I ingested a lot of sugar in this movie, and I didn't get a lot of sleep." "I decided I wouldn't be able to. The elf Ming Ming oversees toy production and unintentionally helps Buddy realize hes a human. "I took a look at the script, and I wasn't particularly interested," he told Rolling Stone. So lets talk about something else. Remembering James Caan - YouTube You're going to read an . Gimbels Santa and Buddy had one take to film the North Pole fight scene. Their main concern was Buddy's green costume, which looked strikingly similar to an elf uniform from Rankin/Bass and was in almost every scene. Scroll through the gallery to see what the cast looks like now! Our goal, even then, was to make a movie that could be part of that pantheon, he said. 14. Like many productions, this one took advantage of the financial benefits of filming in Canada, and much of Elf was shot in sound stages in Vancouver. Smiling's my favorite! We remember Favreau on screen as the doctor that administers Buddy's DNA . Leon the Snowman was another character inspired by the 1964 animation, and he looks very much like Rudolphs Sam the Snowman with his mustache, goatee, hat, and all-around dapper appearance. That fear didnt last. 8 photos. "We were going to do it, and I thought, 'Oh my God, I finally have a franchise movie. James Caan Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images He goes, 'Hi Artie.' "It was less a challenge dressing Will due to his size and more a challenge to make sure nothing seemed off-putting or in bad taste." That's no coincidence. The facility is called Riverview Hospital, and it has played host to a long list of film and television productions, including The X-Files, Final Destination 2, Jennifer's Body, and See No Evil 2. For North Pole scenes, two sets were builtone larger scale for the actors playing elves, the other smaller to make Buddy and Santa look big. The director eventually cast him in 1972's The Godfather, earning Caan his sole Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The wardrobe department even mimicked the famous puppet-like costumes with permission for Buddy, Santa and the other elves. Elf proved to be a big break for Zooey Deschanel, who played down-on-Christmas department store elf Jovie, whom Buddy falls in love with. That meant they could buy the license to the brand, but there was no Gimbels store to shoot in. Together, this trio traveled around the city, looking for mischief for Buddy to get into with random passersby turned background extras. What seems craziest to fans is the fact that despite the films success, there was never a sequel. Another mystery: Where did he get all his sugary breakfast treats from? What I'm more proud of actually is the narwhal when it comes up out of the water, when Buddy's leaving the North Pole, that's my voice: Bye, Buddy. This is the untold truth ofElf, including the story of building Santaland, the scene Jon Favreau added for Zooey Deschanel, the lawsuit that nearly canceled everything, what James Caan was like on set, and why there won't be a sequel no matter how much Christmas cheer we spread. As a kid growing up in Philadelphia, future Elf screenwriter David Berenbaum loved Christmas despite being Jewish. But he said the actual fight between the characters had to be done in one take. In the 2020 Netflix special The Holiday Movies that Made Us, the story behind the name was finally revealed. According to Favreaus DVD commentary special, The Godfather star broke because Ferrell often made him laugh. To play the bubbly baby version of the titular elf, Favreau had initially cast twin boys whose blonde curly hair made them great little doubles for the mop-topped Ferrell. ", In the movie, Buddy is happy to gobble down an endless supply of sweets, including maple syrup-coated spaghetti and cotton balls made of cotton candy. Life & Style is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. In an interview with Rolling Stone for the 10-year anniversary of Elf, director Jon Favreau said it was his hope from the start that the film would become a holiday classic. And yes, that really is Ferrell singing. Inspired by the Christmas specials he grew up with, Favreau explained in the film's commentary track that he employed old techniques instead of CGI whenever possible. Faizon Love plays the manager at the department store, and hes simply credited as Gimbels Manager. But his name tag says his name is Wanda, a detail that left many fans confused. Billingsley also made a cameo in 'Elf'. She explained to Variety, "There are worse things in the world to eat than that, but we had been doing it for hours." Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel have both paid a sweet tribute to their Elf co-star James Caan following the sad news that he had passed away on Wednesday . New Line Cinema. Originally cast as Michael . American actor James Caan has died at the age of 82. Originally, the filmmakers wanted comic Garry Shandling, but when he declined, they went to the next obvious choice famous tough guy James Caan. Its great to see Jimmy in a way that were not used to seeing him in and it adds to the effect. However, when Buddy comes to New York, it was important to Favreau to shoot on location whenever possible. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Favreau and Lange both told "20/20" that the movie's art department worked long hours over two weeks to set the scene with an elaborate LEGO city-scape, Lite Brite displays, and miniature train setup. See the highest-grossing Christmas movies in America! The first one is a little bit slow, but the second two are really good." . And I went in for the meeting for Elf, and then I asked them, 'Could I dye my hair back to my natural color?'" Movie tough guy James Caan, whose work spanned generations in such big-screen classics as "The Godfather," "Misery" and "Elf," died Wednesday, his family said. he explained. ', Of course, it was the former. But while trying to do a rewrite, he had an epiphany. 8 things you never knew about the Christmas movie 'Elf' We shot right up until we destroy the place," Lange said. "We were gonna do it. "People would be on the phone, they'd be sitting at the desk cutting up paper, cutting out little dolls, cutting out little curlicues to make snowflakes," Smith said. James Caan, as Buddy's biological father Walter, often seems uncomfortable as if he felt ill at ease on the set and used that feeling in his . Peter Billingsley, who memorably played the Red Ryder-wanting Ralphie in the 1983 holiday classic, popped in to play Ming the elf. Poor Buddy accidentally wreaks all kinds of havoc on his elf community because of his ungainly size. But Caan alleged it was tension between Ferrell and Favreau that possibly squashed any plans for a follow-up. He didnt bring a bag with him from the North Pole. They got started, but the schedule was thrown out the window when New Line arranged a preview screening before the sequences were ready. Speaking of Gimbels, although Favreau chose the department store for its ties to another Christmas classic, Miracle on 34th Street, it had gone out of business by 2003. 21 Fun Facts About 'Elf' | Mental Floss This was the last set piece shot for Elf, and one that filmmakers were wavering on from its conception late in production. "It was a much darker version of the film. Elf became an instant Christmas classic when it was released on Nov. 8, 2003, and it's now a movie everyone . The actor played the chimney-climber several times, including in the TV movies The Story of Santa Claus, Christmas on the Bayou, and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation 2. After the show ended, Peter landed the principal role in theCyrano, which is scheduled to premiere in January 2022. LaMarche shared his secret to such an impressive burp with The A.V. And perhaps its because Buddy excels at transporting you to a time when you believed in Santa Claus that you may have missed some fun details you otherwise would have picked up on, including tons of nods to other beloved Christmas flicks. Caan is survived by five children and four . 2018!). In a 2020 Rolling Stone interview , director Jon Favreau recalled . But anything for the movie, I'm there. Caan told CBS in 2021 that he didn't love television, in part because "I fought always never to be the same person. Hes prickly, but not a complete jerk, tough but vulnerable. I knew it was driving him crazy on one level. Jon Favreau and Artie Lange share behind-the-scenes secrets about the film. "He really never came to any of his movies. He was 82. Mary Steenburgen, who played Buddy's stepmother, had to eat a bite of syrup-covered spaghetti and pretend to like it for Buddy's sake. Favreau's hugely popular (yet unknown) cameo. But the director said lining up a large set and small set required extremely precise lighting to control continuity between the appearance of both the background and foreground. If it takes eating a lot of maple syrup, then I willif that's what the job calls for. James Caan, the Bronx-born, Queens-raised actor who starred in "The Godfather," "Elf," "Brian's Song," "El Dorado" and "Misery," among countless other films, has died. So if you could make him laugh, all the tension disappears. Elf: Directed by Jon Favreau. Because it took over a decade for the film to finally be made, the . As Favreau explained to Rolling Stone, they made two sets, with Favreau on the one positioned closer to the camera, and lined them up so that it looked like Ferrell was sitting right next to the people on the other set. I liked the notion of being involved with Will in his first solo movie after SNL, but it wasn't quite there.". Born in New York City on March 26, 1940, to Sophie and Arthur Caan, Jewish immigrants from Germany, James Caan went to Michigan State University on an athletic scholarship before turning to Off-Broadway, according to a 1975 PEOPLE profile. The Most Memorable Christmas Moments From 'The Office', 6 Hallmark Christmas Movies Worth Watching This Holiday Season, Melissa Rivers Shares 2023 Met Gala Predictions: Who Will 'Bring It', Joe, Bessy Gatto Spark Reconciliation Rumors After Buying Home Together, Why Wasn't Scott Disick At Kardashian Easter Celebration? Apparently, one of the hospital buildings was still operational and had patients at the time of filming. We were half-joking, saying, 'Maybe someday this will be like [A] Christmas Story where every year you'll watch it, because there are a few movies that get to be part of that cycle, Favreau said. Edward Chiodo told Art of the Title. He was even given the prestigious Gordon E. Sawyer Academy Award in 1992 for his impact in the motion picture industry. Favreau used the "forced perspective" technique while filming so that Buddy the Elf appeared larger than his surroundings and counterparts. But now I see what you're doing. "We were gonna do it, and I thought, 'Oh my God, I finally have a franchise movie. ", Caan appeared in Wes Anderson's very first feature film in 1996 as Mr. Henry, a bad guy with a wild streak. Photo Gallery; Trailers and Videos; Details. He fronted Made with friend Vince Vaughn, and later found a sweet supporting role for himself in Iron Man. 40 Things We Learned from Jon Favreau's 'Elf' Commentary When David Berenbaum's spec script first emerged in 1993, Carrey was pre-Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and attached to front the Christmas film. "And they said, 'No, you have to keep your hair what it was in the meeting.' We were going to do it, and I thought, Oh my God, I finally have a franchise movie. Voice actorMaurice LaMarche, best known forgiving life toThe Brainon Pinky and the Brain, provided the dinner table belch. Eventually, something just clicked in Jimmy and he just went with it. Caan met a new generation of fans when he played the straight-and-narrow biological father to Will Ferrell's Buddy in 2003's Elf. So, still kind of discovering what this movies gonna be and running around New York City in yellow tights. Columbia Pictures. Grizzled Mark Acheson's casting as Buddy's drinking buddy concerned execs because of the line, "I'm 26 years old." Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel singing Baby, Its Cold Outside was a last-minute add. Will Ferrell, Kristian Ayre, Peter Billingsley, and David Avalon in "Elf," 2003. 16. The sprawling department store that takes up a whole block in Manhattan was digitally altered to transform into Elf's Gimbels. Instead of smiling and crawling as needed, they cried relentlessly. The boots that are curled up," Lange said, laughing. "It's sort of romantic, but it's sort of weird, too.".