Notting Hill’ Had To Destroy Their Copy Of ‘La Mariée’ Because It Was Too Good
Notting Hill was destined to be a hit with the killer combination of Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant starring in a Richard Curtis-written film.
Amidst the many sweet moments in the movie, one gesture stands out. Anna (Roberts) notices that William (Grant) has a copy of the Marc Chagall painting “La Mariée.”
This seems like a passing remark, but many months later, Anna gifts William with the original version of the painting.
It turns out that the “original” painting that appeared on-screen was so good, that the crew was ordered to destroy it.
As producer Duncan Kenworthy said,
We had to agree to destroy it. They were concerned that if our fake was too good, it might float around the market and create problems.
4. ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ Referenced The Soup Nazi Before ‘Seinfeld’
The “Soup Nazi” is the star of one of the most famous episodes of Seinfeld. But it turns out the cranky chef was also referenced in another beloved comedy, Sleepless in Seattle. Annie (Meg Ryan) says:
This man sells the greatest soup you’ve ever eaten, and he is the meanest man in America!
Seinfeld episode. So what gives? Were the writers in cahoots? Was it an inside joke among the directors?
Nope – it turns out the Soup Nazi was, in fact, a real guy.
Al Yeganeh ran the very popular soup counter, International Soup Kitchen, in Manhattan in the ‘90s. And his depiction in Seinfeld is pretty spot-on. He’d make people stand in a single-file line, limiting any chit-chat and specifying that they had to give a clear, succinct soup order at the counter.
And if customers didn’t comply by his rules, Yeganeh would kick them out – sometimes permanently banning them.
5. The Iconic Red Coat In ‘Pretty Woman’ Was Bought Off A Pedestrian On The Street
Pretty Woman delivered some of the most iconic looks of the ‘90s.
The gorgeous red gown Vivian (Julia Roberts) wears to the opera, the brown polka dot day dress she wears to the polo match, and, most famously, the blue and white mini-dress she’s wearing when she’s originally picked up by Edward (Richard Gere).
Vivian also has a red coat to complete her initial ensemble – and it turns out the coat wasn’t just found in a studio’s closet by the costume designer.
As the costume designers were driving around looking for inspiration, they spotted someone wearing the perfect coat – and they paid them cash for the iconic garment right on the spot.
6. The Paper Boy Who Biffs It In ‘While You Were Sleeping’ Actually Broke His Wrist
There’s a scene in the 1995 rom-com While You Were Sleeping that has absolutely nothing to do with the plot, but absolutely steals the show.
The scene in question is when a young paper boy is on his bike, all bundled up in a coat and hat, and is throwing newspapers onto people’s front stoops. However, he miscalculates and crashes his bike – hard.
The scene is so unexpected, and realistic, that you can’t help but laugh. And it turns out it’s so realistic because it was an actual accident.
Unfortunately for the paper boy, the real fall meant a real injury – he broke his wrist from the crash. While we hope he got compensated well for his injury, the director didn’t want to pass up the one-in-a-million shot. So, he kept the fall in the final cut.
7. Meg Ryan Didn’t Have A Computer Before She Filmed ‘You’ve Got Mail’
It might seem strange that one of the biggest actresses of the decade didn’t have a home computer in 1998. But the ‘90s were a completely different era of technology (as was apparent by the cringe-worthy sounds of the AOL chat in You’ve Got Mail).
So before filming the hit movie, Meg Ryan didn’t have a computer. But she can thank the production for her first one. As she said:
I got my first computer when I did that movie. I think that the company gave us a computer.
It may also surprise you to learn that the on-set production assistant who taught Ryan and Tom Hanks their way around the computer screens was none other than Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige.
8. Leonardo da Vinci Almost Did Danielle’s Makeup For The Grand Ball Scene In ‘Ever After’
The story of Cinderella has had countless iterations over the decades. But one of the most beloved is the 1998 version, Ever After: A Cinderella Story, starring Drew Barrymore as Danielle.
Ever After takes a more historical fiction approach to the fairytale than many other versions, having people from real life turn up in the film. This includes none other than Leonardo da Vinci, who is actually working on the Mona Lisa in the movie.
Danielle and Leonardo’s friendship is key to the movie, and originally they wanted him involved in the climatic ball scene. In fact, it was written that Leonardo was going to apply Danielle’s makeup.
Barrymore revealed that the idea of having to create a makeup look worthy of Leonardo da Vinci was incredibly intimidating for the lead makeup artist.
Luckily, the artist got a break when the film decided to nix that part, and have Danielle arrive in her glittering makeup and butterfly wings.
9. The Title ’10 Things I Hate About You’ Was Inspired By The Co-Writer’s High School Diary
When screenwriter Karen McCullah was flipping through her old high school diary for inspiration, she eventually came across a page she’d written about an old beau, Anthony.
She was going through some rough times with Anthony apparently, so she penned a list called “’Things I Hate About Anthony.” (If that isn’t the epitome of pure teenage angst, we don’t know what is.)
Anyway, the name felt like the perfect inspiration for the modern retelling of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, which became 10 Things I Hate About You.
And apparently, Andrew, who McCullah is still friends with, is touched to be the inspiration for the ’90s classic.