Special Sub-Topic: Paul Verhoeven: The Man and His Movies Click Here To Play: Paul Verhoeven: The Man and His Movies

In what country was Paul Verhoeven born?

The Netherlands. Paul Verhoeven was born in Amsterdam on July 18, 1938.

What college did Verhoeven attend?

University of Leiden. He attended for six years, earning a doctorate in mathematics and physics in 1964. While attending, he also began making short films.

After college, Verhoeven made films for the military.

t. He served in the Dutch Royal Navy and was assigned to the Marine Film Service. His 23-minute documentary "Het Korps Mariniers" was honored with a French Silver Sun Award.

What was the name of Verhoeven's television series which catapulted him into national fame?

"Floris". The series starred Rutger Hauer, who would go on to star in many of Verhoeven's features, as a knight in the late middle ages. All of the other answers are the names of spin-off books concerning the character.

What was Verhoeven's first Dutch feature film?

"Wat Zien Ik?". "Wat Zien Ik?" ("Any Special Way" or "Business is Business") is the story of two prostitutes who want to escape their profession. Released in 1971, it remains one of the highest-grossing Dutch films.

What was his first American-financed film?

"Flesh and Blood". "Flesh and Blood" (1985) starred Rutger Hauer and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Its story concerned knights in medieval Europe, cut down by plague and warfare in search of romance. The film was a modest success and won a Golden Calf Award in the Netherlands, but only hinted at his later string of smash hits.

In the theatical trailers for Verhoeven's 1987 film "Robocop", music taken from what film was featured in the background?

"The Terminator". The T-800's "arrival" theme from James Cameron's 1984 megahit was indeed used in Orion's "Robocop" trailers. ...Fitting, to say the least.

Verhoeven made cameo appearances in "Robocop".

t. The director is seen twice: first in the disco scene, making a wild face into the camera; and also in the "6000 SUX" commercial, looking into the camera.

Verhoeven's 1990 blockbuster "Total Recall" was based upon a short story by whom?

Philip K. Dick. Dick's short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" served (loosely) as the basis for this film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Harlan Ellison was credited with contributing to the concept of another Schwarzenegger film, "The Terminator". Robert Heinlein's novel "Starship Troopers" would later be filmed in grand fashion by Verhoeven. Bradbury adapted his own novel "Something Wicked This Way Comes" for Disney.

Verhoeven's 1992 worldwide smash "Basic Instinct", starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone, was widely compared to which classic film?

Vertigo. The resemblances are striking: the series of dresses worn by Sharon Stone is nearly identical to Kim Novak's in "Vertigo", and the famous "tower shot" is replicated. Verhoeven has professesed great admiration for Alfred Hitchcock, and it shows.

Verhoeven became the first director to personally accept a "Razzie" Award following the critical lambasting of which of his films?

Showgirls. Arguably Verhoeven's most controversial film since 1980's "Spetters", "Showgirls" (1995) was the first major studio film to be rated NC-17. It was originally supposed to starr Madonna and Drew Barrymore, but ended up with Elizabeth Berkley and Gina Gershon instead. It set a record for "Razzie" (Raspberry) Awards, given to films considered the worst of the year, with 13 nominations and seven wins. "Showgirls" was a box-office failure, and was later denounced as having a "bad story" by Verhoeven himself.

While filming "Starship Troopers" (1997), what did Verhoeven do on a dare from star Dina Meyers?

Directed the shower scene in the nude. Verhoeven and cinematographer Jost Vacano shot one take of the shower scene nude on a dare from Dina Meyer, who played Dizzy Flores. Interestingly, Flores was a male in Heinlein's novel, and was killed early in the story.

More ammunition was used in "Starship Troopers" than in any film that had been made before it.

t. I'm not sure if this impressive record has been surpassed yet.

After the filming of the 2000 film "Hollow Man", what was done with the anatomically correct 3D computer model of Kevin Bacon's body?

It was donated to scientific researchers. Creating this model was quite an incredible feat. This was not generally regarded as one of Verhoeven's best films, but the special effects were unquestionably amazing.

Obviously, Verhoeven is now a well-known and respected filmmaker around the world. What fellow director, though, initially suggested that the "Mad Dutchman" come to the United States to make movies?

Steven Spielberg. Spielberg reportedly told George Lucas he should consider Verhoeven as director for "Return of the Jedi", but Lucas refused, probably due to Verhoeven's rather lurid reputation. Interestingly, Spielberg and his elder Verhoeven both went on to create hugely succesful science-fiction films: "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (Sp.), "E.T." (Sp.), "Robocop" (Vh.), "Total Recall" (Vh.), "Jurassic Park" (Sp.), "Starship Troopers" (Vh.), "Hollow Man" (Vh.), "A.I." (Sp.), and "Minority Report" (Sp.). It may come as a surprise, then, that Verhoeven has said: "To tell you the truth, I hate science-fiction!" He claims the only reason "Robocop" was made is that his wife took the script out of the wastebasket!

Throughout his Hollywood career, Verhoeven has worked with only one cinematographer.

f. Verhoeven has worked with both Jost Vacano and Jan de Bont. De Bont, who went on to direct such films as "Speed" and "Twister", served as cinematographer on some of Verhoeven's early Dutch films, including "De Worstelaar", "Wat Zien Ik?", "Turks Fruit", "Keetje Tippel", and "De Vierde Man"; and also the American films "Flesh + Blood" and "Basic Instinct". Jost Vacano was cinematographer for Dutch hits "Soldaat Van Oranje" and "Spetters", as well as American smashes "Robocop", "Total Recall", "Starship Troopers", "Hollow Man", and, um..."Showgirls".

Which of Verhoeven's films had the highest adjusted box-office gross?

"Basic Instinct". "Basic Instinct" had an adjusted gross of $160.5 million. "Total Recall" was a very close second, with $159.8 million. Please note that both films star Sharon Stone. Hmm...

Which of Verhoeven's films had the most successful opening?

"Hollow Man". "Hollow Man" had a $26.4 million opening. Again, "Total Recall" follows closely behind, with a $25.5 million opening. Interestingly, "Basic Intinct" had a moderately weak opening, with $15.1 million. I suppose that was one of those movies that people saw later based on "word-of-mouth" reviews. Also of note: "Robocop" had an $8 million opening, while "Showgirls" made $8.1 million. Of course, Verhoeven wasn't very well-known in 1987.

Verhoeven has often said that he is eager to work with Sharon Stone again on a "Basic Instinct" sequel.

f. Although Stone has reportedly been "desperate" to star in another Verhoeven film, the director has called her "a nightmare" and "a liar", but has also considered that she's possibly settled down now that she has a child.

In March 2004, Paul Verhoeven publicly stated that he will never make another Dutch film.

f. In 2003-2004, Verhoeven began work on "Zwartboek", a World War II thriller co-written by Gerard Soeteman and produced by San Fu Maltha. The film has a budget of 9 million euro, and *ahem* "shooting" was announced to begin in late 2004.