Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell are no strangers to collaborating. During their 39 years together, they’ve worked on several films, such as Swing Shift , The One And Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, and The Christmas Chronicles .
But nothing was more memorable — or hilarious — than the 1987 comedy,
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Overboard . The film is about a cruel, rich heiress who gets introduced to minimum wage life after she falls overboard from her yacht and gets amnesia. Cue the laughs, romantic times, and, now, these movie facts!
1. The film is based on a true story
According to a New York Times article from 1980, an unidentified woman with amnesia washed ashore in Florida. She was later identified as Cheryl Tomiczek and was reunited with her family who was so worried when she went missing.
2. It was directed by Garry Marshall
While you may not know Garry by face, you will know him by the amazing movies he’s done.
His impressive resume includes Pretty Woman , The Princess Bride , and Runaway Bride to name a few. He was the rom-com king!
3. Goldie and Russell were dating when the film was made
This was their third film together, after The One And Only and Swing Shift. No wonder their chemistry was so on point! Rewatching the film together even helped Goldie remember why they fell in love.
“You know how sometimes you forget why you fell in love?” Goldie said on ‘The Late Late Show With James Corden.’
“I remembered everything, and why I fell in love. It was really something to be able to watch that.”
4. Kurt and Goldie’s kids were always on set
Before getting together with Kurt, Goldie had two kids with her ex, Bill Hudson: Kate, who was born in 1979, and Oliver, who was born in 1976.
Kurt and Goldie’s only son together, Wyatt, was still a baby when the film was made. He even took his first steps on set!
5. Kurt’s truck in the film was the same truck used in ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’
This is nothing new in Hollywood as many film sets reuse props.
The truck was used as a work truck in Overboard for Russ, while it tailgated the Griswolds in Christmas Vacation .
6. A lot of the lines were improvised
Since Garry trusted both Russell and Goldie, he allowed them to improvise a lot of the film’s lines.
If you give the film a rewatch, try to figure out what was improvised and what was actually written in the script!
7. John Candy was almost in the film
Oh, how hilarious this would’ve been!
The late actor was considered for the role of Billy, but he couldn’t do it because he was filming Planes, Trains, and Automobiles at the time with Steve Martin.
8. The crew members often fell asleep while filming
They weren’t tired from a bad night’s sleep or not having enough coffee. It was the rocking motion of the yacht that was lulling them to sleep! Thankfully, no one got seasick on there — at least we think!
9. Garry’s son is in the film
Nepotism certainly plays a huge role in Hollywood (a lot of stars were born that way) and Overboard is no exception.
The Coast Guard spotter in the film is played by Garry Marshall’s son, Scott Marshall.
10. Hector Elizondo made a cameo in the film
It pays to be Garry Marshall’s son and close friend! Because of this, Hector has worked on all 18 of Marshall’s films. Remember him in Pretty Woman ?
In Overboard , he got a small cameo as the captain of the garbage scow.
11. One key scene was improvised
The picture should give it away. It was when Joey Proffitt talked in Pee-Wee Herman’s voice. It was a creative choice that the actor improvised. We’re so glad that they kept it in the final cut!
Kurt Russell’s father, Bing Russell, plays the Sheriff.
This was the least Kurt could do, considering his father practically paved Kurt’s path to Hollywood.
He starred in the iconic television series Bonanza , along with other films and TV shows. He also loved baseball and owned the Portland Mavericks.
Roddy McDowall was an executive producer on the film
The actor played the role of Joanna’s (Goldie Hawn) butler, Andrew.
While he had been an actor since the 1930s, the film Overboard was his sole credit as an executive producer. It was well deserved!
During filming, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell hosted a BBQ for the whole cast and crew
This kind gesture isn’t surprising to hear, considering they have always been known to help others.
Most recently, they allowed their son, Oliver, to move back in with them while his house underwent renovations.
The sets in the film were authentic
The S.S. Immaculata , for instance, is an actual 130-foot Yecats from Kong and Halvorsen in Glenorie, Australia. On that same note, the bowling alley was an actual bowling alley that has real pins and everything.
The yacht, or S.S. Immaculata, was later used in the film, ‘Indecent Proposal’
In the film, starring Demi Moore and Robert Redford, the yacht belonged to Redford’s wealthy character.
To make it look the part, the boat was lengthened to 142 ft and a helipad was added on the aft deck. Talk about luxury! Sadly, though, the yacht was destroyed in a fire years later.
The film has a remake starring Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez
The film reverses the role of the lead character by having it be the man who is a wealthy yacht owner.
After he is thrown overboard and loses his memory, a mistreated employee
(Anna), convinces him that he is her working-class husband.
There were even times when Brent Thomas, the production designer for Overboard (2018), saw similarities between Hawn and Faris.
“Every now and again, I went, ‘Oh my God, Anna looks and sounds just like Goldie!’” he said in an interview with Architectural Digest .
