Cast Away » Trivia (Movie)

SPOILER: Near the end of the movie, Kelly explains to Chuck that the NFL team, the Houston Oilers, are now the Tennessee Titans and made it to the Superbowl the year before only to lose the game by 1 yard. This is in reference to Superbowl XXXIV (Superbowl 34; January 30, 2000) where the Tennesse Titans played the St. Louis Rams and lost 23-16. The final play of the game involved Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson receiving a pass from Titans quarterback Steve McNair but then being tackled 1 yard short of the end-zone which could have potentially tied the game (if Tennessee opted for the extra point) or won the game (if Tennessee proceeded with the 2-point conversion). This play has now been widely known as "The Tackle".

The paper that Chuck writes his note to Bettina Peterson is stationary from "Arrington Ranch" (a cattle ranch resort) that is the actual house where Chuck leaves the letter.

In the film, Chuck draws a picture of Kelly ('Helen Hunt') on the wall of the cave. In the movie As Good as It Gets (1997), Simon Bishop tells Carol Connelly (also played by Hunt) 'you're the reason cavemen chiseled on walls'.

The moment before Chuck removes his tooth in the cave, he tells Wilson his dentist in Memphis is called "Dr. James Spalding". In the German version anyway, the German voice of Noland says "Dr. James Volley", maybe because only a few in Germany are familiar with the American label "Spalding".

The scene in which Noland is talking with Stan by the fireplace of Stan's home is shot in 1 long take, with the camera rotating slowly around Noland (Hanks). The shot lasts 3 minutes and 46 seconds.

The production employed several local Fiji islanders in the surrounding archipelago, including the neighboring Mana Island about a mile away. The locals were allowed to keep some of the supplies and tools as tokens of their help.

One of the three volleyballs used in the film was sold in an auction for $18,400.

Contrary to popular belief, FedEx did not pay the filmmakers anything for their presence in the movie. The director has made this clear in a number of interviews.

If you simply take the initial from Chuck's name and add it to his surname it reads 'C. Noland' or "see no land".

# # On the plane ride home, Chuck is offered a cup of ice, and Dr. Pepper. An obvious reference and nod to the previous Zemeckis/Hanks project Forrest Gump (1994).

Several scenes are in reference to the "The Prisoner" (1967) episode "Many Happy Returns," in which Number Six, after building a makeshift raft to take him from the Village, washes ashore.

Fred Smith, founder and owner of FedEx, makes a cameo appearance in the film.

# # An early draft of the script had Chuck having two different personalities talking to each other, Good Chuck and Bad Chuck.

# # DVD easter egg. On the second disc of the 2-disc edition of the DVD, select "Video and Stills Galleries". Highlight "Raft Escape" on the next menu, and press LEFT on your remote. An icon of yellow and blue wings appears. Play this to hear Robert Zemeckis say what is in the FedEx package that is never opened in the film.

# # Robert Zemeckis was asked at a Q&A session at USC what was in the unopened packaged. He replied that it was a waterproof, solar-powered, satellite phone. To hear him say it for yourself on the DVD, do this: Start at the Special Features Main Menu and enter the Video & Stills Galleries. When you see "Raft Escape" press left on your remote to highlight the "World Of Time" logo.