13 behind-the-scenes facts about the history of Forrest Gump (14 photos)

The 1994 film "Forrest Gump" has become one of those rare films that touches the viewer deeply, making them cry and feel nostalgic even after multiple viewings.





The story behind the film deserves its own story.

1. Gump's Age and His Iconic Blue Checkered Shirt



As the character ages, everything in the film changes except one thing. In the first scene of each new stage of his life, Forrest invariably appears wearing a blue checkered shirt. Moreover, in the final scene, his son, Forrest Jr., also wears a similar shirt.

2. Sally Field is only ten years older than Tom Hanks





Although Sally Field played the mother of Tom Hanks' character, the real age difference between the actors was only ten years. Field was born in 1946, and Hanks in 1956. Makeup helped age the actress.

3. Symbolic Painting



Jenny's childhood home is the primary symbol of her trauma. Forrest first sees it while looking for his friend, and from then on, it has embodied her pain. The house appears in the frame only years later, when the adult Forrest and Jenny pass by.

The sight of the house sends Jenny into a fit of rage and despair. She throws stones at it, trying to destroy the memory of her past, and then collapses to the ground, exhausted. This pose is a reference to Andrew Wyeth's famous painting "Christina's World." The painting depicts a young woman overcoming not so much physical as emotional challenges. The heroine is based on Wyeth's neighbor, Anna Christina Olson, who survived polio. The film reflects her psychological state rather than her physical difficulties. Similarly, Jenny is struggling with her injury at this moment. The visual parallel emphasizes her inner strength and long road to recovery.

4. A Special Stunt Double



The film contains many running scenes, and Tom Hanks was replaced by a stunt double. To ensure audiences wouldn't notice, his brother, Jim, was cast in the role. Speaking about his work, Jim later joked that Tom had other stunt doubles, but only he could run like him – he had that "silly Hanks walk."

5. Forrest Gump's Southern Accent



Initially, Tom Hanks wanted to tone down the character's Southern accent. But everything changed when Michael Conner Humphreys was cast as young Forrest precisely because of his accent. Hanks worked diligently to perfectly capture his younger colleague's manner of speech.

6. Improvisation in Dialogue



When meeting Buba, Forrest introduces himself with the line, "My name is Forrest Gump. People call me Forrest Gump." You might think it was in the script, but in fact, this line was improvised by Tom Hanks. Director Robert Zemeckis liked it so much that he kept it in the film.

7. Tom Hanks' daughter played a cameo



Not only Tom's brother but also his daughter, Elizabeth Hanks, starred in the film. She played the girl on the school bus who refuses to let little Forrest sit next to her.

8. The Inspiration for the Famous Run



Luis Michael Figueroa

Forrest Gump's multi-year run wasn't just a coincidence. The inspiration is believed to have come from a real person, Luis Michael Figueroa. In 1982, sixteen-year-old Luis ran from New Jersey to San Francisco to raise funds for the American Cancer Society and support a ten-year-old child. His story became the foundation for the hero's running philosophy.

9. Ping-Pong and CGI



In the table tennis scenes, the ball was added in post-production using CGI. Tom Hanks merely skillfully simulated the game, while the ball flew thanks to digital technology.

10. John Goodman as Forrest Gump



John Goodman

It's hard to imagine anyone other than Tom Hanks playing Forrest. However, Winston Groom, the author of the book, envisioned John Goodman for the role.

11. Forrest Gump Made Tom Hanks Richer



The film grossed $678 million at the box office. Tom Hanks' contract didn't require a fixed salary, but a percentage of the box office revenue. According to media reports, his total earnings, thanks to royalties from box office receipts, videos, and television broadcasts, amounted to approximately $65-70 million.

12. Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Restaurants



Bubba's fictional shrimp company has grown into a successful restaurant chain. The first location opened in Monterey, California, in 1996. Restaurants now operate in the United States, Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Qatar, Canada, and Indonesia.

13. The Funny Habit of Closing His Eyes in Photos



Tom Hanks imbued his character with a funny trait. Forrest always closes his eyes when being photographed. According to the actor, the character is trying so hard to stand up straight and look normal that he simply forgets to keep his eyes open.