School Ties, the American drama film directed by Robert Mendel, was a big hit when it was released in 1992. It’s been over three decades since the movie hit the screens, and Brendan Fraser is reminiscing on the good old days. Find out what he had to say about the movie, which featured an infamous shower scene.
What Led To The Shower Fight?
Brendan recently laid bare the real story behind the shower fight scene he had with co-star, Matt Damon , in School Ties . In that scene, Matt’s character, Charlie Dillon, told the football team that their fellow teammate, David Greene, played by Brendan, was Jewish.
Why Was It A Big Deal?
David’s Jewish lineage was kept hidden at the fictional St. Matthew’s Academy due to the widespread anti-Semitism at the school. So, when Charlie spilled David’s big secret, it led to the film’s pivotal moment.
Brendan Revealed He And Matt Were Buck Naked
During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show , Brendan shocked the world when he revealed that while filming that shower scene, he and Matt were completely naked. The actor explained that filming the scene was initially scary, as it was his first big role.
Brendan Needed To Overcome His Fears
However, being an actor at the beginning of his career, Brendan knew he had to overcome his fears. According to him, a young, ambitious actor was meant to be pretty down for anything to boost his career.
Brendan’s Co-Star Helped Him Get Comfortable
Brendan then disclosed that one of his co-stars helped him get comfortable. Recalling how it happened, the Whale star said that his colleague, Chris O’Donnell, kicked out the set photographer hiding in one of the bathroom stalls.
Brendan Appreciated The Scene
The photographer’s absence made Brendan at ease and appreciated the role more. The actor confessed that he liked that the naked shower scene wasn’t shot for the fun of seeing naked people but for Matt’s character to reveal his true self.
More Of Brendan’s Thoughts
According to Brendan, Charlie’s anti-Semitism and prejudice were stripped down naked, and it was ugly. He further noted:
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“And the door is locked and they fight over it like shaved apes that need to be pulled apart because they’ve run out of things to say to one another, and it just turns into an ugly knuckle-dusting fit.”
Matt’s Star Power Helped Brendan
While Brendan did an amazing job at portraying his character well, he had Matt’s natural star power to thank for helping him to land the role in the first place.
The Result Of Brendan’s Efforts
Brendan said Matt had already gotten the job, but for him, it was different, and he needed to prove himself. So, the actor knew he had to match the pitch with Matt, which he did. In the end, it turned out well, with School Ties giving Brendan the career boost he needed.
