Collection of Fun Facts For Nicolas Cage's CON AIR and a "Making Of" Video
I remember the first time I watched director Simon West’s 1997 action film Con Air. That was one hell of a wild ride! This movie was loaded with action-packed footage, funny comedy, an awesome ensemble cast, and a crazy concept for a story.
Nicolas Cage stars in the film as a just-paroled army ranger named Cameron Poe as he heads back to his wife (Monica Potter) while flying home on board a prison transport flight dubbed "Jailbird" which is packed full of some of the worst criminals ever put in prison. While making the flight, genius serial killer Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom (John Malkovich) unleashes a violent escape plot. While secretly working with U.S. Marshall Vince Larkin (John Cusack), Poe tries to stop Grissom’s escape plan.
There were a lot of great action films released in the late 90s and Con Air was one of the best and most ridiculous in the most awesome of ways. Every time I watch this movie it’s an absolute blast! If, for some reason you’ve never seen it, you have got to watch it! It’s funny, the more I watch it, the more ridiculous it gets. Then there’s Steve Buscemi’s character, Garland 'The Marietta Mangler' Greene, who steels the show.
Below you’ll find a collection of fun facts regarding the film that you may or may not have already known. You’ll also find a trailer and a “making of” video.
The movie was inspired by a newspaper article about a plane that transports convicts.
John Malkovich was unhappy during production because the script was being rewritten virtually every day and he had no idea how his character was going to turn out.
Dave Chappelle improvised most of his lines.
John Cusack allegedly dislikes this film so much that he refuses to be interviewed about it.
The film is dedicated to Phil Swartz, an effects specialist who died during filming, when a rigged plane fell and crushed him.
The Las Vegas scenes were filmed at the legendary Sands Hotel immediately prior to its demolition in late 1996. When the production team heard about the city's intentions to raze the historic landmark, they immediately scheduled a multiple camera setup to take advantage of the rare event, which is what you actually see in the movie.
Stephen Baldwin, William Baldwin, Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, Dolph Lundgren, Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves, Kurt Russell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steven Seagal, Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Bruce Willis were considered for the part of Cameron Poe.
The song "How Do I Live" was nominated for both an Oscar as Best Original Song and a Razzie as Worst Original Song. It did not win either award. it was originally performed by 14-year-old LeAnn Rimes.
According to Danny Trejo, there was a lot of 'tough guy competition' in almost everything on the set. For example, when one guy would spit on the floor, the others would immediately imitate it and try to spit even farther.
The Jailbird airplane used during flight scenes had a series of owners, both military and private. In December 2003, it was sold to All West Freight Inc. in Delta Junction, Alaska. On August 1, 2010, it crashed into Mount Healy, in Denali National Park, killing all three flight crew.
Colm Meaney's key chain has a Star Trek Communicator ornament on it. He played Chief Miles O'Brien on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Gary Oldman was the first choice to play Cyrus. Kevin Bacon, Alec Baldwin, George Clooney, Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Richard Dreyfuss, James Gandolfini, Ed Harris, Rutger Hauer, William Hurt, Michael Keaton, Michael Madsen, Jack Nicholson, Sean Penn, Ron Perlman, Tim Robbins, Tom Sizemore, John Travolta, Peter Weller, and Bruce Willis were also considered.
Willem Dafoe and Mickey Rourke also auditioned for the part of Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom. During Rourke's audition, he improvised by producing a razor-sharp Bowie knife, both terrifying and impressing the director.
During set ups, Cage lifted weights off camera to maintain the physique he had already attained for the film.
Robert Downey Jr., Charlie Sheen and Matthew Broderick were considered for the part of Vince Larkin. The part ultimately went to Cusack.
The events of the movie take place on July 14th, which is mentioned several times in the letter from Casey to her father, Cameron (Nic Cage). July 14th is the date of a famous and historically significant prison break. The French Revolution started on July 14th, 1789 when the people of Paris stormed the fortress prison known as the "Bastille." The Bastille was where people, particularly political prisoners, were imprisoned simply based on arbitrary and/or malicious royal edicts that could not be appealed and did not specify the crime or reason for their incarceration. The prisoners were freed, although there were only seven at the time. The Bastille also had an armory full of weapons that the rioters seized and helped power the revolution. During the following month, feudalism ended in France and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (based on the Declaration of Independence) was proclaimed. The document became historically influential in European democratic traditions and subsequent revolutions. The day is still celebrated in France and other countries as "Bastille Day.
The film unites Mykelti Williamson and Dave Chappelle, who have in common a fun fact regarding the role of Bubba in Forrest Gump. Chappelle turned down the role while Williamson got the part and starred in Robert Zemeckis film.
Tim Roth was the first choice for the part of Garland 'The Marietta Mangler' Greene. He and Steve Buscemi appeared in Reservoir Dogs five years earlier.
Poe claims as he is being transferred to his flight home that he was locked up 3 months before his daughter was born, yet in the opening scene where he puts his head to his wife's chest, she is clearly not 6 months pregnant, not even 6 weeks.
Cage did all his own stunts. In a behind the scenes special, the actor claimed: ‘There were explosions five feet behind me, flaming helicopters dropping right behind me, ball-bearing bullets over my head. So there was a level of intensity, fear, you might say.’
Below you’ll find the original trailer and a making of video to enjoy: