DID YOU KNOW?
1. The original script was much more brutal with more explicit gore sequences. The New Line executives objected to many of the scenes and demanded extensive changes to the script to reduce the gore and violence.
2. The film was submitted to the MPAA a then-record 11 times before it was finally given an R-rating.
3. This was the only 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' movie not filmed in Texas. (It was filmed outside Los Angeles, California).
4. Ryan's original death scene involved him being hung upside down nude only to be split down the middle of his body by Leatherface with his brand-new chainsaw.
5. Tobe Hooper, director of the original 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre', was originally going to be involved in the film. He had submitted a treatment to New Line executives, but bowed out of the project due to scheduling conflicts concerning his film 'Spontaneous Combustion'.
6. The chainsaw in the film weighed 80 pounds and was designed by Robert Shaye, CEO of New Line Cinema.
7. There was originally supposed to be a brutal unmasking scene, which would reveal Leatherface as horribly disfigured. That scene was scrapped (despite an obvious build-up during the opening credits) and saved because New Line wanted to use it in the next sequel, which never materialized. It was eventually used in the remake of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' in 2003.
8. Kane Hodder, who played Jason in four 'Friday The 13th' films, served as stunt coordinator for the film. In fact, he even appeared behind the mask for part of the final bog scene, making him the only actor to portray four of horror's all-time iconic characters (Jason, Freddy, Leatherface, Victor Crowley).
9. Director Jeff Burr was New Line's 10th choice to direct the film. Among the others that passed was Peter Jackson, who went on to direct 'The Lord Of The Rings' trilogy for New Line.
10. The house where most of the filming was done was so close to 'Six Flags Magic Mountain' amusement park that director Jeff Burr swears you can hear screams from the rollercoaster during some takes.
11. Viggo Mortensen was not the studio's first choice top play Tex. He didn't do well in the audition, and New Line hired another actor. That actor had a scheduling conflict with a commercial he was shooting, and subsequently chose the commercial over the film. At Burr's insistence, the part was given to Mortensen.
12. Tom Savini, who did the special effects for Part 2, was offered the job of directing this film, but passed.
13. Originally slated for a November 3, 1989 release, the release date was soon pushed back to January 12, 1990, because of all the problems with the MPAA and getting the much desired R-rating.
14. The armadillo hit by Michelle and the coyote thrown on the Mercedes both have earrings, the same ones worn by Tinker.
15. During early test screenings, Benny's character received such a favorable rating, that it was decided to keep him alive and build around his character in future sequels. The new ending was subsequently shot, in which somehow Ken pops up in the final frame with a tiny flesh wound on his head (even though we all saw him get torn apart in the finale).
16. Director Jeff Burr was contractually forbidden from contacting Tobe Hooper or Kim Henkel for advice during the making of the film.
17. The trailer for the film was attached to 'A Nightmare On Elm Street Part 5: The Dream Child' (1989), and came out before director Jeff Burr even started officially working on the film!
18. The trailer was based off of the teaser for 'Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan' (1989).
19. Director Jeff Burr wanted to shoot the film on 16 mm film to make it more gritty, but New Line would not allow it, hence the 'corporate look' of the final cut.
20. Gunnar Hansen was originally the first choice to reprise his role of Leatherface, but when New Line only offered scale pay, Gunnar was insulted and removed himself from consideration. (The same thing happened in Part 2 and Part 4)
21. William Butler and Viggo Mortensen were roommates at the time they both signed onto the film. Viggo read the script at their house and told William he wanted in. William called New Line, and Viggo was given an audition, and later the role.
22. Director Jeff Burr was so upset at the final cut of the film, he insisted his name be taken off the credits. Given that New Line had already had over 1,000 prints made, this was impossible. He never even knew how the film ended until he sat in the theater and watched it! This caused a major rift between Burr and New Line, and he had no contact with the studio from that time until 2003, when he did a director's commentary for the DVD.
23. A lot of the deleted scenes were cut from the original negatives due to time constraints, and were lost forever. Only a select few remained (see our deleted scenes section for further details on those).
24. Miriam Byrd-Nethery, who played Mama in the film, was the wife of actor Clu Gulager and the mother of Tom and John Gulager.
25. The music used on the main menu of the DVD release was used by WWE wrestlers Hardcore Holly and Crash Holly as their entrance music in the mid-late 1990s.
26. There were actually a series of fires in Valencia, California, during shooting. This prompted the crew to scramble and work hard to get the burnt forest out of the shots during filming. They even went to the extreme of not lighting the background so that the burnt out trees would not be visible.
27. Director Jeff Burr was fired toward the end of production due to creative differences, but was re-hired when no one else would see the project through to completion.
28. New Line executives had final say over anything director Jeff Burr tried to do or any ideas he had about deviating from the script.
29. Director Jeff Burr wanted to shoot the film in Texas using 16 mm film just like the original, but New Line rejected the idea because the sets were already being built in California.
Know any assorted facts that we don't have here? E-mail them to us at: lairofhorror@yahoo.com and you will get credit for them.
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