Great Scott! It’s been 40 years since Back to the Future first blasted into theaters, and to celebrate the film’s big anniversary — and its first-ever IMAX release hitting theaters on October 31 — we’re firing up the flux capacitor and heading back to Hill Valley to dig into subtle, funny, and interesting details and facts you may not have known about the iconic film.
We also got the chance to chat with co-creator, writer, and producer Bob Gale at a recent IMAX preview screening (which looked INCREDIBLE, btw), and he shared some fun behind-the-scenes stories and thoughtful insights about how the movie came together. So buckle up, because you’re going to see some serious shit.
1.
Back to the Future is famously filled with a lot of rich detail in the production design. And sometimes things that seem random actually have a really interesting backstory. For example, George McFly snacking on peanut brittle during dinner, as funny as it is, isn’t as random as you might think.
In a deleted scene, George is basically bullied into buying an entire case of peanut brittle from a neighbor’s kid, despite not really wanting to. The scene was meant to serve as another example of George being a pushover who doesn’t stand up for himself (despite Marty asking him to).
In fact, if you look closely in the background at the beginning of the dinner scene, you can see a second box of peanut brittle on the kitchen counter — a remnant from the deleted scene.
It also explains why Marty gives George such a judgmental look, literally shaking his head, while watching his dad eat the peanut brittle.
2.
Speaking of that dinner scene, The Honeymooners episode “The Man from Space” that Marty sees in 1955 with his mom’s family at dinner (“Hey, hey, I’ve seen this one!”) is the same episode George is guffawing at in this scene.
And, in reality, this episode of The Honeymooners did not actually air on Nov. 5, 1955. It aired on Dec. 31, 1955. The filmmakers did this on purpose, however, because it was a better (and funnier) thematic match with Marty’s “spacesuit” earlier in the film.
3.
Remember when Biff complains to George, “All you have for me is LIGHT beer?” and then proceeds to help himself to George’s Miller Lite?
Well, if you pay close attention at the end of the film, you’ll notice the beer that Doc takes out of the McFlys’ trash is now Miller High Life — the “champagne of beers.”
It’s a super subtle detail, but the change is meant to be another signifier that George is no longer “weak” (like “Lite” beer), and living the “High Life” as a changed man in the alternate present…who can afford a more expensive beer.
4.
Another blink-and-you ‘ll-miss-it detail is a seemingly random padded envelope Marty carries into the kitchen near the end of the film after safely making it back to 1985. This is a remnant of yet another cut scene.
In the original script, there’s a scene that takes place before Marty goes to meet Doc at Twin Pines Mall. In it, Marty puts his band’s demo tape into a padded envelope, planning to send it to a record executive, but then changes his mind and throws it in the garbage.
Then, near the end of the film, after waking up back in 1985, Marty pulls the padded envelope out of the trash — a small act that reflects his newfound confidence.
5.
In the scene where Marty and George rehearse for the Enchantment Under the Sea dance, Marty is carrying what seems like a random duffel bag (presumably full of laundry), but it actually has a purpose.
In the original script, Marty has George practice his punch on Marty as well as the duffel bag, and he does a terrible job with his right hand. But when George tries his left, he knocks the bag “clear off the pole and through a window.” There’s actually a deleted scene in the new 4K Blu-ray where you can see part of this cut scene: George practicing his punch on Marty.
Of course, this is another setup and payoff for when George isn’t able to take Biff out with his right fist, but actually knocks Biff out with his left.
6.
The “Johnny B. Goode” scene at the dance was Michael J. Fox’s personal favorite…but it was almost cut from the film.
According to Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, studio execs thought it slowed the movie down. But after test audiences cheered during Marty’s performance, the filmmakers kept it in — and it became one of the film’s most iconic moments.
7.
To prepare for the “Johnny B. Goode” scene Fox trained for about four weeks with a guitar coach to make his playing look authentic and a choreographer to master rock-star moves inspired by Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix.
8.
And in a fun Easter egg, Michael J. Fox’s guitar coach, Paul Hanson, ended up playing the bass player in Marty’s band, The Pinheads.
And, while we’re talking about that scene, we’d be remiss without mentioning the bigger, more obvious cameo is “The Power of Love” singer Huey Lewis playing one of the Battle of the Bands judges.
9.
In the original 1985 timeline, you can see Dave McFly works at Burger King. And he probably works at the Burger King next to Doc’s home.
Given that Hill Valley likely only has one Burger King, it seems like a logical jump to assume Dave works there, right? So, we asked co-creator Bob Gale if Dave works there, and after a little smirk, he said, “Nobody’s ever asked that question. That’s a really good question! Why not!” YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST, FOLKS! LOL.
10.
Also, it’s a funny detail, but apparently, Doc loves Whoppers. His garage-turned-home is filled with a lot of Burger King trash. (Makes sense, it’s right next door!)
11.
You can see a blueprint for Doc’s brainwave analyzer — the wacky thing he’s wearing on his head when Marty finds him in 1955 — in the background of his garage.
12.
During the climactic clock tower sequence, Marty decides to go back a ~little~ earlier than planned to save Doc from being killed, and says, “Wait a minute. I’ve got all the time I want, I’ve got a time machine. I can just go back early and warn him. Okay, 10 minutes oughta do it.”
But despite saying “10 minutes,” Marty oddly sets the time circuits back 11 minutes. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
13.
After Doc’s antics at the clock tower, you can see in alternate 1985 that the stone ledge that cracked under his feet has never been repaired. (Though it was fine in the original 1985…because he was never there!)
14.
According to Bob Gale, Red’s (“the bum”) name was improvised by Michael J. Fox. And, despite popular fan theories, has no relation to Mayor “Red” Thomas from 1955.
15.
In 1985, you can see that some of the abandoned stores in Courthouse Square have signs that say, “We moved to Twin Pines Mall.” And later in, alternate 1985, those signs, of course, say “Lone Pine Mall.”
16.
Speaking of the Twin Pines Mall — one of the most popular Easter eggs in the film, is the fact that the mall’s sign changes from “Twin Pines Mall” in 1985 to “Lone Pine Mall” in alternate 1985 all because Marty crashed through, or “killed,” one of “Old Man Peabody’s” beloved pine trees in 1955.
17.
Finally, Marty’s vest is orange, not red, as many people and costume/merch makers seem to think.
According to Bob Gale, “It’s supposed to be orange because everybody thinks it’s a life preserver. Life preservers are orange. Not red. So there it is.”
To see Back to the Future on the big screen again or in glorious IMAX for the very first time, get your tickets here.
And be sure to check out alllllll the amazing merch that’s recently been released in honor of the 40th anniversary…