True Lies
When he said I do, he never said what he did.
Country
Production
Budget
$115 000 000
Box office
$378 882 411
Director
Actors
Scenario
Producer
James Cameron, Stephanie Austin, Rae Sanchini, Lawrence Kasanoff, Robert Shriver
Camera operator
Composer
Artist
Peter Lamont, Rebecca Marie, Sean Dever
Audition
Mali Finn, Ellen Jacoby
Editing
Short description
A fearless, globe-trotting, terrorist-battling secret agent has his life turned upside down when he discovers his wife might be having an affair with a used car salesman while terrorists smuggle nuclear war heads into the United States.
What's left behind the scenes
- Those who were considered for the role of Helen included Rosanna Arquette, Kim Basinger, Annette Bening, Joan Cusack, Geena Davis, Melanie Griffith, Madonna, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Michelle Pfeiffer, Debra Winger, Emma Thompson, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
- The song that Schwarzenegger’s character whistles in the bathroom is "Edelweiss" from "The Sound of Music", which takes place in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s homeland – Austria.
- Schwarzenegger’s character works for a secret government agency called "The Omega Sector", whose motto is "The Last Line of Defense". This agency is headed by Charlton Heston’s character, who starred in the film "The Omega Man" (1971).
- During the performance of the final tango, Jamie Lee Curtis slipped down and at one point had to lean on the floor with her hand – simply because she was already tired (it wasn't the first take). Initially, the actress was upset that James Cameron left this particular take in the final cut of the film, but then she realized that it was entirely in keeping with her character.
- In the film "Me and My Baby", Tom Arnold plays the "second self" of himself – actor Bill Williams, who once starred in "True Lies", but did not achieve recognition, fame, or money.
- Jodie Foster was the initial choice for the role of Helen; she was interested in the script but declined due to scheduling conflicts. Other candidates mentioned included Ellen DeGeneres (after auditions, Cameron found her "too funny"), Isabella Rossellini ("too Italian"), and Kyra Sedgwick (who declined to participate because she felt she was too young for the role).
- The explosion of the Sevenmile Bridge was filmed using a small-scale model. The old bridge had already been 'blown up': its drawbridge section had been removed to allow ships to pass underneath. This happened after the opening of a parallel new bridge.
- To film two short tango scenes, actors Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tia Carrere, and Jamie Lee Curtis had to train for about six months.
- Video games with the same title as the film were released on various gaming consoles.
- The film is based on the 1991 French comedy *Total Recall*.
- When the main character, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, tells a friend, played by Tom Arnold, that his wife (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) is seeing someone, the friend responds by saying that his second wife took literally everything from him in the divorce, even the ice cube trays from the freezer. The episode referred to Tom Arnold’s divorce from Roseanne Barr, which was happening at the time. It was claimed that she even took the ice cube trays with her when she left. Schwarzenegger relayed this to director James Cameron and added the line, “You have to be a real bitch to take even the ice cube trays!” Cameron liked the phrase and included it in the film.
- The public restroom scene was written very schematically in the script—only half a page—and without any details. When James Cameron saw the sets a couple of days before filming, he stated that the set needed to be three times larger (to accommodate shooting gunfights, brawls, and so on; Cameron also envisioned water jets shooting up from the urinals and light fixtures falling from the ceiling). It was at this moment that the prop and set departments first learned exactly what was being filmed here. This left production designer Peter Lamont and his staff only two days to modify the sets according to the director's plans and wishes. The entire scene was intended to be shot in one day, but it ultimately took five filming days.
- The scene in the public restroom was written in the script very schematically – half a page – and without any details. When James Cameron saw the corresponding set a couple of days before filming, he said that the set needed to be three times bigger (for filming shooting, fighting, and so on; and Cameron also envisioned jets of water shooting up from the urinals and lampshades falling from the ceiling). It was at this moment that the props and set decoration departments first learned what would be filmed there. After that, the film’s art director, Peter Lamont, and his subordinates had only two days to change the set to match the director’s plans and wishes. The entire scene was supposed to be filmed in one day, but ultimately it took five shooting days.
- As for a full-fledged sequel to “True Lies,” it was never made, despite the interest of James Cameron and many actors from the original film, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. The reason for this was the September 11th terrorist attacks, after which terrorism ceased to be a topic for jokes, and Schwarzenegger's election as Governor of California.
- While preparing for the shoot, director James Cameron and his screenwriter friend Randall Fryx gathered information on international terrorism. Cameron and Fryx were literally shocked by how easy it was to smuggle weapons across US borders unnoticed (everything changed after the September 11, 2001 attacks). Much of what they discovered was incorporated into the film's script to make the terrorists appear as realistic as possible. At the same time, no one wanted to be accused of promoting terrorism and its methods, so the film was made as comedic as they felt was possible.
- Rosanna Arquette, Kim Basinger, Annette Bening, Joan Cusack, Gina Davis, Melanie Griffith, Madonna, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Michelle Pfeiffer, Debra Winger, Emma Thompson, and Jennifer Jason Leigh all auditioned for the role of Helen.
- During the filming of the horseback riding scene, Arnold Schwarzenegger nearly died when the horse stopped responding to commands. The actor began to slide off the saddle, and this was happening near a 9-meter cliff. One of the stuntmen noticed this and pulled the horse and actor away from the edge in time.
- While preparing for filming, director James Cameron, along with his friend and screenwriter Randall Frakes, gathered information about international terrorism. Cameron and Frakes were literally shocked by how easily it turned out to be to smuggle weapons across the US border unnoticed (everything changed after the September 11, 2001 attacks). Much of what they discovered was incorporated into the film's script to portray the terrorists as realistically as possible. At the same time, no one wanted to be accused of promoting terrorism and its methods, so the film was made as comedic as they deemed possible.
- As for a full sequel to True Lies, it was never filmed despite the interest of James Cameron and many actors from the original movie, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. The reasons for this were the September 11 terrorist attacks, after which terrorism ceased to be a subject for jokes, and Schwarzenegger's election as Governor of California.
- During the final tango, Jamie Lee Curtis slipped and at one point was forced to lean on the floor with her hand—simply because she was exhausted (it wasn't the first take). Initially, the actress was angry that James Cameron kept this specific take in the final cut, but she later realized that it was perfectly in character for her role.
- Filming the episode (in the mansion) that begins the film was difficult. It was filmed at night in sub-zero temperatures, and the mansion itself had no heating. The women froze during filming, as they were wearing nothing but evening dresses, and had to change clothes practically on the street. The tents were heated with kerosene lamps, one of which flared up, and someone in the extras' dress caught fire. The extras were paid an additional $50 for filming in the cold. The cold also hampered the filming of the scene of the main character's escape, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Cars and equipment were sliding on the surface, so filming on the mountainside was not easy. According to director James Cameron, they only managed to film 10% of what he had intended to include in the episode.
- The music to which Schwarzenegger and Carrere's characters dance is the tango "Por Una Cabeza." The exact same tango was featured in "Scent of a Woman" (1992).
- Tom Arnold didn't even hope to get into the film's cast, and he went to the audition mainly to see James Cameron with his own eyes. He played a few scenes with Schwarzenegger, Cameron immediately noticed the instinctive chemistry between Schwarzenegger and Arnold, and cast Arnold in the film. The management of 20th Century Fox tried to object – mainly because of the situation with Roseanne Barr – but Cameron pushed back, and they gave in. When news of this reached Arnold, he was sincerely grateful to Cameron for the opportunity and subsequently became close friends with both Cameron and Schwarzenegger.
- Initially, the script did not provide for Spencer Trilby, played by Charlton Heston, to wear an eye patch. He simply showed up on set on the first day of filming with a black eye, and the props department had to figure something out. Furthermore, he insisted that his character be given the surname Trilby (he himself loves to wear trilbies – a type of soft men's hat with small, upturned brims).
- Filming took so long that work on the film fell significantly behind schedule. Actress Tia Carrere had a contract for seven weeks of filming, but ended up filming for 7 months (her fee increased accordingly). Bill Paxton managed to star in another film during breaks in filming (it was Robert Boris’s western “Frank and Jesse”). James Cameron was repeatedly bothered by Roseanne Barr – she called him demanding that he allow her ex-husband Tom Arnold to return to filming the series “Roseanne” (1988-2018).
- Filming the opening episode in the mansion was difficult. It was shot at night in sub-zero temperatures, and the mansion had no heating. The women froze during filming, as they had nothing on but evening gowns and had to change clothes practically outdoors. The tents were heated using kerosene lamps; one lamp flared up, and a dress worn by one of the extras caught fire. The extras were paid an additional $50 each for filming in the cold. The cold also hindered the filming of the scene where Arnold Schwarzenegger's character flees. Cars and equipment slid across the surface, making filming on the mountain slopes challenging. According to director James Cameron, they only managed to film 10% of what he had intended to include in that episode.
- Filming took so long that the production fell significantly behind schedule. Actress Tia Carrere had a contract for seven weeks of filming, but it ended up that she filmed for seven months (her fee increased accordingly). During breaks in filming, Bill Paxton had enough time to appear in another movie (Robert Boris's western 'Frank and Jesse'). James Cameron was repeatedly pestered by Roseanne Barr, who called him demanding that he allow her ex-husband, Tom Arnold, to return to filming the series 'Roseanne' (1988-2018).
- Tom Arnold didn't even hope to be cast in the film; he went to the auditions primarily to see James Cameron in person. He performed several scenes with Schwarzenegger, and Cameron immediately noticed the instinctive chemistry between Schwarzenegger and Arnold and cast him in the movie. The management of 20th Century Fox attempted to object—mainly due to the situation with Roseanne Barr—but Cameron pushed through, and they gave in. When Arnold learned of this, he was sincerely grateful to Cameron, and subsequently became a close friend of both Cameron and Schwarzenegger.
- The number of corpses in the film is 71.
- Rosanna Arquette, Kim Basinger, Annette Bening, Joan Cusack, Geena Davis, Melanie Griffith, Madonna, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Michelle Pfeiffer, Debra Winger, Emma Thompson, and Jennifer Jason Leigh also auditioned for the role of Helen.
- Jodie Foster was initially considered for the role of Helen, and she became interested in the script but declined due to a scheduling conflict. Ellen DeGeneres (whom Cameron found “too funny” after auditions), Isabella Rossellini (“too Italian”), and Kyra Sedgwick (who refused to participate in the project because she considered herself too young for the role) were also among the candidates.
- The US government provided three Harrier jump jets along with their pilots, costing the filmmakers $100,736 (or $2,410 per hour). Director James Cameron recalled that he first filmed the jets flying past the helicopter with the protagonist, while the pilots maintained the distance prescribed by their instructions. After that, he asked if they could perform the exact same flyby, but slightly closer to the helicopter. The pilots deliberated briefly, agreed, and executed the maneuver. Cameron then asked if they could repeat the flyby once more, but even closer—this time requiring them to violate safety regulations (the instructions). The pilots deliberated for significantly longer, but eventually performed the flyby again, and it was this third take that made it into the movie.
- For filming Arnold Schwarzenegger at the controls of a fighter jet, a full-size mock-up of a 'Harrier' attack aircraft was built. The aircraft was controlled from a crane installed on the roof of a building nearby, which was later removed from the frame using computer technology (as were the cables on which the aircraft was suspended).
- When the main character, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, tells a friend (played by Tom Arnold) that his wife (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) is seeing someone, the friend responds by saying that his second wife took literally everything from him during their divorce, even the ice cube trays from the freezer. This episode referred to Tom Arnold's own divorce from Roseanne Barr, which was happening at the time. It was claimed that she had taken even the ice cube trays when she left. Schwarzenegger recounted this to director James Cameron and added his own comment: "How much of a bitch do you have to be to take the ice cube trays!" Cameron liked the phrase and included it in the film.
- To film Arnold Schwarzenegger at the controls of a combat aircraft, a full-scale mockup of a Harrier jump jet was constructed. The jet was operated via a crane installed on the roof of a nearby building, which was later removed from the frame using computer graphics (as were the cables on which the plane was suspended).
- Originally, the script did not call for Spencer Trilby, played by Charlton Heston, to wear an eyepatch. It just so happened that on the very first day of filming, he arrived with a black eye, and the props department had to improvise. Furthermore, it was Heston himself who insisted that his character be given the surname Trilby (he loves wearing trilbies—a type of soft men's hat with a slightly upturned brim).
- The US government provided three “Harrier” attack aircraft along with their pilots, and they cost the filmmakers $100,736 (or $2,410 per hour). Director James Cameron said that he first filmed the aircraft flying past from a helicopter with the main character, while the pilots maintained the distance specified in the instructions. After that, he asked if they could make exactly the same pass, but a little closer to the helicopter. They conferred for a moment, answered in the affirmative, and made the pass. Then Cameron asked if they could repeat the pass again, but even closer, now requiring them to violate safety regulations (instructions). The pilots conferred for much longer, but eventually made the pass again, and this third take was the one used in the film.
- During the filming of the horseback riding scene, Arnold Schwarzenegger nearly died when the horse stopped obeying commands. The actor began to slide out of the saddle, all while near a 30-foot cliff. A stuntman noticed this and managed to pull the horse and the actor away from the edge just in time.
- When Harry and Helen Tasker are fleeing from Samir, Helen says: “I married Rambo.” Director James Cameron helped write the screenplay for "Rambo 2" (1985).
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