In 1994, American cinema experienced a surge of exceptional films, among which Forrest Gump stands out prominently. Starring Tom Hanks, this heartwarming tale captured the hearts of audiences. While it didn’t quite surpass the popularity of The Lion King, which dominated the box office, Forrest Gump still made an impressive $679 million, according to The Numbers.
The film won six Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor for Tom Hanks, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Eric Roth. Forrest Gump was based on Winston Groom’s novel of the same name.
Tom Hanks is notably among the world’s most popular actors and has been associated with some of the greatest films of all time. But in Forrest Gump movie, there was Tom Hanks’ brother Jim Hanks as well, we probably did not notice.
Tom Hanks Used His Brother, Jim Hanks as Body Double in Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks has three siblings: Jim Hanks, Larry Hanks, and Sandra Hanks Benoiton. Jim Hanks is also an actor who first got to play a major role in the 1993 comedy Buford’s Beach Bunnies. He has collaborated with his brother Tom Hanks on some projects.
In Robert Zemeckis’ 1994 film Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks plays Forrest, a man with low IQ. Distribution company, Paramount Pictures suggested cutting off the running scene to meet the filming schedule’s deadline. Not only that, they were also against the iconic scene since it was supposed to be expensive and would eventually burden the film budget.
However, Hanks’s unique way of running also added as a factor to take his brother as body double. In a 1995 PEOPLE interview, Jim Hanks shared,
“Tom had other doubles, but they couldn’t do the run.” He continued, “That’s a stupid Hanks thing.”
Zemeckis along with The Money Pit star then had to put in another $1.5 million on the project to film the last scene. It was reported that Paramount refused to pay for the shoot when they found out about the Sully star’s brother working as his double in the film.
The Iconic Running Scenes Almost Didn’t Make It to the Big Screen
Forrest Gump is a cinematic masterpiece that discusses love, friendship, and the human spirit against the backdrop of some of the most important events in American history. The film’s plot required a diverse range of sets, a large cast of characters, and the use of cutting-edge special effects. However, it was met with some financial hardships.
The iconic running scenes in the movie that also cast other notable actors like Robin Wright and Gary Sinise are some of the most notable ones in cinema history. However, the studio was at first hesitant to fund these scenes. But Hanks and Zemeckis were adamant.
During an interview with Graham Bensinger, Hanks revealed that the studio was concerned that people would not receive the sequence well.
“Well, the studio just said, ‘We can’t afford it; you’re not gonna do it.”
They both, however, took risks and not wanting to compromise with their vision, Hanks sacrificed a portion of his salary and Zemeckis contributed from his own funds. The film became a massive hit. Their effort in doing that scene ensured the film’s authenticity and ultimately contributed to its success.
Forrest Gump is available for streaming on Netflix, Prime Video, and Paramount+
