Spooky Secrets About The Addams Family Movies
The Addams Family films from the 1990s remain Halloween classics despite production challenges and casting changes.
This is achieved because they live life as they choose, expressing themselves freely. With memorable performances by Raúl Juliá, Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci, and Christopher Lloyd, both The Addams Family and Addams Family Values are Halloween favorites. Ricci's portrayal of Wednesday Addams is often hailed as exceptional, defining sardonic adolescent morbidity.
In a 2023 interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Ricci reflected on Wednesday as a powerful role model for young individuals. "She knows who she is and never conforms to others’ expectations. That’s pretty great!" she states.
Origins and Casting
The iconic series is based on Charles Addams' darkly humorous cartoon and the classic 1964 TV show. When the first film premiered in 1991, no one anticipated its success. Despite a challenging 20-week shoot with a budget of $30 million, the film grossed a surprising $200 million.
Followed by Addams Family Values in 1993, this sequel did not perform as well, raking in nearly $50 million. However, it gained a cult following largely due to Joan Cusack’s unforgettable performance.
Storytelling continued with an all-star animated film in 2019, featuring voices from Charlize Theron and Oscar Isaac. Additionally, the Netflix series Wednesday, starring Jenna Ortega, has captivated audiences without losing originality.
Behind-the-Scenes Secrets
1. The idea for an Addams Family film had circulated for decades. Producer Scott Rudin became motivated after hearing the theme song sung by a studio executive’s son during a car ride. "Suddenly everyone was singing the theme, perfectly," he recounted to The Los Angeles Times. The next day, he pitched the project.
2. Initially, Cher and Kevin Kline were slated to play Morticia and Gomez in 1989. However, by 1990, Robin Williams and Huston were suggested. Ultimately, Raúl Julia secured the role, with director Barry Sonnenfield noting he was "perfect for Gomez."
3. Huston was always the first choice for Morticia. Rudin commented, "We wanted Anjelica. She can be sweet yet fiercely passionate." Surprisingly, Huston assumed Cher was the top choice. Sonnenfield later clarified they sought to avoid star-driven casting.
4. Huston communicated her inspiration for Morticia during an interview, sharing that she modeled the character after Jerry Hall. She endured two hours of hair and makeup daily, often leading to unpredictable headaches due to a restrictive metal corset.
5. Christina Ricci embraced being Wednesday Addams and considers the role her defining character. "It’s like a chicken-or-egg debate regarding who influenced whom," she told The A.V. Club.
6. In a 1991 interview, Ricci disclosed how she prepared for her audition. Her mother advised her to consider Winona Ryder’s Beetlejuice character as an influence, which helped land her the role.
7. Surprisingly, before Christopher Lloyd accepted the role of Uncle Fester, Sir Anthony Hopkins initially declined. Notably, Lloyd’s fat suit previously belonged to actor Bruno Kirby, who wore it in The Godfather II.
8. Lloyd's childhood love for the original cartoons led to astonishment when offered the role. He considered quitting early in production due to doubts about his portrayal. Unexpectedly, simple makeup was deemed more favorable after he filmed a scene in prosthetics.
9. The script originally portrayed Fester as an imposter. During a table read, 10-year-old Ricci persuaded the team to retain him as the real family member, leading to a total rewrite of 20 script pages.
10. Expectations for directing the film included esteemed names like Tim Burton, but Sonnenfield, a cinematographer, stepped into the role. The subsequent pressures were significant. "I lost 13 pounds in ten weeks," he revealed.
11. Compounding this stress was a prank by Rubin, who would change the name on Sonnenfield's director chair with each new reporter, sometimes featuring other possible directors.
12. The sequel's title, Addams Family Values, was drawn from a speech by then-Vice Presidential candidate Dan Quayle, blaming a perceived imbalance of family values for social issues during the early 1990s.
13. All main cast members returned for the sequel, except Judith Malina, replaced by Carol Kane due to role demands. Ironically, Kane is just a year younger than her character’s on-screen daughter.
14. While Kathleen Turner had discussions about playing villain Debbie Jellinski, Joan Cusack ultimately scored the role. Her performances consistently provided humor, often making on-set hilarity difficult to contain.
15. Wednesday's first on-screen kiss was shared with fellow camper Joel, portrayed by Dave Krumholtz. During that scene, both actors felt nervous as it marked their first kisses.
16. Baby Pubert, Gomez and Morticia's son in the sequel, was depicted by twin girls. The character's name paid tribute to an earlier name suggested by Charles Addams. Cheerios led the twins along in their crawling scenes.
17. Pugsley’s casting was serendipitously tied to his sister’s audition for Wednesday. That connection brought Jimmy Workman into the fold.
18. Michael Jackson had a song titled "Is It Scary" prepared for the sequel, but after facing allegations in 1993 amidst contract disputes, the song was scrapped. "It proved to be too risky to include," explained Rudnick.
19. John Salapatek’s character, Cousin Itt, wore a 35-pound wig, adjusted for the sequel. The rigors of the costume were exhausting for the light-weight actor.
20. Finally, after being diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1991, Addams Family Values was nearly the last project for Raúl Juliá, who sadly passed away about a year later.
