The film is quite the tearjerker and apparently, Tom Hanks often became emotional while playing the role of Forrest. The actor even admitted to crying during the scene where LT Dan, with his titanium legs, first introduces Forrest to his wife. You can’t really blame the guy. The film is an epic journey filled with just about every human emotion.
Even producer Wendy Finerman remarked on it. In an interview, she said “I don’t want to sound like a bad version of ‘the child within’. But the childlike innocence of Forrest Gump is what we all once had. It’s an emotional journey. You laugh and cry. It does what movies are supposed to do: make you feel alive.”
Count Me In!
Tom Hanks signed onto the film after reading it for only an hour and a half. The film’s producer Steve Starkey said: “We sent the script to Tom Hanks because he was the only one who could play it … About an hour and a half, after he started reading it, Tom called and said, “I’m in.” From that point on, we knew we could get the movie made.”
When you know, you know. Hanks has yet to pick the wrong role throughout his entire career. Either that means has great instincts about what is the right part for him, or he can play just absolutely anything under the sun.
Historical Precision Clause
Hanks agreed to star in the film as long as historical events were as accurate as possible. The film touches upon a turbulent period in U.S history and includes many real-life events that occurred throughout the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. Events such as the Vietnam rally, the ping pong scene, the Black Panther Party, the Watergate Scandal, and many others.
Also included were appearances by many famous figures such as Elvis and President JFK. This makes sense, as Hanks is a known history buff, which is why he has also frequently collaborated with fellow history nerd, director Steven Spielberg on numerous grand projects involving World War II (Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers.)
An Oscar-Worthy Performance
Tom Hanks won an Oscar in 1994 for his performance in Forrest Gump. Besides that, Forrest Gump won five other Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Visual Effects, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.
The film was also nominated for seven Golden Globe Awards and won three of them, including Best Actor-Motion Picture Drama, Best Director-Motion Picture, and Best Motion Picture-Drama. The film won various other awards as well.
Shot in Savannah
Many scenes of the movie were shot in Savannah, Georgia. Filming also took place in South Carolina, on Fripp Island and Hunting Island. This gave the film a historical and realistic look. Hunting Island was used for many of the film’s war scenes. Today, Hunting Island is one of the most popular state parks in South Carolina, welcoming more than a million visitors each year.
Ocean Creek Golf Course on Fripp Island was used as a backdrop for some of the Vietnam war scenes. Forrest Gump, Bubba, and Lieutenant Dan marched through the Fripp Island maritime forest, with mountains digitally added in the background.