Factual error: When The Oneders are recording their song with Uncle Bob, there is an In-N-Out cup sitting by the recording equipment. There are no In-N-Out restaurants in PA.
That Thing You Do (1996)
Directed by: Tom Hanks
Starring: Tom Hanks, Steve Zahn, Liv Tyler, Ethan Embry, Johnathon Schaech, Tom Everett Scott
Factual error: When the boys go to the radio show in CA, the DJ says to the listeners to keep Saturday and Sunday, August 20th and 21st [1964] open. The 20th and 21st of August 1964 were a Thursday and a Friday.
Factual error: Several times during the film a Zildjian stencil logo can be seen on the bottom of a cymbal. Zildjian did not start applying logos until the 1970s.
Trivia: Throughout the entire movie, no one ever says the bass player's name. Even in the credits, he is listed as T.B. Player and The Bass Player.
Trivia: Another Beatles parallel in the film: There's a scene where you see the band members play on stage and Mr. White is watching them (while moving his head along with the music). There's a famous picture of Brian Epstein (Beatles' mythological manager) doing the exact same thing on The Beatles' famous Shea Stadium concert.
Mr. White: You guys look great in gold, have I told you that?
Lenny: "Skitch", how did we get here?
Guy: I led you here, sir, for I am Spartacus.
Faye: I have wasted thousands and thousands of kisses on you - kisses that I thought were special because of your lips and your smile and all your color and life. I used to think that was the real you, when you smiled. But now I know you don't mean any of it. You just save it for all your songs. Shame on me for kissing you with my eyes closed so tight.
Question: Are the characters in this movie based on actual people? Is it a true story or a fictional story that was entirely possible?
Question: Does anyone know where I can get a transcript of this movie? Also, does anyone know if the song we hear in the movie is the original?
Answer: I don't know about the script, but the song was definitely an original - and nominated for best original song that year.
Question: Who played the blonde "Miss Talent Show" meter girl, who hands the band the trophy near the beginning of the movie?
Answer: The movie was written by Tom Hanks and some what reflects the music industry during that time period. It is not about a real band, but shows how a lot of bands were treated at the time and how quickly you can rise and how you can fall even faster.
Bruce Minnick