O Brother, Where Art Thou?

So you won't be out of the loop.

 

 

Tribya.

The whole film was graded digitally on computer. The negative was scanned in with a Spirit Datacine at 2K resolution and then colors were digitally fine-tuned. The process took several weeks. The resulting digital master was output on film again with a Kodak laser recorder to create a print master. It was the first time this had been done for a whole film in Hollywood (but not in other countries).

The American Humane Association, an organization that protects animal rights, mistook a computer-generated cow in the movie for a real animal and demanded proof before they would allow the use of their famous disclaimer, "No animals were harmed in the making of this motion picture." After seeing a demonstration at Digital Domain of how the cow was created, the Humane Association added the now-familiar (but then much rarer) "Scenes which may appear to place an animal in jeopardy were simulated."

The cabin in the valley before it is flooded is a replica of the cabin from The Evil Dead, a movie directed by 'Sam Raimi (I)' , a friend and co-conspirator of the Coens.

The scene where Ulysses, Pete and Delmar come upon the KKK meeting is a reference to the scene in The Wizard of Oz when the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Lion sneak up on the Witch's castle. The chanting and formation marching of the Witch's guards are mimicked by the KKK members. Infiltration is achieved in both films by overpowering three guards and KKK members respectively and donning their garb.

References to Homer's Odyssey:-The names of

The bluegrass trio, The Peasall Sisters, provided the singing voices for George Clooney's daughters, the Wharvey Girls, but didn't appear in the film. They were told they didn't look pitiful enough to get the part (according to their documentary, "Family Harmony").

The first man to throw a tomato at Homer Stokes at his Political Rally is the folksinger Doc Watson.

What's wrong?

 

The film shows George "Babyface" Nelson on his way to the electric chair. But George Nelson was never arrested in Mississippi, and was killed by police bullets north of Chicago in 1934. The filmmakers knew this.

The people singing along with "You Are My Sunshine" near the end are clearly a few beats off. Their clapping syncs up but they're singing a different line.

In the movie theatre, clearly posted above each door is a modern red-lit EXIT sign.

The real W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel had no presence in Mississippi politics. He was a Texas flour salesman who became a regional radio personality (as host of broadcasts of Bob Wills and the Light Crust Doughboys), then used that as a platform to launch himself into Texas politics, becoming governor, then Senator. The filmmakers knew this.

In the cafe with Big Dan Teague, Everett's voice doesn't match up with his lips while he is ordering during the close-ups of Big Dan.

When the escapees suddenly realize that large numbers of Christian congregants are walking by them singing, it comes as a surprise; this could be because they walked from the church to the river, and so arrived fairly quietly.

When Ulysses goes into the department store to confront his wife, you see her fiancé walking around upstairs. It cuts away and when it cuts back, he walks the same place he walked before.

When Ulysses is walking out of the store having found his pomade, a modern electrical transformer can be seen on a utility pole in the background.

The Martin guitar played by the woman at the rally is obviously not from the era. The gold sealed gear tuning machines were first used in the '60s.

The scenes before and after the flood must only be one or two minutes apart, as they were able to hold their breath and not drown. But before the flood it is very sunny (strong shadows), and after the flood the sky is a hazy white (no shadows).

When the crowd is escorting "Baby Face" Nelson to the electric chair, two musicians are playing. One is playing the fiddle, the other a mandolin. However, the music we hear is that of a fiddle and guitar.

What be said.

 

George Nelson: Cows! I hate cows worse than coppers!
[fires his Tommy gun at them]
Delmar O'Donnell: Oh, George... not the livestock.

Ulysses Everett McGill: You ever been with a woman?
Delmar O'Donnell: I gotta get the family farm back before I start worrying about that.

Ulysses Everett McGill: You two are just dumber than a bag of hammers.

Pete: The Preacher said it absolved us.
Ulysses Everett McGill: For him, not for the law. I'm surprised at you, Pete, I gave you credit for more brains than Delmar.
Delmar O'Donnell: But they was witnesses that seen us redeemed.
Ulysses Everett McGill: That's not the issue Delmar. Even if that did put you square with the Lord, the State of Mississippi's a little more hard-nosed.

[Repeated line]
Ulysses Everett McGill: Damn! We're in a tight spot!

Ulysses Everett McGill: Me an' the old lady are gonna pick up the pieces and retie the knot, mixaphorically speaking.

Ulysses Everett McGill: I'll tell you what I am - I'm the damn paterfamilias! You can't marry him!

Pete: Wait a minute. Who elected you leader of this outfit?
Ulysses Everett McGill: Well Pete, I figured it should be the one with the capacity for abstract thought. But if that ain't the consensus view, then hell, let's put it to a vote.
Pete: Suits me. I'm voting for yours truly.
Ulysses Everett McGill: Well I'm voting for yours truly too.
[Everett and Pete look at Delmar for the deciding vote]
Delmar O'Donnell: Okay... I'm with you fellas.

Pete: I've always wondered, what's the devil look like?
Ulysses Everett McGill: Well, there are all manner of lesser imps and demons, Pete, but the great Satan hisself is red and scaly with a bifurcated tail, and he carries a hay fork.
Tommy Johnson: Oh, no. No, sir. He's white, as white as you folks, with empty eyes and a big hollow voice. He likes to travel around with a mean old hound. That's right.

And Hallie's most favoritist

Homer Stokes: Is you is, or is you ain't, my constituency?

 

See's Yuuh awlll!.... t'mawroe!

 

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