24 Secrets Behind “The Naked Gun”

“The Naked Gun” is a classic comedy film that has become a cultural icon since its release in 1988. The film stars Leslie Nielsen as bumbling police detective Frank Drebin, who is tasked with stopping an assassination attempt on Queen Elizabeth II. The film’s unique brand of humor has made it a favorite among fans of the genre, and it continues to be a popular choice for movie nights around the world. In this article, we will explore 20 secrets behind the making of “The Naked Gun.”

1. The film is based on a TV series: “The Naked Gun” was based on the short-lived TV series “Police Squad!”, which ran for only six episodes in 1982. The series was created by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker, who would go on to write and direct the film.
2. Leslie Nielsen was not the first choice for the lead role: David Zucker originally wanted the lead role of Frank Drebin to be played by Robert Stack, who had appeared in “Police Squad!” as a guest star. However, Stack turned down the role, and the part eventually went to Leslie Nielsen.
3. The film was shot in just six weeks: Despite its popularity, “The Naked Gun” was made on a relatively small budget and was shot in just six weeks.
4. O.J. Simpson was originally cast for a different role: O.J. Simpson was originally cast to play the villainous Vincent Ludwig, but the filmmakers decided to cast him as Nordberg, Frank Drebin’s partner, instead.
5. The famous opening sequence was almost cut: The famous opening sequence of “The Naked Gun,” in which Drebin accidentally shoots a number of people during a bust, was almost cut from the film because the studio felt it was too violent.
6. The film was shot in Los Angeles: Despite the fact that the film is set in Washington, D.C., it was actually shot in and around Los Angeles.
7. The film’s budget was small: “The Naked Gun” was made on a budget of just $12 million.
8. The film was a surprise hit: Despite its low budget and relatively unknown cast, “The Naked Gun” was a surprise hit at the box office, grossing over $78 million worldwide.
9. The film was not originally intended to be a comedy: The original script for “The Naked Gun” was a serious crime drama, but David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker rewrote it as a comedy.
10. The film was almost called something else: “The Naked Gun” was originally going to be called “The Abrahams-Zucker Project,” but the filmmakers decided to go with a more descriptive title.
11. The film features several famous guest stars: “The Naked Gun” features a number of famous guest stars, including Ricardo Montalban, Priscilla Presley, and “Weird Al” Yankovic.
12. The film was nominated for a Grammy: The soundtrack for “The Naked Gun” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.
13. The film’s famous car chase scene was filmed on a budget The famous car chase scene in “The Naked Gun” was filmed on a budget of just $75,000.
14. The film’s famous baseball scene was improvised: The famous scene in which Frank Drebin pretends to be a baseball umpire was improvised by Leslie Nielsen on the day of filming.
15. The film’s iconic line “I must ask you a question” was almost cut: The line “I must ask you a question” from the scene where Frank Drebin interrogates a suspect almost didn’t make it into the final cut of the film, but the filmmakers decided to keep it in after Leslie Nielsen’s delivery got a big laugh during test screenings.
16. The film spawned two sequels: “The Naked Gun” was followed by two sequels, “The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear” and “Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult.”
17. The film has become a cultural icon: “The Naked Gun” has become a beloved classic and a cultural icon, with its memorable one-liners and slapstick humor influencing numerous comedies that followed.
18. The film’s title is a reference to a classic film noir: The title “The Naked Gun” is a reference to the classic film noir “The Maltese Falcon,” in which the “naked” or unadorned truth is the sought-after prize.
19. The film’s writers were influenced by a TV show from the 1960s: The writers of “The Naked Gun” were heavily influenced by the 1960s TV show “Get Smart,” which was a spy parody that also featured a bumbling, yet capable protagonist.
20. The film was originally going to be a TV series: Before it was a movie, “The Naked Gun” was originally going to be a TV series, but the pilot was not picked up by any networks.
21. The film’s humor is often absurd and slapstick: “The Naked Gun” is known for its absurd and slapstick humor, which often involves physical gags and over-the-top situations.
22. The film features several running gags: “The Naked Gun” features several running gags, such as Drebin’s love of Queen Elizabeth II and his tendency to accidentally knock over and break things.
23. The film’s success helped revive Leslie Nielsen’s career: “The Naked Gun” helped to revive Leslie Nielsen’s career, turning him into a comedic actor and leading to him being cast in several other comedy films.
24. The film’s success also led to other spoof films: The success of “The Naked Gun” led to the creation of other spoof films, such as “Hot Shots!” and “Austin Powers.”

In conclusion, “The Naked Gun” is a classic comedy film that has become a cultural icon, known for its memorable one-liners, slapstick humor, and absurd situations. Despite its low budget and relatively unknown cast, the film was a surprise hit at the box office, grossing over $78 million worldwide. Further, its success helped to revive Leslie Nielsen’s career and led to the creation of other spoof films. “The Naked Gun” remains a beloved classic that has influenced numerous comedies that followed.