Unknowns

In honor of Memorial Day -- which is at the end of this month of May -- a little bit of triva:

In Arlington National Cemetary are the Tombs of the Unknowns.  One unknown for WWI, one for WWII, one for the Korean War, and one for the Vietnam War.  One of these tombs however stands empty. 

And what connection might you initially find between the above trivia question and the movie that was #1 at the box office this past weekend?

Posted by: nobody on 5/2/2005 3:20:57 PM , 11 comments

Submitted by L at 5/2/2005 3:53:29 PM
    1. Vietnam
    2. Removed May 13, 1998
    3. Reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
    on July 11, 1998

    Air Force Michael Joseph Blassie was born 4 April 1998
    in St. Louis, Missouri

    I can't as yet draw the connection between this trivia question and "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
    But I'm intrigued and will keep at it.
Submitted by L at 5/2/2005 3:54:07 PM
    Make that Air Force Lieutenant...
Submitted by Christy at 5/2/2005 4:35:48 PM
    Wow. Michael Joseph Blasie must also hold the record for being the youngest soldier ever...
Submitted by L at 5/2/2005 4:48:39 PM
    s/b 1948, CBean :-)
Submitted by nobody at 5/3/2005 10:08:52 AM
    Yes..you identified the Unknown...but how did the Government identify the Unknown? If you figure that out, in three letters, you will be very close to figuring out the (albeit tenuous) connection to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Submitted by ryanpoole at 5/4/2005 11:19:59 AM
    well I didn't watch Hitchhiker's guide nor do I have any idea what's it's about but i belive they found the unknown by using DNA thats three letter, but I wouldn't even begin to know the connection maybe someone who know hitchhikers will know
Submitted by ryan poole at 5/5/2005 10:59:06 PM
    well i went to the website for hitchhiker's guid still don't see what DNA has do do with anything, but though i would copy some trivia for you. The most interesting one is the first one.

    * The movie was first optioned in 1982 by producers Ivan Reitman, Joe Medjuck and Michael C. Gross. Douglas Adams wrote three drafts for them per his contract. During this time, Medjuck and Gross were considering Bill Murray or Dan Aykroyd to play Ford Prefect, but then Aykroyd sent them his idea for Ghost Busters (1984) and they did that movie instead.

    * This film has been in "Development Hell" for over twenty years. At one point, Douglas Adams insisted it would be made "sometime before the last Trump". Just prior to his death, a deal was almost in place with Jay Roach directing and staring Hugh Laurie (Arthur), Jim Carrey (Zaphod Beeblebrox) and the late Nigel Hawthorne (Slartibartfast).

    * John Malkovich's character, a religious leader, was created especially for the movie by Douglas Adams.

    * This will be ninth version of the "Hitchhiker's Guide". It previously appeared as a radio series, a record album, a novel, a television series, a computer game, a stage show, a comic book and a towel.

    * After Jay Roach decided to pass on directing the movie, he brought the property to Spike Jonze. Jonze also passed, but suggested Nick Goldsmith and Garth Jennings (also known as Hammer and Tongs, also soon-to-be former music video directors), who accepted.

    * Jack Davenport was considered for the role of Arthur Dent, but in the end it was decided he was simply too good-looking for the role of the ultimate everyman Dent.

    * The movie's teaser features Louis Amstrong's "Wonderful World". The song was also featured at the end of the first 6-episode radio series, and the TV version, "The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy" (1981) (mini).

    * Cameo: [Simon Jones] [, who played Arthur Dent in all prior audio/video versions, including "The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy" (1981) (mini). Jones was also a lifelong friend of creator Douglas Adams.]

    * The producers have stated that this film is not a literal translation of the books (just as the books were not a literal translation of the original radio show), but all of the new ideas and characters came from Douglas Adams himself. The hired writer simply came aboard to improve structure and make the screenplay more coherent.

    * The hymn sung by the Jatravartidian followers of Humma Kavula was recorded at St. Martin's Church, Highgate, London on 19 June 2004. The hymn was sung by several hundred untrained members of the public invited to the recording via a call for singers circulated on the internet.

    * In a chaotic scene shot in London, fans can spot Douglas Adams's brother James Thrift, sister Jane Garnier and daughter Polly rushing about in the general panic, as the earth is destroyed by the Vogons.

    * The original Marvin the Paranoid Android from the miniseries appears in the movie

    * The theme tune for the movie is the same theme tune as TV mini series "The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy" (1981) (mini)_ .

    * ‘Bill Murray’ was also considered for the part of Zaphod Beeblebrox, along with ‘Will Ferrell’ . But after ‘Sam Rockwell’ 's audition, director ‘Garth Jennings’ immediately chose him.

    * Douglas Adams' face appears as a planet during Slartibartfast's tour of the galaxy.
Submitted by Gavroche at 5/6/2005 9:27:40 AM
    Another interesting bit of trivia:

    Douglas Adams' middle name was Noel.
Submitted by ryanpoole at 5/8/2005 9:02:10 PM
    I fianlly care enough to search past box office number oen the one before hitchhikers was intreprter I'll let you guy do the connection!
Submitted by ryanpoole at 5/8/2005 9:03:28 PM
    Never mind I don't think it matter whether or not we had the week before hitchhikers we were just supposed to use that any way I still don't know hwo hitchhikers and DNA is realted
Submitted by Nobody at 5/9/2005 9:22:47 AM
    We think Gavroche knew. DNA wrote Hitchhikers.
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