When it comes to certain film directors, there is a unique style they possess that is easily recognizable from the moment the opening credits begin to roll. Wes Anderson is one of those directors, whether one is considering his literary storytelling to his visual use of colors.
His third film, The Royal Tenenbaums is considered one of Anderson’s best films. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the film, which tells the story of Royal Tenenbaum and his weird dysfunctional family. Anderson shares the story as if it were a literary classic told with chapters and narration. To celebrate Anderson’s film, here are 20 quirky behind the scenes trivia from improvising locations to family cameos that may or may not surprise fans.
The Royal Tenenbaums Is The Third Writing Collaboration Between Wes Anderson And Owen Wilson
The film marks the third and last collaboration between Anderson and Wilson as a writing team. The first two films were Bottle Rocket and Rushmore. Their third film was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 2002 Academy Awards. Wilson would continue to act in Anderson's movies including The Life Aquatic, The Darjeeling Limited and The French Dispatch.
The Director Makes A Cameo
Just like a book, each segment of the movie is told in chapters. So, it makes sense that the film opens up with a book being borrowed from the library. Additionally, if fans look closely, they will notice Wes Anderson's hand as it stamps the library card. Anderson has slipped in a few of his own films including the voice solving the equation in the opening of Rushmore as well as the voice of Weasel in Fantastic Mr. Fox.
The BB Lodged In Chas's Hand Is Inspired By Real Events
When Royal shoots Chas with a BB Gun at the beginning of the movie, it gets lodged between his knuckles. Later, when the BB is shown, the hand doesn’t belong to actor Ben Stiller. According to Mental Floss, it is Andrew Wilson, the older brother of Owen Wilson and Luke Wilson. When they were children, Owen fired a BB gun at Andrew’s hand and it's been there ever since.
Andrew Wilson Has Extra Cameos Throughout The Film
The hand with the BB wouldn’t be the only part that Andrew would play in The Royal Tenenbaums. He would appear again as Margot’s biological father who would accidentally chop off her ring finger.
Even though not on screen, Andrew’s voice can be heard as one of the commentators covering Richie’s tennis match during his famous meltdown. The other commentator's voice is Wes Anderson.
The Location Of The Tenenbaum's House Doesn't Exist But The House Is Real
111 Archer Avenue may not exist in real life but the grand house belonging to the Tenenbaums does. It is located at 144th Street and Convent Avenue in New York City. In the same Mental Floss article, it was revealed that the production team had to convince the owner of the house to delay moving in order to renovate as needed.
The Lindbergh Palace Doesn't Exist Either
The hotel where Royal stays in at the beginning of the film and later gets kicked out of is not a real location as well. The Lindbergh Palace Hotel is actually the Waldorf Astoria in New York. According to Mental Floss, the hotel gave Anderson and the production crew only two hours to film all the shots that they needed.
Gwyneth Paltrow Holds One Of The Scenes Close To Her Heart
Margot Tenenbaum has one of the best costumes in Anderson's films. The scene when Margot steps off the bus in her iconic fur coat to meet Richie has a special place in Paltrow’s heart according to Us magazine. Her father, Bruce Paltrow, was on set while she filmed the scene. A few years later, Bruce died due to complications of oral cancer and pneumonia.
The Name "Tenenbaum" Comes From Wes Anderson's College Friend
The family name used in the film, according to Mental Floss, comes from Anderson’s college friend, Ben Tenenbaum. His friend appears as background characters in The Royal Tenenabaums as a paramedic in one of the film’s last scenes as well as Bottle Rocket and Rushmore.
Margot's Wooden Finger Was Meant For Another Wes Anderson's Character
After getting her finger chopped off, Margo Tenenbaum gets a wooden finger in its place. In the same Mental Floss article, the wooden finger was supposed to be for another Anderson’s character in his previous movie. The character of Margaret Yang in Rushmore was supposed to have her finger blown off in a science experiment gone wrong. The idea was later scrapped and used for this film instead.
The Role Of Royal Tenenbaum Was Written For Gene Hackman
Anderson wrote the role of Royal Tenenbaum with Gene Hackman in mind. When he asked the actor to be in his film, Hackman was reluctant due to the fact that he was on the brink of retiring. His agent, according to Mental Floss, would convince him to take the role. Thank goodness he did because Hackman would win the Golden Globe for Best Actor and it would be one of Gene Hackman's best roles yet.
Anderson Also Wrote Etheline Tenenbaum With Angelica Huston In Mind
Aside from having this role written for her, The Royal Tenenbaums wouldn’t be the last time Anjelica Huston would appear in a Wes Anderson film. She would go on and appear in both The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou and The Darjeeling Limited.
Etheline Tenenbaum Was Inspired By Wes Anderson's Mother
The character of Etheline Tennenbaum was inspired after Anderson's mother. Just like Etheline in the movie, Anderson’s mom became an archeologist after her divorce. In the film, Huston wears the real life glasses belonging to Anderson’s mom.
The Go-Cart Scene With Royal, Ari And Uz Is A Nod To Another Film
When Royal Tenenbaum returns home to spend more time with his family, he takes Chas’s kids Ari and Uz to ride go-karts. The scene is a nod to another Gene Hackman movie, The French Connection. The film was released in 1971 and featured one of the best car chase sequences in Hollywood.
A Plaque Commemorating Richie Tenenbaum's Tennis Loss Can Be Seen At Forest Hills Stadium
According to Insider, there is a plaque that reads, "this is where 'the Baumer' had his meltdown" at the Forest Hills Stadium. The plaque refers to the scene in The Royal Tenenbaums where Luke Wilson's character Richie, nicknamed "The Baumer," takes off his shoe and has a meltdown during the middle of his tennis match in front of everyone.
The Scene Where Royal And Henry Fight Had To Be Filmed Through A Window
In the same Insider article, it's revealed that the scene where Royal and Henry, played by Danny Glover, argue over Royal’s place in the Tenenbaum family was not shot in the Tenenbaum house. Due to the confinement of the room, the scene was actually shot in a little kitchen located next door to the main house.
A Line By Richie Tenenbaum Is Taken From Another Film
In his bathroom, Richie Tenenbaum declares that “I’m going to kill myself tomorrow.” He then attempts to take his own life by cutting his wrists. However, in the same Mental Floss article, it's revealed that the line is taken verbatim from director Louis Malle’s 1963 film Le feu follet (The Fire Within.)
Three Cast Members Turned Down Roles In Ocean Eleven To Be In This Film
Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean's Eleven films would have a different cast if it wasn’t for The Royal Tenenbaums. According to Hollywood.com, Danny Glover, Luke Wilson and Owen Wilson (who co-wrote the film) all turned down parts in Ocean Eleven.
Wes Anderson Purposefully Hid New York Landmarks
Despite filming The Royal Tenenbaums in New York City, if the audience looks closely, they will find no landmarks in any of the shots. That’s due to Anderson hiding them. According to Rotten Tomatoes, Anderson blocked the Statue of Liberty in the scene where Royal and Pagoda talk in Battery Park by playing the friend and assassin in front of it. Anderson and production even changed street signs.
Angelica Huston's Hair Was Accidentally Set On Fire
One of the most interesting behind the scenes facts about Anderson’s film is that Huston’s hair was accidentally set on fire while filming. During the opening credits, Etheline Tenenbaum celebrates Margot’s birthday with a birthday cake filled with candles. Apparently, one of the lit candles was the culprit. Anderson thanks actor Kumar Pallana, who portrays Pagoda in the film, for helping to put the fire out.
One Of The Final Shots In The Movie Was Done In A Single Take
The end of The Royal Tenenbaums, where Eli Cash played by Owen Wilson, crashes his car at the wedding of Etheline and Henry was filmed in one take. According to Mental Floss, it took the production team 20 takes but it was the 18th take that the audience sees in the final movie.