Based on Frank Miller’s comic book series of the same name, the firstSin City(2005) saw direction by both the aforementioned writer and famous filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. The movie’s widespread success spawned a sequel,Sin City: A Dame to Kill For(2014). Unfortunately, the latter saw much less resonance in the eyes of critics, and it came up short at the worldwide box office.
Sin City 2
Nonetheless, both films feature fascinating backstories regarding production, and there are many noteworthy facts about the cast and crew as well. You may have known a couple of tidbits that appear on the list, while others will undoubtedly appear unfamiliar. But they’re all fascinating facts about theSin Cityfranchise.
10There Are No Screenwriting Credits for the First Film
One of the many reasons the firstSin Cityreceived widespread praise from critics like Roger Ebert is because of how faithfully it was adapted. In fact, co-director Robert Rodriguez considers the first film to be more of a “translation” than a true adaptation, with most of the shots in the film being taken straight from the graphic novel. They used the comics as storyboards, making the first project something of a shot-for-shot film.
And while Robert of course worked side-by-side with Miller to create a seamless adaptation re: script format in general, there aren’t actually any screenwriting credits doled out for the first film. Sure, Miller is directly cited for creating the comic books on which the film is based. But aside from that, the film has no screenwriting credits attached to either creative.
9Brittany Murphy Shot Her Scenes in One Day
One of the top-billed performers in the originalSin Cityfilm was Brittany Murphy, an American actress known for titles likeClueless(1995),Girl, Interrupted(1999), and8 Mile(2002). InSin City, she plays Shellie, and she would have been offered to reprise her role in the sequel if not for her untimely death in 2009.
But with the first film alone, Murphy put in tremendous workthat deserves more credittoday. Her character appears in all three major story lines of the film, and even then, Murphy managed to shoot all her scenes in a twenty-four-hour period. Instead of re-casting the character in the sequel, Rodriguez and Miller retired Shellie entirely, and justifiably so. Murphy had already established a tremendous legacy for the character.
8Elijah Wood and Mickey Rourke Never Met Until After Filming
In the film’s third segment, called “The Hard Goodbye,” the characters of Mickey Rourke and Elijah Wood combat one another in a flashy, intense, one-on-one fight scene. The former actor plays Marv, arguably the main character, while Elijah Wood shows up as a cannibalistic serial killer named Kevin.
Despite the two characters interacting for a significant period within the movie, Mickey Rourke and Elijah Wood never actually met one another until after the project had been filmed. They first became acquainted during the film’s premiere, nearly a year after principal photography began. The aforementioned fight scene was accomplished using a digital set, and thus, the actors didn’t need to film at the same time.
TheSin Citycomic books are what Frank Miller consider to be his magnum opus, his greatest creation out of an impressive career. Thus, he was more than hesitant to release the rights, leading to quite a tall task for Robert Rodriguez once he set his sights onadapting the material. The filmmaker convinced Josh Hartnett and Marley Shelton to sign on as The Salesman and The Customer, respectively.
The first segment of the film, titled “The Customer Is Always Right”, was actually filmed before Frank Miller ever gave Robert Rodriguez his blessing to adapt his baby. But eventually, after seeing what Rodriguez was capable of by filming Hartnett and Shelton, the comic book creator couldn’t help but say yes. It took Robert just under ten hours to see the short come into convincing, faithful fruition, and from there, it’s all cinema history.
6Joseph Gordon-Levitt Turned Down Marvel for A Dame to Kill For
InSin City: A Dame to Kill For, famous American actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Johnny, an enigmatic gambler with a cocky persona. The aforementioned performer had been around the Hollywood block for well over a decade by the time he was cast, but it wasn’t until his two collaborations with Christopher Nolan — firstInception(2010), thenThe Dark Knight Rises(2012) — that Gordon-Levitt found himself amid big-budget affairs.
Related:11 Underrated Movies With Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Despite being offered a rolein the Marvel Cinematic Universeat the same time, JGL opted to appear as Johnny inSin City. The Marvel movie in contention wasGuardians of the Galaxy(2014), wherein Joseph would’ve played Star Lord. And while Chris Pratt shines in the role, the same can be said for Gordon-Levitt in the film at hand. Critics raved about his performance, citing his efforts as a primary highlight ofA Dame to Kill For, and justifiably so.
5Several Famous Names Nearly Worked on the Films
Off the bat, it’s worth noting that Joseph Gordon-Levitt carries out his role to perfection in the sequel, withA Dame to Kill Forgoing down as one of the most overlooked movies of his career. But the main role was nearly filled by fellow American thespian Johnny Depp, who Robert Rodriguez also envisioned being featured in the original. That particular actor has consistently expressed interest in theSin Cityfranchise throughout the years, with several other performers also being in talks for the respective productions.
Eventually played by Nick Stahl, the character Roark, Jr. was almost portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, while other actors once attached to either project include Christopher Walken, Willem Dafoe, and Steve Buscemi. Another name Rodriguez wanted for the first entry in the franchise is Hans Zimmer, one ofthe greatest film composersto ever live. But in the end, Rodriguez scored the music alongside two composers whom Zimmer recommended: John Debney, and Graeme Revell. Their work still resonates today.
4The Directors Make Cameos in Both
In the first film, the creator of the Sin City comic books Frank Miller shows up briefly as a priest named Padre. Also known simply as “The Priest,” the character was undoubtedly minor in the grand scheme of both the film and the comic book counterpart. But fans should be able to spot Miller’s cameo more easily than Rodriguez, who shows up as a member of the S.W.A.T. team that fights Marv.
And in the sequel,A Dame to Kill For, both Miller and Rodriguez can beseen as homeless menon a television set in Nancy’s apartment. Definitely more of a true cameo than the aforementioned stint as a priest for Miller, and it’s one of the more fun facts in the franchise as a whole. If the third movie were seen into fruition, they likely would have made cameos again.
3Much of the Sequel Is Original Material
InA Dame to Kill For, the fan-favorite sequel of the franchise, Frank Miller penned two of the segments from scratch: “The Long Bad Night,” and “Nancy’s Last Dance.” The former is split into two, non-linear parts, with “The Long Bad Night: Part I” being the second segment overall and “Part II” following up as the fourth. Meanwhile, “Nancy’s Last Dance” capped everything off at the end.
Related:Best Jessica Alba Movies, Ranked
And while the other segments inA Dame to Kill For(such as the titular one) were taken straight from Miller’s comic books, he penned the aforementioned segments exclusively for the film. One of the most dynamic characters in the franchise, Nancy undergoes tangible character development in the final segment ofA Dame to Kill For, with her actress Jessica Alba arguably stealing the show.
2Quentin Tarantino Directed Part of the First Film
Behind the scenes, Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller are the two creatives with directing credits for working on the firstSin City. However, another American filmmaker named Quentin Tarantino served as guest director for one scene in particular. When Dwight and Jackie Boy — played by Clive Owen and Benicio Del Toro, respectively — are pulled over by police, the actors weredirected by Tarantino, not Rodriguez or Miller.
Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino are good friends, having collaborated with each other on projects likeDesperado(1995),From Dusk Till Dawn(1996), and laterGrindhouse(2007). This is perhaps the least-known of their works with one another, as it’s a rather brief directorial stint from Quentin. But it’s also worth noting that the characters inSin Citycan be seen smoking Red Apple Cigarettes, an Easter egg regarding Tarantino’s shared universe. He’s tied toSin Cityin multiple ways.
1Tarantino Also Provided a Prop
Throughout the course of pre-production, a collection of prop swords from theKill Billmovies were sitting in Quentin Tarantino’s garage. He offered their use forSin City, with the weapons being utilized by Miho, who’s played by Devon Aoki. The swords she carries were first used by members of the “Crazy 88” group of Yakuzas toward the end ofKill Bill: Volume 1(2003).
Of course, Tarantino directed theKill Billmovies, with the film at hand featuring just as many nuances of violent aestheticism. It’s fitting that the same samurai swords are used in both. And regardingSin City, it’s worth noting that Miho is among the most battle-tested characters of the bunch, which is undoubtedly saying something.The famous propswere in proper hands when it came to Aoki in the originalSin City.
