I meant to post these fun movie fact about Gnomeo and Juliet on Saturday but I completely forgot. I’m sorry about that.
These are really interesting would make for some great trivia questions.
If you have already seen the movie then these will give you some thoughts to ponder on. If you haven’t seen the movie and plan to do so then keep these in mind when you go and see if you can recognize many of the scenes mentioned here.
FILM FUN FACTS
CONSIDER THE SOURCE – Filmmakers offer a nod to Shakespeare in several ways:
– In a nod to “Hamlet,” Miss Montague’s mailbox is numbered 2B, while her rival neighbor Mr. Capulet’s mailbox is 2B with a red slash through it (“NOT to be”).
– “Macbeth” is referenced in a scene in which Juliet is threatened by a bulldog. She slams shut her garden gate and shouts “Out!”—followed quickly by the dog’s distant owner yelling “Damned Spot!”
– Featherstone’s shed interior features a ticket stub for “As You Like It.”
– The truck that rolls through and accidentally drops a couple teapots (later mistaken by several gnomes as a broken comrade), is marked “Tempest Teapots.”
– When the Goons glue Juliet to her pedestal, the glue is labeled “The Taming of the Glue.”
FAMOUS FEATURES — Juliet’s face is inspired by several classic Hollywood faces, and of course Emily Blunt, who lends her voice to the character.
FLAMINGO FORTUNE— Featherstone gets his name from Don Featherstone, the original sculptor of the classic plastic pink flamingo made popular in the 1960s. Even today, authentic versions of the decorative bird are embossed with Mr. Featherstone’s signature. Just look under the tail.
STREET SMARTS– Filmmakers conducted several research trips to Stratford Upon Avon to explore the world of the movie. Producer Steve Hamilton-Shaw hails from Stratford and served as a great authority.
– The Shakespeare statue in the film is based on the actual statue in Stratford, as is the park where the statue is located.
– A sequence that features a dog running through the streets of Stratford with Gnomeo in his mouth incorporates real life details of the neighborhood.
REALITY STARS— Several real-life gnome-populated suburban British gardens helped inspire the locations for “Gnomeo & Juliet.”
ALL IN THE FAMILY – Seeking a disguise for Juliet, Nanette jumps onto the clothesline to fetch a black sock. During her descent, she passes a Kermit the Frog shirt hanging from the clothesline.
FRUIT LOOP — Montague’s laptop has a Banana logo on it.
NEPOTISM— The lawn hippo from “Gnomeo & Juliet” is based on one owned by director Kelly Asbury and kept in his California garden.
HEARING VOICES– A few behind-the-scenes pros stepped up to the microphone to lend their voices to “Gnomeo & Juliet.”
– Director Kelly Asbury voices the Goons.
– Assistant production manager for editorial Julio Bonet provides the voice of the Mankini Gnome.
– Associate editor Maurissa Horwitz lends her voice to the Call Me Girl.
SURPRISE!— Producer David Furnish gifted the London office during pre-production with motion-activated farting gnomes. Emily Blunt and James McAvoy received them as well. http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20070621/the-farting-gnome/.
HAPPILY EVER AFTER— Gnomeo and Juliet ride off into the sunset on a lawn mower with a sign on the back that reads “Matrignomey.”
ALL ELTON, ALL THE TIME– “Gnomeo & Juliet” is the first feature film that exclusively features music from the Elton John-Bernie Taupin library.
– For the film’s score, composers James Newton Howard and Chris Bacon incorporated iconic Elton John-Bernie Taupin melodies such as “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” “Bennie and The Jets” and “I’m Still Standing,” among others, and even invited John’s band to record the rock-and-roll segments of the score.
ROCKET MEN – Headed by Elton John, David Furnish and Steven Hamilton Shaw, Rocket Pictures was established in 1996 and has created the indies “It’s a Boy Girl Thing” and “Women Talking Dirty,” as well as documentary “Elton John: Tantrums and Tiaras” and two series of the music talk show “Spectacle.” Next up for the production company, “Pride and Predator” adds an alien-horror twist to the Jane Austen world, before the company focuses exclusively on music-driven projects across film, TV and the stage.
Have you seen the movie yet? What did you think about it? Did you enjoy it? Feel free to leave me a comment and let me know.
Kimberly
*I was not asked to post this informatin, nor was I compensated for it. I posted this for the enjoyment of my site readers.
Rhea says
We just saw this on Valentine’s Day with my boys. It was super cute, and these are cute things to point out seeing it.