FILM 2081: THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE (1997)

TRIVIA: Originally, the film was a more visual effects oriented, blockbuster-type movie, and was turned down by Al Pacino five times. But when Taylor Hackford went through a few script re-writes, he offered it to Pacino again. Pacino liked it, but didn't think he could portray Milton properly, and suggested Sir Sean Connery or Robert Redford instead.

The boxing match that Lomax and Milton attend was not a staged bout, but in fact a legitimate world championship boxing match. The bout occurred on October 4, 1996, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Roy Jones, Jr., IBF super-middleweight champion, squared off against top contender Bryant Brannon. Jones knocked out Brannon during the second round of the bout.

The outdoor patio in John Milton's office, actually was on the fiftieth floor of a New York City building. The actual stage was eight feet away from the edge of the building. Thus what one would imagine is a bluescreen shot, is real.

Connie Nielsen's character speaks Spanish in the Italian release of the movie, and Italian in all the others. Nielsen is in fact Danish, and this was her American film debut.

(Now the 45th President of the United States) Donald J. Trump's private residential multi-level apartment at Trump Tower was used as the character Alex Cullen's home. Trump's landmark gold decor, and classic view of Central Park, provide a familiar New York City backdrop.

Joel Schumacher was originally set to direct the film in 1994, with Brad Pitt to star as Kevin Lomax. Christian Slater, John Cusack, and Edward Norton were then considered for the role.

Sculptor Frederick Hart and the Episcopal National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., sued Warner Brothers over a sculpture that appears in the film, and closely resembles Hart's "Ex Nihilo", which is situated above Milton's desk in his apartment. Warner Bros. agreed to edit the scenes for future releases. Some videos of the film had already been made, so they attached stickers to them, prior to sale, stating that there was no relation between the sculpture in the film, and Hart's work.

Despite playing a married couple close in age, Keanu Reeves was 31 and Charlize Theron was 21 during filming.

Watch this here…