From the world’s first movie to other cinema greats – if there’s a memorable scene, you can bet a train’s involved. Remember the scene where Vern and Gordie run with the train right behind them? The two dash straight towards the camera as if they would come flying out of the screen any minute.
The heart-stopping scene was a trick of the camera – a 600mm long-focus lens. In reality, the train and the two actors were on opposite ends. The lens compressed the image to make the train seem like it was right behind them! Talk about movie magic!
The Terror That Was Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland plays Ace Merrill in the movie. The world remembers him as the bully who freely terrorizes others, making the lives of our four boys miserable. Jerry O’Connell was particularly terrified — probably since Sutherland made it a point to stay in character long after the cameras stopped rolling.
He would bully the boys off-set as well. What was real or fake – O’Connell could no longer tell the difference. He remained legitimately scared throughout filming. The other three boys were more seasoned actors and largely unaffected by Sutherland’s shenanigans.
Mischief and Misadventures on Set
What do you get when an ensemble of talented adolescent actors meets? An extraordinary film and lots of trouble. Young blood, after all. Jerry O’Connell, River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, and Corey Feldman were friends. The hotel they were staying in during filming was their playground.
The boys’ adventures involved throwing furniture into the pool or tampering with video games in the lobby so they could play games for free. Phoenix (goaded by the others) covered a car in mud, without knowing it was Kiefer Sutherland’s car. One doesn’t need to imagine how that ended.
The Symbolism Behind the Pie Eating Scene
The film has plenty of beautiful moments displaying Reiner’s directorial talent and attention to detail. Surprisingly, the pie-eating scene proved the most challenging for him. The challenge wasn’t production-related as much as it was thematic. The director couldn’t visualize the kind of writer Gordie would become.
Eventually, an image formed – that of Stephen King, the writer. The supernatural world and horror are synonymous with King’s writing. So, Reiner decided to make the scene outlandish to reflect how a young boy’s mind might perceive things.
How the Story Played Out in the Stephen King Universe
Great authors are like prophets, envisioning their universe long before others see it take shape. Stephen King's stories contain connections in the most unlikely places, and “Stand by Me” is no exception.
Some characters bear striking resemblances with prisoners in "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994). "Cujo" (1983) and Chopper in the film are mirror images. Meanwhile, Ace Merrill resurfaces in "Needful Things" (1993). And hold on to your seats because we’ve kind of sort of met Teddy Duchamp before! A Teddy Duchamp first appears in the book "Carrie" (1976) – where Carrie destroys the gas station in which he works.