Pee-wee's Big Adventure - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts

[discussimdb]

Fan of Pee-wee's Big Adventure or just want to share your movie knowledge? This topic is dedicated to all trivia and questions related to Pee-wee's Big Adventure

[darrell]

The character of Large Marge is based on a character in a song called "Phantom 309" by Tommy Faile. The song tells of a ghost trucker who picks up a hitchhiker in his rig named Phantom 309. Just like in the movie, when Big Joe drops him off at a truck stop, he is shocked to learn from the patrons that he had received a ride from a ghost.

[jim]

Approximately 10 to 12 bicycles were built for the movie by the Pedal Pusher Bike Shop in Newport Beach CA; a shop that specialized in vintage and classic bicycles and parts. They were offered $10,000 and no screen credit or screen credit only. The shop chose the money. The bike shop had an autographed 8x10 glossy of Paul Reubens that said "To Mike at Pedal Pusher: 'Arrrrgggg!' From Pee-wee Herman."

[jamie]

Pee-Wee's female disguise was influenced by Olive-Oyl from the Popeye cartoons.

[scarlett]

The map in Pee Wee's basement is of San Francisco.

[cassandra]

Pee-wee's phone number in the movie is 354-8567, in a departure from filmdom's "555" custom.

[janice]

On the DVD Commentary, Paul Reubens said that he told Alice Nunn, no matter what the film made in the cinema, her character of Large Marge would be the one remembered. He said he met her shortly before her death, and told him that she was glad Paul told her, because she would have been completely shocked otherwise.

[harry]

Many of the actors in this film also appeared with Paul Reubens in Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986), albeit in very different roles from the ones they play here.

[kyle]

James Brolin, Morgan Fairchild: as "PW" and "Dottie" in the film-within-a-film that purports to be based on Pee Wee's experience. As a gag, Brolin's character is only called PW Herman because it would make little sense to have a big strong man called Pee Wee. Despite this, the movie-within-a-movie is still called "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure."

[addison]

There is a theory stating that Pee-Wee makes his money by selling his own designs for Rube Goldberg machines.

[phyllis]

Jan Hooks improvised the dialogue for her scenes as the Alamo tour guide.

[ava]

Inside the magic shop by the front entrance is a picture of Elvira played by Cassandra Peterson who later plays Biker Mama in the film.

[edgar]

The Batmobile from TV's Batman (1966) (in which James Brolin and Monte Landis played guest roles) can be seen driving through the Warner Bros studio lot. Tim Burton would go onto direct Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992).

[aaron]

The script is a nod to the Italian 1948 Classic Ladri di Biciclette in that the main characters prized bicycle is stolen, and the police dont take the crime seriously, nor do his friends offer much help and as a last resort consults a dubious fortune teller.

[terry]

According to her sign, Madam Ruby not only performs tarot card readings and fortune telling, but income tax preparation as well.

[chris]

All three writers of Pee-wee's Big Adventure appear somewhere in the film. (Phil Hartman appears as one of the reporters, Michael Varhol appears as the photographer, and Paul Reubens, of course, plays Pee Wee.)

[wallace]

Tim Burton and Paul Reubens brought on Danny Elfman as composer after Burton had attended concerts by Oingo Boingo, of which Elfman was lead singer and songwriter. Elfman was originally apprehensive, having no formal music training, but he was assisted by Boingo guitarist Steve Bartek as orchestrator. Elfman later said that hearing his music performed by an orchestra for the first time was one of the most thrilling experiences of his life.

[francisco]

On the DVD Commentary, Paul Reubens said that he based Pee Wee dressed in drag after his real life sister.

[chris]

At the end of the 1984 film Buckaroo Bonzai Across the 8th Dimension, Peter Weller and Jeff Goldblum are walking toward the camera. Peter Weller is wearing the famous grey suit with a red bow tie (Pee-Wee's outfit) and Jeff Goldblum is wearing a red cowboy outfit (Pee-Wee's disguise during the rodeo scene). Buckaroo Bonzai was released in 1984. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure was released in 1985.

[tammy]

Cassandra Peterson: (a.k.a. Elvira) Biker Mama at the Biker Bar.