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Have you ever noticed that sometimes, when a movie is released, someone who gets top billing turns out to be "no big deal" years later? And someone else in the same movie, with barely a mention in the credits, goes on to be a top movie star later?
When this happens, no one bothers to re-write the credits to reflect the changes. Is this taboo or something?
A prime example is "Thelma & Louise". This is the way the credits start out:
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Director: Ridley Scott
Writer: Callie Khouri
Stars: Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen....
Okay, um, Michael WHO? Maybe he was supposed to be an up-and-coming star. Sorry, never heard of him.
Conversely, the actor who turned out to be the biggest star from "Thelma & Louise" didn't get top billing: Brad Pitt. And he still doesn't have top billing in this film. that's because the credits have never been changed.
I'm sure there are many more similar movies whose credits seem lost in time. Why don't movie credits ever get updated... and should they?
You must not be much of a film buff if you've never heard of Michael Madsen.
Who cares? Do you really expect studio execs to sit around, determine who made movies as a nobody but is a "big star" now, and then go back and re-edit the film to list his or her name before other actors? Seriously? Then what? Re-release the DVD with the updated credits?
You must not be much of a film buff if you've never heard of Michael Madsen.
Who cares? Do you really expect studio execs to sit around, determine who made movies as a nobody but is a "big star" now, and then go back and re-edit the film to list his or her name before other actors? Seriously? Then what? Re-release the DVD with the updated credits?
Exactly..!
There's another reason why the credits don't change: Because it doesn't really matter who goes on to become how big, each movie credit is tied only to that particular movie, not to an actor's most recent achievement. Get it? Brad Pitt may be a big star now, but in Thelma & Louise, he's just another young actor with very small role so his credit will always stay that way for that movie.
The entire movie really, including the credits, serves like a time capsule, so years later people go oh look how young so and so is, or look at so and so in a bit role!
Never heard of Michael Madsen? You must never have seen:
Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2 (2, mostly)
Reservoir Dogs
WarGames
Beyond the Law
Die Another Day
24
Mulloland Falls
Free Willy
Donnie Brasco
Species I & II
Hell Ride (ok, I can't blame you for missing that one)
Obviously my suggestion about updating movie credits isn't exactly a popular one. That's fine, but I still think the idea has some merit.
For instance: We all know about the power and influence that big-name stars have over the audience's movie choices. And people scanning through movie listings at home have simply passed by somewhat obscure films-- based on there being no recognizable top-billed stars listed in the original credits. If the credits had given the viewer a clue that some (later) star was featured in that movie, maybe they would have watched it. I think of it as "updating product information", so we as consumers stay well-informed.
Obviously my suggestion about updating movie credits isn't exactly a popular one. That's fine, but I still think the idea has some merit.
For instance: We all know about the power and influence that big-name stars have over the audience's movie choices. And people scanning through movie listings at home have simply passed by somewhat obscure films-- based on there being no recognizable top-billed stars listed in the original credits. If the credits had given the viewer a clue that some (later) star was featured in that movie, maybe they would have watched it. I think of it as "updating product information", so we as consumers stay well-informed.
Yes, at the time the movie is released, not to people years later shuffling through their Netflix queue.
I'm sure you don't expect the "credits" to be redone on every single copy of a movie in existence, right? Personally I find it fasciniating to look at actors that were mere "bit" parts or even uncredited that go on to better roles and fame.
the advertising changes...and if you hit info [on your cable or satlite] remote and its up to them to type up the info, and they do put the other person in the information bar about the movie...so if thelma and louise was to be on say stars..it would say brad pit right after susan, and gina.
and at the time gina was more popular, but now susan is and her name comes first a lot of the time. if fx, or tnt is showing the movie..it prob., wouldnt reflect any different discreption.
only the premium channels really care..
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