In 1997, Brad Pitt experienced “the most irresponsible movie” ever. It still made over $100,000,000
Brad Pitt described making *The Devil’s Own*, his 1997 crime drama with Harrison Ford, as “the most irresponsible bit of filmmaking” he had taken part in. He was unsettled by the production’s lack of a reliable script, which contrasted with his preference for using the screenplay as a guide to his performance.
Pitt said the film began with a strong script, but it was discarded for various reasons, leaving the cast to work without a clear roadmap. Despite his misgivings, the film grossed more than $100 million; the article uses it to illustrate how some productions made on the fly can still find commercial success.
In short
- Pitt criticised the chaotic production of *The Devil’s Own*.
- The original script was discarded during development.
- The 1997 film still grossed more than $100 million.
Explained simply
The Devil’s Own is a crime drama about an Irish Republican Army member who travels to New York and is taken in by a police officer, unaware of his guest’s identity. The story draws on the conflict in Northern Ireland and the IRA’s campaign for Irish unity, as well as the political tensions it created in the United States.
Brad Pitt plays the visitor, while Harrison Ford plays the New York police officer. The film’s production became difficult after its original script was replaced, leaving the actors without a settled version of the story to follow. It went on to earn more than $100 million worldwide, showing that a troubled production can still reach a large cinema audience.