THE JURASSIC FILES
Richard Attenborough’s personal archive reveals dino secrets galore
CASTING COUCHED
A memo from talent agency CAA reveals a number of different names for the iconic characters in the frame. Ray Liotta, Kurt Russell, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Kline and Woody Harrelson were all in the running for Dr Alan Grant (at this point named Richard). For Ellie Sattler, Helen Hunt, Penelope Ann Miller, Julie Warner, Robin Wright, Sherilyn Fenn and Kelly Lynch were considered. Dan Aykroyd, a Spielberg vet from 1941, was in the frame for Ian Malcolm. Even more surprising are the names for shifty lawyer Gennaro: Kevin Bacon and Tom Berenger.
RAP ATTACK ATTACKED
Attenborough also offers opinions on the work-in-progress fourth draft screenplay. In terms of the opening raptor attack, he suggests it “is too much of a give-away to have the worker torn to shreds” and may even be “too disturbing” for a young audience. He also suggests the dig “takes a little too long before we get underway with the main story”.
MORE MR NICE GUY
Attenborough’s thoughts on his character suggests Hammond, in this draft, has an “apparent lack of concern for his grandchildren” and that he feels like a “bystander”. He also feels that Hammond’s philosophy must be defined a little more. Sweetly, he writes, “None of the foregoing is an attempt to increase the size of the part, merely to flesh in a few details.”
HOT FUZZ
Hammond having a Scottish accent and a beard were both notions that came from Attenborough. He asks Spielberg, “Shall I start growing a beard? We could always shave it off if you did not like it.” He kept it.
TRUE BROMANCE
The correspondence between Spielberg and Attenborough reveals true affection. ”I can’t wait for us to start playing together on this!” Spielberg writes, giddy as a schoolboy. He also signs off his memo “All my love”. Bless.