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Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 20 general entries.
Special Topics
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Barton Fink
| Near the begining of “Barton Fink,” the Harold publishes a favorable review of Barton’s play. What’s the name of the play? | Barton Fink
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Bare Ruined Choirs. Struggling playwright-turned-screenwriter Barton Fink was partially based on Clifford Odets. Except, according to Joel Coen, Fink was never destined to achieve Odets’ level of success in Hollywood.
Underwood. John Underwood bought a pre-existing patent and manufactured typewriters with revolutionary “front-stroke” keys. This was the secret to Underwood’s success since typists could finally see keystroke results as they typed.
| “Ben Geisler” is seen on the glass next to Geisler’s office door. What is the other name pained on the glass? | Barton Fink
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Jerry Kahn. Jerry Kahn is never seen or otherwise mentioned in the film. Non-critical and detail oriented names frequently allude to someone a filmmaker knows, but it remains obscure as to who “Jerry Kahn” really is.
| What is the title of the film W.P. Mayhew is working on? | Barton Fink
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Slave Ship. The film title of “Slave Ship” is seen written on the chalkboard affixed to Mayhew’s bungalow door.
| Charlie and Barton become friends when they first meet. Shortly before leaving Barton’s hotel room, Charlie does what? | Barton Fink
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Flings the remains of a drink on the room’s floor. The sound of liquid hitting the floor is unmistakable.
| What does Barton find in the hotel room’s Gideon Bible? | Barton Fink
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Genesis corrupted by Barton’s writing. In close-up, the following lines are seen on the first page of Genesis: 1. Fade in on a tenement building on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Faint traffic noise is audible; 2. As is the cry of fishmongers.
| As Barton exits his hotel room into a flaming hallway, what does Barton NOT bring with him? | Barton Fink
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His typewriter. Which begs the question; if the hotel is on fire, why would Barton so calmly leave his room without the instrument of his livelihood? The two recently murdered detectives are also conspicuously absent from this hallway scene, which gives the scene a surreal quality and makes one wonder, “What’s real and just how much of the story takes place in Barton’s mind?”
| “Barton Fink” was edited by Roderick Jaynes. Who is Roderick Jaynes? | Barton Fink
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Joel and Ethan Coen. Both Joel and Ethan Coen often edit their films under this name.
| "Barton Fink" is a movie about a a screenwriter suffering from writer's block. The Coens wrote it while struggling with writer's block in the making of which movie? | Barton Fink
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Miller's Crossing. "Barton Fink" debuted in the theatres less than a year after "Miller's Crossing". The two of them probably remain the Coens' best films, along with "The Big Lebowski".
Madman Mundt. The detectives mention Charlie's alias when they're investigating Barton. Meadows remains one of the most fascinating characters in film history, and John Goodman's greatest role.
| What does Barton tell Detective Mastrionotti about Charlie which, according to the detective, is no help at all? | Barton Fink
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Charlie likes Jack Oakie pictures. Charlie mentions his fondness for Jack Oakie during his second meeting with Barton, when Barton discusses his new job. Detective Mastrionotti was played by Richard Portnow, a frequent actor on "The Sopranos".
six. The number six is spoken three times in the elevator - once by Barton and then twice by the operator - which is one of many subtle hints which gives the hotel a "Hellish" attribute. The allegory reaches its climax during the great fire at the film's end.
| Which frequent collaborator of the Coens' does NOT appear in "Barton Fink"? | Barton Fink
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Frances McDormand. You can hear Frances in the film, but she is not seen in the film. She starred in "Fargo" and "The Man Who Wasn't There", and had smaller parts in "Raising Arizona" and "Miller's Crossing"; she is missing from "Barton Fink". Steve Buscemi, Tony Shalhoub and Jon Polito all had relatively small roles, playing Chet, Ben Geisler and Lou Breeze respectively.
| Where do Barton and W.P. Mayhew meet for the first time? | Barton Fink
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a public restroom. Mayhew is played by the experienced and esteemed actor John Mahoney, widely known as Kelsey Grammer's father in "Frasier".
| What is the very last spoken line in Barton's play, "Bare Ruined Choirs"? | Barton Fink
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"Not any more, Lil... It's early.". In this scene we see not the actor on-stage but Barton himself, off-stage mouthing the line in sync with the actor.
| What is the very last line spoken in the film? | Barton Fink
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"Don't be silly.". The line was spoken by the nameless beauty on the beach, and was followed by a bird diving into the ocean - which was, according to the Coens, was completely unplanned.
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