REMEMBERING FORREST GUMP
It’s been two and a half decades since Oscar winner Tom Hanks made lasting movie memories with the famous phrase, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates’
As Tom Hanks’ titular character says in Forrest Gump, “My mama always told me that miracles happen every day. Some people don’t think so, but they do.”
As if to prove the point, director Robert Zemeckis recalls, “It was a miracle this film got made. The executives didn’t know what this was – they didn’t see it as a viable movie.”
A whimsical, historical comedy-drama based on a little-known novel, Forrest Gump was the ultimate cinematic underdog. But like its main character, the movie went the distance, earning $677 million worldwide and winning Oscars for best picture, director, actor, screenplay, editing and visual effects. Not bad considering “we weren’t even given the money in the budget to make a crew T-shirt,” says Robert. Adds Tom, “That’s how little faith the studio had in us!”
Twenty-five years after its initial release, Forrest Gump remains a beloved family favourite, with a new edition having just been released. “It’s a timeless movie,” says producer Wendy Finerman. “It presents Americans in a really positive way.”
NO EASY FEAT
Even after Paramount studios reluctantly approved the film, getting Forrest Gump made was no easy task, filming during the summer in the US states of South Carolina and Georgia. “It was really sweltering and humid,” production designer Rick Carter recalls. “There were alligators and water moccasins in the water for the Vietnam scenes.”
Making Forrest’s far-fetched feats look believable was a challenge as well. “As great an actor as Tom is,” says Robert, “we had the actors mime playing ping-pong and put the ball in later optically. Of course, in typical movie fashion, we hired the greatest ping-pong
player in the world to be his opponent, but the guy had never played without a ball before.” Remembers Tom, “He had such a tough time! It was exhausting.”
Mastering Forrest’s Southern accent also proved difficult for Tom – until eight-year-old Michael Conner Humphreys was cast as the younger version of his character.
“Me and Tom spent a lot of time together,” says Michael, who later served in the army in Iraq. “I guess he was trying to feed off me and get an idea for the character. I was a natural Southern kid.”
“He had the voice that seemed to come out of his backbone,” says Tom.
A rambunctious kid, Michael admits, “I was hard to control.”
Good thing Sally Field played his mother. As Wendy points out, “She had been a child actor, and she knew what he needed as a mother and a fine Academyaward-winning actress.”
In the end, the entire cast and crew pulled together to make an enduring classic – but don’t expect a sequel. “We’re very protective of Forrest Gump,” says Wendy. “We were all so happy with the outcome. There’s something to be said for just letting it be.”
Mama couldn’t have said it better herself.
‘It’s a timeless movie... We were all so happy with the outcome’