Total Recall
They stole his mind, now he wants it back.
Country
Production
Genre
Budget
$65 000 000
Box office
$261 299 840
Director
Actors
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, Michael Ironside, Marshall Bell, Mel Johnson Jr., Michael Champion, Roy Brocksmith, Ray Baker
All actors and roles (10)
All actors and roles (10)
Scenario
Producer
Ronald Shusett, Buzz Feitshans, Mario Kassar, Andrew G. Vajna
Camera operator
Composer
Artist
William Sandell, Judy Cammer, Neil Lamont
Audition
Mike Fenton, Valorie Massalas, Judy Taylor
Editing
Frank J. Urioste, Carlos Puente
Whole Team (348)
Whole Team (348)
Short description
Construction worker Douglas Quaid's obsession with the planet Mars leads him to visit Recall, a company who manufacture memories. Something goes wrong during his memory implant turning Doug's life upside down and even to question what is reality and what isn't.
What's left behind the scenes
- The scene in which Dr. Edgemar (Roy Brooksmit) explains to Quaid that he is in a dream state is based on the scene between Paul Newman and Ludwig Donath in the film “Torn Curtain” (1966). Some camera angles precisely replicate the Hitchcock picture.
- After Arnold Schwarzenegger was cast, the unassuming clerk Quail was transformed into the muscular construction worker Quaid, and the film's ending was rewritten.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger initially wanted to get the lead role. William Hurt and Patrick Swayze also auditioned for the part.
- A work pass to "Pyramidal Mines" on Mars can be seen in Quaid's metal briefcase.
- The device used by Michael Champion (Helm) to locate Quaid was created by Casio.
- Robert Picardo voiced Johnnycab, and the robot itself was created based on Robert's appearance.
- The role of Douglas Quaid was offered to Christopher Reeve.
- Once Arnold Schwarzenegger was cast, the awkward clerk Quail was transformed into the muscular construction worker Quaid, and the film's finale was rewritten.
- The miniature models used to film the Martian landscapes were made based on photographs of the Martian surface.
- The entire film crew suffered food poisoning during filming, with the exception of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who ate only food imported from the USA, and Ronald Shusett, who took extreme personal hygiene measures, such as brushing his teeth exclusively with boiled water.
- After watching "RoboCop" (1987), Arnold Schwarzenegger personally pushed for the script to be approved, insisted on the cast and crew, and demanded that Paul Verhoeven direct the film.
- The film contains several references to the no less famous work of another popular author – “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams. One of these is the towel wrapped around Quaid's head during the chase on Earth. It was in “The Guide” that it was stated: “To hide from pursuers, wrap a towel around your head.”
- Jeff Bridges, Matthew Broderick, and Richard Dreyfuss were considered for the role of Quaid.
- During filming, Sharon Stone complained to Paul Verhoeven that she was unsure whether her character was a figment of Doug Quaid's imagination or if her character was actually married to Doug.
- The name Quato comes from the Spanish word “cuate,” which means double.
- The largest billboards visible in the scene where Quaid exits the subway are real billboards that were located near the "Insurgentes" station in Mexico City. The most prominent of these are Fuji Film and Coca Cola.
- 'Total Recall' is an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's short story 'We Can Remember It for You Wholesale'.
- The film's screenplay was in development for 10 years.
- In the subway scene where Arnold Schwarzenegger breaks the train car window and jumps onto the train, a small charge of explosives was used. However, in one of the takes, the explosives failed to detonate, and Schwarzenegger actually broke the glass with his hand.
- In reality, when a person enters open space or a vacuum, their eyes cannot burst, as shown in the film. A person remains in a normal state for approximately 10-20 seconds, allowing them to return to a safe place. But even if they do not return, they will still be alive for approximately a minute, although unconscious. The only problem that could arise is the rupture of eardrums and possible blindness (if the eyeballs remain intact).
- Kurtwood Smith was offered the role of Richter, but he declined, as he considered it too similar to his character in the film "RoboCop" (1987).
- In early versions of the script, the protagonist was named Douglas Quail, just as in Philip K. Dick's short story. However, at the time of filming, the Vice President of the United States was Dan Quayle. This was most likely the primary reason for changing Arnold Schwarzenegger's character's name.
- It took 15 puppeteers to control Quato's movements.
- When Quaid is shown pictures on a monitor in 'Recall,' one of them depicts the very reactor on Mars.
- Originally, the film was to be directed by Richard Rush. Bruce Beresford was also considered for the director's chair.
- When Quaid is dressed as a fat woman, the passport he hands to the guard is the real passport of Priscilla Allen, who played the fat woman.
- Richard Dreyfuss initially worked on the screenplay, and David Cronenberg worked on it at a later stage.
- After Carolco took over, the lead role was given to Schwarzenegger.
- Dino De Laurentiis' studio was handling the project's implementation. Sets were already being built in Australia when De Laurentiis' company went bankrupt.
- Film producer Ronald Shusett wanted to create "Raiders of the Lost Ark" set on Mars.
- David Cronenberg was supposed to direct the film. To do so, he relinquished the director's chair for "The Fly" (1986), which Robert Bierman was then slated to direct. However, Robert later left the project, and David, due to the prolonged pre-production, also gave up his directorial duties on "Total Recall" and returned to directing "The Fly".
- David Cronenberg wrote 12 versions of the script.
- Curtwood Smith was offered the role of Richter, but he declined because he felt it was too similar to his character in the movie 'RoboCop' (1987).
- The rights to adapt the story were purchased in 1974, but it took 16 years for the film to finally reach cinema screens.
- Dino De Laurentiis's studio was handling the project. Sets had already begun construction in Australia when De Laurentiis's company went bankrupt.
- According to the diagram shown to Quaid in 'Recall', space travel becomes less safe with each passing year.
- David Cronenberg wrote 12 versions of the screenplay.
- After watching the movie 'RoboCop' (1987), Arnold Schwarzenegger personally ensured the approval of the script and the production crew, and insisted that Paul Verhoeven direct the film.
- The shootout in the subway was filmed at the Chabacano station in Mexico City. The only addition to the natural scenery was signage and station names in English.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger originally wanted the lead role. William Hurt and Patrick Swayze were also considered for the part.
- The entire film crew suffered food poisoning during filming, with the exceptions of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who only ate food delivered from the US, and Ronald Shusett, who took extreme personal hygiene measures, such as brushing his teeth exclusively with boiled water.
- Film producer Ronald Shusett wanted to create 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' who travel to Mars.
- In the scene where the protagonist runs home after the attack, he shows his wife his hands – they are covered in blood. A few seconds later, when he takes off his jacket, it is noticeable that there is no blood on his hands.
- In the subway scene where Arnold Schwarzenegger breaks the carriage window and jumps onto the train, a small explosive charge was used. However, in one of the takes, the explosive failed to go off, and Schwarzenegger actually broke the glass with his hand.
- Initially, Richard Rush was supposed to direct the film. Bruce Beresford was also considered as a director.
- Robert Picardo provided the voice for JohnnieCab, and the robot itself was designed based on Robert's appearance.
- According to editor Frank J. Urioste, panoramic shots of the city on Mars were not originally planned, as producers believed they were too expensive and could lead to a budget overrun. Frank shared this problem with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who managed to convince the producers to film these scenes.
- In early versions of the script, the main character was named Douglas Quail, just as in Philip K. Dick's story. However, at the time of filming, Dan Quayle was the Vice President of the United States. This was likely the main reason for changing Arnold Schwarzenegger's character's name.
- The original version of the film received an 'X' rating due to excessive violence on screen. The film was subsequently re-edited: the most brutal moments were cut, and new camera angles were used. The shootout in the subway, where Quaid uses a human body as a shield against bullets, underwent the most additional editing. Eventually, the film received an 'R' rating.
- "Total Recall" is based on the short story "We Will Remember It For You" by Philip K. Dick.
- According to editor Frank J. Urioste, there were originally no plans for panoramic shots of the city on Mars, as the producers believed they were too expensive and could lead to budget overruns. Frank shared this problem with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who managed to convince the producers to film these scenes.
- Richard Dreyfuss worked on the screenplay initially, and at another stage, David Cronenberg did.
- David Cronenberg was slated to direct the film. To do so, he stepped down as director of 'The Fly' (1986), which was to be directed by Robert Bierman instead. However, Robert eventually left the project, and due to prolonged pre-production, David also relinquished his directorial duties for 'Total Recall' and returned to direct 'The Fly'.
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