Film Features

The Best Hollywood Hoaxes for April Fool's Day
David Moats , March 31st, 2009 11:08

In honour of April Fool's Day, The Quietus collects the best Hollywood Hoaxes: from Joaquin's beard to Marilyn's letters; from the Hollywood makeup artists who made Bigfoot to Kubrick's moon landing; from electric shocks in the cinema to faux documentaries with Herzog; it's all here.

Add your comment »

Without a doubt, this April Fool's Day the best pranks will be taking place at the G20 summit in London - most of them at the expense of banks. No doubt we'll see the tarring and feathering of bankers, students affixing themselves to railings, the toilet-papering of offices, and soap bubbles in the corporate fountain. The biggest hoax of all will of course be when the leaders of 20 arbitrarily selected nations that actually hate each other tell us that everything's fine.

So while the throngs of hippies, faux-terrorists, enviro-nazis, and anarcho-syndicalists descend on London today to lynch bankers in effigy and loot central London dry, we at The Quietus recommend that you leave your proletarian rage at home and read our list of the top ten Hollywood hoaxes. (Speak for yourself - Green Party Membership Owning Ed.)

Hollywood is all smoke and mirrors anyway, so films are probably the perfect medium with which to perpetrate a hoax. Most often these hoaxes are PR stunts, hyping up a film for financial gain. In other cases, Hollywood technology is employed for personal gain or even political ends. But celebrities and directors, whose lives are constantly in the public eye, are also the ideal victims of a hoax - when your life is a series of images and words, who knows what you actually did and said? Clever or childish, good-natured or entirely mean-spirited, you sometime have to admire the sheer balls of those perpetrating these cinematic confidence tricks.

Click here to see our top ten gallery.

« Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Next »

Share this article:

Add your comment » Read all 7 comments »

James Doughty
Apr 1, 2009 2:08pm

I want to tread carefully, because I'm essentially hanging a "nerd" sign on my forehead and inviting you to roll your eyes. But you've done something thoughtless and unfair here, and I hope readers will bear with me.

Nothing you said about the 1967 Patterson-Gimlin "Bigfoot" film reflects any actual knowledge of the subject. And the correct information is easily obtained by even the mildly curious.

What you call the film subject's "swagger" has actually been deconstructed by forensic anthropologists and found impossible for a human in a suit to imitate. In recent years, a BBC-funded attempt to replicate the P-G film using all modern means failed hilariously.

The John Chambers story has been extensively debunked. It arose out of confusion because Chambers did make a large, rigid "Bigfoot" dummy for use in a sideshow -- and because Chambers was the creator of costumes for "Planet of the Apes." The subject of the P-G film has a number of attributes that movie costumes of the time could not replicate. In fact, when the film was made public, representatives of the Disney studios -- then the world leaders in well-funded movie make-believe -- said that if it were a fake, it was beyond their capabilities.

Note that in "Planet of the Apes," on which 20th Century Fox spent almost $6 million (in 1968) for the best special effects available, the ape costumes don't go below the face and neck. Clothing hides the rest, because making a realistic whole-body suit that didn't *look* like a suit was too difficult, even on a soundstage under controlled conditions.

Evaluation of the Patterson film, and the larger question of whether this animal is real, are continuing inquiries for serious minds who love a scientific mystery. There's no harm in having a laugh over the subject, as many people in the "Bigfoot community" often do. But your entry combined authoritative-sounding dismissal with deep ignorance of the facts -- a toxic mixture that contributes to the public's superficial understanding of the subject.

To readers who would like to learn more, I recommend a visit to http://bfro.net/gdb/show_FAQ.asp?id=751.

Reply to this Admin

Chanel Purses
Sep 24, 2011 12:09pm

gfjasdaMoses Mendelssohn,

Coach Factory Store

,the grandfather,

Chanel Outlet

, of the well-known,

Chanel Purses

, German composer,

Moncler Store

, was far from being ,

Louis Vuitton Online

,handsome,

Coach Oulet Store Online

. Along with,

Chanel Outlet

, a rather ,

Moncler Coats Outlet

,short stature,

Coach Factory

. he had ,

Moncler Shop

,a grotesque hunchback,

Coach Wallets

. One day,

Louis Vuitton Outlet

, he visited,

Coach Outlet Online

, a merchant,

coach online outlet store

, in Hamburg,

www.louisvuitton.com

, who had a lovely,

LV

, daughter named Frumtje,

coach.com

. Moses fell hopelessly,

coach factory stores

, in love with her,

www.coach.com

. But Frumtje was repulsed by his misshapen appearance,

coach bag outlet

Reply to this Admin

coach outlet online
Sep 28, 2011 6:27am

I heard of coach outlet online through the advertisement when I was shopping. And now I often brow the webpage and buy Coach bags online.Designs of this season give you the unlimited cool feelings in this cool summer. The new designs of Coach products in the coach outlet enrich our daily life.Despite their age gap, coach outlet store online of Coach and Ellis have several shared interests:they both like the Midnight Riders, Jimmy Gibbs Junior and Whispering Oaks Amusement Park.

The black bag from the coach outlet online adds the new design that you may love it! Find more new arrivals that you like.Customers who shopped for this product are also eager to purchase Coach Poppy Swing Brown, which is also welcomed in our coach coach outlet store online.Once visit, you will be unable to restrain loving it. Warmly welcome all of you to the Summer Sales Promotion on coach factory outlet.

coach outlet online own a couple of line, color, or the selected theme, it should be a good choice. It may be the place where offer the bag ladies handbag, you will be able to follow a course of education or training receives for the slim project chest strap wallet.If you are going to purchase a designer handbag for every day use, what elements you will think about?coach coach outlet store online Of course, the high quality is the initial element we should note.If you do not know design can be the most fashionable this fall, consider a glance on coach factory outlet! This summer, you have a wide range of options, because there are numerous designs, you can find from.

The most incredible knack about the coach bag of coach outlet online is that it would excellently please your minds beyond your mind's eye. For example, if you want to become the Angelina Julie, you will immediately need to wear the coach handbag around your shoulder.If you want to buy quality Coach products at lower prices, visiting coach outlet online can be your best decision.No one can deny the shopping at the coach factory outlet is satisfactory. For the low prices and good quality.

The Louis Vuitton shoulder bags win a lot of grace and market share. It can be said that the Louis Vuitton is a legend in history bags at louis vuitton outlet.louis vuitton bags generally variety within the buying price of $120.00 in order to $450.00, however they perform possess little purses as well as scarfs which are below $100.00.louis vuitton uk Outlets offer famous classic brand for LV,Channel, with perfect service.So become to the VIP soon.They offer more new styles,like LV purses,LV wallets etc. And are tested by product quality monitoring center .Here you can find the latest products in different kinds of louis vuitton purse making best materials.They are leisure practical products in the new generations.louis vuitton Outlets offer famous classic brand for LV,Channel, with perfect service.So become to the VIP soon.They offer more new styles,like LV purses,LV wallets etc. And are tested by product quality monitoring center .It is so good and attractive as a result of being made by a stylish designer or more. None can say no in front of so popular and chic louis vuitton handbags.

I am so confused that I don,t even know where to buy the louis vuitton uk Handbags. Because I can prefer to chose the fashionable design, favorable price, top service .You might have seen plenty of greatest quality bags into your entire life span but when it comes to the louis vuitton bags they are remarkably efficient, versatile and carved bags beyond your imaginations.louis vuitton handbags In the event you are actually woman who do not feature much money but chase type , you can't help falling inside love .

In Cristi ? Louboutin among new fall 2011, this accounted for much of the design. christian louboutin sale They are not boring classic style, like a gem, quietly waiting for you to enjoy its elegance, its beauty.Women in addition to the new nest for nail design,christian louboutin outlet animal pattern map Eucalyptus is one of the characteristics and lace, playing hit color, including a red and black high heels to tone has been very eye-catching degree.christian louboutin shoes is a lot of stars are like the French master of the creation of luxury shoe brand, the 09 spring and summer handbags, highlighting women's elegant, yet subdued and lovely mature sexy. Xiaobian pick several, this spring and summer, so you will love it.

Reply to this Admin

louis vuitton online
Sep 28, 2011 6:27am

if your dream is to look like a million bucks for a mere several dollars, then our louis vuitton outlet store is the Jiminy Cricket of your existence.louis vuitton bags generally variety within the buying price of $120.00 in order to $450.00, however they perform possess little purses as well as scarfs which are below $100.00.Yesterday, I saw an advertisement of lady's handbags on Louis Vuitton Outlets Online. I was obsessed by the unique decorative pattern and special appearance of louis vuitton purse.

louis vuitton bags marketed properly all greater compared to earth and earn cozy praise from customers. They are made from the finest leather and fabric.The louis vuitton online items are charming and chic. They make you feel different. When you log in,you will enjoy the coupon code for saving money.louis vuitton uk Store Online Handbags can also bring great accuracy as well as practical applicability and fashionable.

The Louis Vuitton bag is from the latest release of Louis Vuitton Bags. Its crisp, scribble material, leather handle, perfectly complements the relaxed shape of this stylish pouch. All the items oflouis vuitton borse Store fit all of your essentials and more.borse Louis Vuitton offers free and fast shipping. Usually, ships between 5-8 business days. So you do not need to wait for a long time.On establishing contact with a louis vuitton outlet hire agency, a few clarifications would need to be put to rest prior to working out a deal.sito Louis Vuitton has been voted by Hour Detroit magazine readers as the Best of Detroit in their 12th annual readers'poll.

sac louis vuitton Pas Cher You don,t need to go out of your house and wander about to find the LV Bags you like.Additionally, special discounts of the goods such as Louis Vuitton Purses are offered everyday. Hurry up!Everyone believes the fact that sac louis vuitton damier can be well-known simply because of its high quality and the lovely pattern.louis vuitton sacs Full of charming, lovely and moving Louis Vuitton Poppy Op Art Dotted Bag Black is a chic new flower design. These beautiful chics will be shown on our Louis Vuitton Online.

Reply to this Admin

brown hair with caramel highlights
Sep 30, 2011 3:13am

About the brown hair with caramel highlights, the tint re-growth whilst putting on extensions may be also compensated. The hair clip indirectly help your tresses as it involves less use of hair color for black women. tresses maintenance is to accomplished by way of the hair-stylists of the hair extension clips so your texture and the pattern remains the same even after an lengthy time.

Reply to this Admin

brown hair with caramel highlights
Sep 30, 2011 3:15am

Reply to this Admin

Oct 14, 2011 2:08am