MEN IN BLACK

Welcome back! Today we are taking a look a look at the WILL SMITH and TOMMY LEE JONES alien comedy “MEN IN BLACK” or as most people prefer to call it “MIB”.

Did you know that some people think that “THE MEN IN BLACK” are real?

Going back to Ufology in the 1940s and ’50s, several people wrote accounts and books about these so-called "MEN IN BLACK." “THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES” author JOHN KEEL was the first person credited in using the "MIB" abbreviation in his writings. ALBERT K. BENDER claimed “he was visited by three men in dark suits who threatened him with imprisonment if he continued his inquiries into UFOs,” and GRAY BARKER wrote several nonfiction books featuring “THE MEN IN BLACK”, including 1956's “THEY KNEW TOO MUCH ABOUT FLYING SAUCERS” and 1984's ”MIB: THE SECRET TERROR AMONG US”. BARKER’S sister, BLANCH, recalled how he once told her why he wrote the books: “There’s good money in it.”

Did you know that the “MIB” comic book writer also thinks that they are real?

In the early ’90s, LOWELL CUNNINGHAM Lowell penned the “MEN IN BLACK” comic book series, which was based on his own ideas of the “MEN IN BLACK” agents. “I was taken with the whole idea of these powerful men who show up and keep the peace,” CUNNINGHAM told THE NEW YORK TIMES in 1997. “I shaped “THE MEN IN BLACK” to be active agents, out there responding to threats, cleaning them up if they’ve already occurred. They describe themselves as the thin black line between reality and chaos.” He goes on to say one day he saw a black car drive by him and thought, “That’s the kind of car “THE MEN IN BLACK” would drive.”

[A possible UFO sighting?!?!]

[And an appearance by the actual “MEN IN BLACK”!?]

Did you know that the theme song, also called “MEN IN BLACK”, is WILL SMITH’S first solo song?

SMITH previously experienced success with his rap-duo group DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE, but co-writing and singing the Men in Black theme song was his first taste of solo success. The song was featured on both the film’s soundtrack (which sold more than 3 million copies) and Smith’s debut solo album, BIG WILLIE STYLE, which was released a few months after the film came out. The theme song won SMITH a “GRAMMY AWARD FOR BEST RAP SOLO PERFORMANCE”, and cemented Smith as a double threat: a bona fide movie star and a rapper.

[SMITH and “MIKEY THE SAMURIAN” dancing together!]

Did you know that the film had an issue involving the makers of “THE MIB’S” iconic sunglasses?

The sunglasses Smith and Jones sport in the film are RAY-BAN “PREDATOR 2” glasses. According to a 1997 article in PROMO MAGAZINE, a special coating was applied to the glasses to limit reflection, which meant removing the logo. Without the logo, nobody would know what type of glasses they were (Director BARRY SONNENFELD edited out a previous line in the movie where JONES says “that’s why they call them RAY-BANS”). RAY-BAN tried to convince the studio to reinstate the logo, but they refused. After some coercing, SMITH compromised and name dropped the company in the “MEN IN BLACK” theme song: “Black tie with the black attitude / New style, black RAY-BANS, I’m stunnin’, man.” The popularity of the movie and the song’s music video gave the $100 Predators a four- to five-fold increase in sales, and a boost to RAY-BANS entire catalog of shades.

Did you know that SONNENFELD had to trick another actor out of taking SMITH’S part?

When it came time to cast “MEN IN BLACK”, producer STEVEN SPIELBERG had some strong ideas about who should star. Specifically, he wanted CHRIS O’DONNELL in the lead role of “AGENT J”. The young actor was hot in Hollywood at that moment, having found success in “SCENT OF A WOMAN” and as “ROBIN” in both “BATMAN FOREVER” and “BATMAN AND ROBIN”. In a recent interview withTHE HUFFINGTON POST, SONNENFELD said that SPIELBERG told him to have dinner with O’DONNELL, with the purpose of talking him into taking the part. In fact, while the director liked O’DONNELL overall, he really wanted SMITH for “J”. He therefore sabotaged the dinner meeting, doing the exact opposite of what SPIELBERG wanted.

SONNENFELD claims that he insisted to O’DONNEL that he wasn't a very good director, that the screenplay wasn't up to snuff, and that it would be better for him to take just about any other project than to sign on for than a certain dud like “MEN IN BLACK”. The gambit worked, as O’DONNELL formally passed on the project the next day. SONNENFELD then made his pitch for SMITH as a “replacement.” SPIELBERG, unaware that he'd been manipulated, gave his blessing to “THE FRESH PRINCE”.

[O’DONNELL as “ROBIN” with GEORGE CLOONEY as “BATMAN” and ALICIA SILVERSTONE as “BATGIRL” from “BATMAN AND ROBIN” - 1997.]

Did you know that CLINT EASTWOOD was almost cast as “AGENT K”

Before casting TOMMY LEE JONES as the seasoned “MEN IN BLACK” operative, “AGENT K” in the very first movie, CLINT EASTWOOD was offered the role but turned it down.

EASTWOOD would have certainly been an interesting choice to play the role. Undoubtedly his stoic cool would have likely made for a nice combo with SMITH’S comedic charisma. However, there's no doubt that the right choice was made in casting JONES, as he and SMITH have excellent chemistry and make a great team.

[EASTWOOD as “THE MAN WITH NO NAME” from “A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS” - 1964, “FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE” - 1965 and “THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY” - 1966. Altogether this series is known as “THE MAN WITH NO NAME TRILOGY” or “THE DOLLARS SERIES”.]

Did you know that SMITH came up with the idea for “MIB3” while he was filming “MIB2”?

One night while on the set of “MEN IN BLACK II”, SMITH told SONNENFELD his idea for a third film. “At the beginning, something has happened and “AGENT K” is missing and I have to go back to the past to go try to save “YOUNG AGENT K,” SONNENFELD recalled to CNN. “In doing so, myself and the audience find out all sorts of secrets about the world that we didn’t even know were out there.” All SONNENFELD could muster was, “Can we just finish this one?” Over a decade later, the plot to “MEN IN BLACK 3” did revolve around time travel and saving a “YOUNG AGENT K”, played by JOSH BROLIN.

Did you know that the actor that played “EDGAR THE BUG” went through a few obstacles to get into character?

VINCENT D’ONOFRIO put in a lot of work to get into the mind of the monstrous cockroach alien that aimed to destroy the Earth. The esteemed actor watched a lot of bug documentaries to get in the mind of the creature, and develop a better understanding of it.

In addition to that, he wore a leg brace, preventing him from bending his leg. This allowed him to convincingly portray an alien inhabiting the skin of a human.

The actor told ALLOCINE how he came up with his bug walk: “I was walking by a sporting goods store one day, and I saw these braces that the basketball players wear,” he said. “I went in and I tried one on and I realized you could lock it off, you could tape the hinges so that you can’t bend either way. So I bought two of them and I took them home and I put them on. So, I slightly bent my leg and locked off the braces so I couldn’t move either way, but it was slightly bent and I taped off both my feet and I tried to walk and it created this restrained, physical odd thing.”

[D’ONOFRIO as “EDGAR”]

Did you know that the cockroaches in the movie were protected?

“MIB’S” villainous cockroach alien was a monster like nothing ever seen before, the hideous creature had no compassion, other than for his own kind. In the film's climactic battle “J” aggravates the creature by stepping on cockroaches.

But to make the scene were “J” crushes some cockroaches happen, THE AMERICAN HUMANE SOCIETY made sure no animals or cockroaches were harmed during filming. In reality, WILL SMITH crushes packets of mustard and no animals [including cockroaches] were harmed during the making of the movie.

[“EDGAR’S” true form.]

Did you know that the comic originally had a different tone?

LOWELL CUNNINGHAM’S comic “THE MEN IN BLACK” was much darker and dryer than the family-oriented science fiction comedy film adaptation was. In the comics, the “MIB” survey not only extraterrestrial activity, but paranormal and supernatural activity on Earth as well. They are allowed to maintain secrecy by any means necessary (including elimination); they also had a secret agenda: to manipulate and reshape the world in their own image by keeping the supernatural hidden.

[A cover of CUNNINGHAM’S first three issues of “THE MEN IN BLACK” comic book in one collection.]

[CUNNINGHAM]

Did you know that the photo of “J”, from the scene where “K” is erasing all his data records, is actually an old high school photo of WILL SMITH?

[YOUNG WILL - This is the closest thing I could find.]

Did you know that there is one location that appears in another WILL SMITH movie?

When “J” jumps from the overpass onto the tour bus, he jumps from Pershing Square Bridge, the same location where “ROBERT NEVILLE” (also SMITH) is attacked by the demon dogs after the sun goes down in “I AM LEGEND” (2007).

[“MEN IN BLACK”]

[“I AM LEGEND”]

Did you know “The Great Attractor” is real?

The little ball “J” accidentally sends smashing around MIB headquarters is said by “K” to be "a practical joke from “the Great Attractor." “The Great Attractor" is a real thing, a gravitational anomaly about 250 million light-years from Earth which affects the motion of every galaxy within hundreds of millions of light-years. It was first detected by astronomers in 1973.

[The Orb]

[An image of The Great Attractor.]

Did you know that “THE MEN IN BLACK HEADQUARTERS” was based on classic ‘60’s airport designs?

According to production designer BO WELCH, the MiB headquarters was designed to resemble a 1960's airport (the examination room of the MiB was particularly based on the TWA terminal at JOHN F. KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT). He used the 1960s theme, because that was when MiB started up (as well as the decade of the space craze), and the airport design was because MiB's extraterrestrial affairs include their arrival and settlement to Earth, which airports assist in.

[ “MIB 1 & 2” HQ, BULLPEN - PRESENT DAY.]

[“MIB 3” HQ, BULLPEN - THE ‘60’S.]

And now for some quick facts:

“J” mentions that his 3rd grade teacher was an alien. When they pull her up on the screen, it shows us that her location is set to PHILADELPHIA where “J” apparently grew up. This is a reference to the place where SMITH, both real and fictional in “THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR” [1990-’96], was “born and raised”.

LINDA FIORENTINO "won" her role in Men in Black in a poker game with SONNENFELD.

[FIORENTINO as “DR. LAUREL WEAVER/AGENT L”]

The crew built a 96-foot replica of the Queens Midtown Tunnel, exactly 1/8th the size of the real one. It was completely authentic, down to the graffiti, and took four months to build.

[“J” and “K” racing through the tunnel to get to “EDGAR’S” ship!]

According to JONES, he didn't mind being covered in slime, but SMITH hated it.

[Slime time!]

For the iconic suits, costume designer MARY E. VOGT made an effort to avoid looking too much like “THE BLUES BROTHERS” (1980). She said she was inspired by CARY GRANT’S classic grey suit in “NORTH BY NORTHWEST” (1959).

[JOHN BELUSHI and DAN AYKROYD as “THE BLUES BROTHERS” on “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE” - 1975-PRESENT.]

[GRANT in “NORTH BY NORTHWEST” - 1959]

[JONES and SMITH wearing the iconic suits.]

The driver smuggling illegal aliens along a road marked "375" claims to have been "fishing in CUERNAVACA." 375 refers to Nevada State Road 375, known as the "Extraterrestrial Highway" for being near Area 51. CUERNAVACA is the Mexican city which British ufologist GORDON CREIGHTON claimed a flying saucer had crashed near in 1951 and the saucer's dead aliens thereupon whisked away by the U.S. Air Force with Mexico's alleged cooperation.

[CREIGHTON]

In order to do some research for his role, SMITH visited an alien encounter convention in Las Vegas.

[Some humans and aliens partying in LAS VEGAS!]

The film titles were designed by legendary artist PABLO FERRO, sharing the style of one of his most famous works: the opening sequence of “DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB” (1964).

[FERRO]

[The previously mentioned movies’ title.]

[The first “MIB” films’ title.]

The stadium the ship flies over during the baseball game is Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens, New York. The player that gets hit on the head with the fly ball was NY Mets outfielder BERNARD GILKEY.

[SHEA STADIUM]

[“EDGAR’S” ship at SHEA STADIUM.]

[GILKEY seeing the ship!]

Perhaps the most famous Shea Stadium appearance in movies is the original “Men in Black.” Before crashing into the globe at the old World’s Fair grounds, an alien ship did a flyover above Shea during a Mets game.

For some reason a giant spaceship flying over the stadium distracted Bernard Gilkey, and a fly ball that he should have caught had clocked him on the head. The official scoring is not available, but he was likely charged with an error.

Well, that’s all for now I will see you guys later!